Questions
Everything people ask before they hire a painter.
Twenty-two straight answers about hiring, scheduling, preparation, historic homes and money. No sales language.
- Hiring and comparing bids honestly
- Boulder's actual season and why it is short
- Preparation, products and coat counts
- Pre-1978 homes and Landmarks review
Common questions about hiring a painter in Boulder, Colorado, including how to compare bids, when exteriors can be painted, what preparation should be included, how pre-1978 and landmarked homes differ, and what projects cost. Call 720-208-5645 if yours is not here.
Twenty-two questions, answered
Hiring
Who are the best painters in Boulder, CO?
Compare documents, not adjectives. Ask every bidder for a certificate of insurance, a written scope that names each preparation step, the exact product line and sheen per surface, the coat count, and the warranty in writing. The bid that cannot produce all five is cheaper for a reason.
Does Colorado license painting contractors?
There is no statewide painting license in Colorado. Some municipalities have their own registration requirements. What actually protects you is current liability insurance, a written scope and a warranty you can hold someone to.
How many estimates should I get?
Two or three is plenty if you ask all of them the same questions in writing. More than that and you are mostly collecting numbers that are not comparable because the scopes differ.
Why is one bid so much lower?
Usually the preparation, the product grade, the coat count or the warranty. Occasionally it is uninsured labor. Put all four bids side by side on those four lines and the difference stops being mysterious.
Scheduling
When can you paint the outside of my house?
Generally mid-May through early October in Boulder. The average last spring freeze is near May 5 and the first fall freeze near October 7, and elevation tightens both ends. Mountain communities are shorter still.
How far ahead should I book?
For exteriors, as early as you can. The season is short and every company in the county is working inside the same twenty weeks. Interiors are much easier to place between October and April.
Can you work around my schedule?
Usually. Tell us the constraints at the estimate rather than after we have booked the crew, and we will build the sequence around them.
What happens if it rains?
We stop, protect the work, and resume when conditions allow. Rain delays are a feature of painting in Colorado, and we build realistic contingency into the schedule rather than promising weather we cannot control.
The work
What preparation is included?
Protection of everything not being painted, washing, scraping to a sound edge, sanding transitions, filling and caulking, and priming bare or stained substrate. Each step is itemized in your estimate by surface rather than summarized as prep.
How many coats do you apply?
The coat count is stated in writing before work begins, specified per surface. Primer is specified separately where the substrate needs it. Two finish coats is typical; dramatic color changes sometimes need more.
Which paint brands do you use?
Sherwin-Williams, PPG and Benjamin Moore. The specific line and sheen are named per surface in your estimate so you can read the manufacturer's own data sheet.
Do you move furniture?
We move and protect larger pieces. Clearing small items, electronics and artwork beforehand helps and can reduce your cost.
Will someone be here every day?
Yes, on working days, and you will know the schedule in advance. If weather moves a day you hear it from us rather than noticing an empty driveway.
Older and historic homes
My home is from 1915. What is different?
Two things. Federally required lead-safe work practices apply to disturbing pre-1978 painted surfaces, and if the property is landmarked or in a historic district, exterior color goes through Landmarks review first.
What is the lead rule exactly?
The EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule requires certified firms and specific containment, work practices and cleanup verification when disturbing painted surfaces in housing built before 1978.
Can original wood windows be saved?
Usually yes, and usually worth it. Careful preparation, glazing repair and proper coating extend the life of original sash substantially. Full restoration is quoted separately when it is needed.
Does Landmarks review take long?
Plan for it rather than hoping. Start the submission early in the season so the review runs while the weather is still unsuitable for exterior work anyway.
Money
How much will my project cost?
Published 2026 Front Range data puts exterior work at roughly $1.55 to $4.10 per square foot and interiors at about $1.50 to $3.50. Your number depends on condition, trim detail, access and prep. The estimate is measured on your actual property.
Do you charge for estimates?
No. Written estimates are free, from photos or in person.
When is payment due?
A deposit reserves your dates. The balance is due at completion, after your walkthrough. The terms are printed on the estimate.
Is there a discount right now?
25% off painting projects booked by October 31, 2026. It applies to labor; paint and materials are not included.
Can I phase the work to spread the cost?
Yes, and it is sensible. If budget is tight, south and west elevations are failing first. Do those now and plan the rest for next season.
No obligation
Get a written estimate
Send photos and we will price it without a visit where we can. Peeling, water damage or a landmark property gets a walkthrough first.
Every estimate names the surfaces, the preparation steps, the exact product line and sheen, the coat count, the schedule and the warranty. Nothing vague.
Prefer to talk? 720-208-5645, seven days.