The questions that tell you whether a painter is worth hiring
· 5 min read · By GK Painting & Remodeling
The best questions to ask a painter are about who does the work, what the price includes, what prep happens first, which paint goes on the walls, what the insurance covers and what happens if something goes wrong. Good painters answer these plainly and with specifics, and the answers tell you more than the price does.
Below is the checklist, grouped the way a conversation usually goes. For each question there's a note on why it matters and what a good answer sounds like. It works for any painter you're considering, and we've added how we'd answer along the way. For the bigger picture, start with our guide to how to hire a painter.
Who will do the work?
Ask who will be in your home: the person who quoted the job, a crew, or subcontractors. None of those is automatically wrong, but you should know which before you sign, because the quote is only as good as the people carrying it out.
A good answer names a person and a role, such as the owner working every day with one helper, or a named lead on a small crew. A vague answer, or one that changes between phone calls, is worth a follow-up. At GK, George does the work himself, so the person who visits and writes your quote is the person doing the job.
What does the price include?
Two quotes can carry the same number and cover different jobs. Ask for the scope in writing: which rooms, which surfaces (walls, ceilings, trim, doors, closets), whether the paint is included and what's left out. Our guide to what a painting estimate should include lists the lines to look for.
Then ask how the price is built: by the room, by the square foot or by the hour. If it's by the hour, ask for the rate and the expected hours in writing, because hours are the number that grows. Our interior painting is priced by the square footage of the space, paint included.
What prep will you do before painting?
This is the question that separates a lasting finish from a short-lived one. The finish is only as good as what's under it, and prep is the part nobody sees afterward. Ask what happens before the first coat goes on.
A good answer walks through it: covering floors and furniture, cleaning, filling holes and cracks, sanding glossy or rough spots, and priming stains and bare patches. A weak answer is some version of we'll just paint over it. Our guide to prepping walls for painting shows what each step does. If your home is older, mention its age here, since plaster and old oil-based trim usually call for more prep.
Hiring for kitchen cabinets? Our guide to professional cabinet painting adds the cabinet questions, one for each of the five ways a painted finish fails.
Which paint will you use, and how many coats?
Paint is where two quotes quietly differ. Ask the brand, the sheen, whether primer is included and how many coats of the finish color the walls will get. Ask who buys the paint, too, so you know whether it's in the price.
A good answer fits your walls. A big color change or a bare patch usually calls for primer first, and the painter should be able to say why. Our guides to how many coats of paint and whether you need primer explain the reasoning. We use premium paint from Sherwin-Williams and Behr, and Behr is the more economical of the two. If you'd rather use a brand you already like, tell us and the quote is built around the paint you pick.
When can you start, and what if it runs long?
A start date belongs on the quote, and so does a sense of how long the job takes. DATCP, Wisconsin's consumer protection agency, advises putting a starting and completion date in the contract so a job can't drag on indefinitely.
Then ask the follow-up most people skip: what happens to the price if the job takes longer than planned? A good answer is clear and in writing. Ours is simple. The written quote is the price, no extra charge if the job takes longer than expected. Most rooms take one to two days, and our guide to how long it takes to paint a room shows where the time goes.
Ask how changes work, too. If you add a closet or change a color halfway through, the change should go in writing, which is also what Wisconsin's home improvement rules call for. And ask how and when payment is due. We accept Apple Pay, cash, check, Venmo and Zelle, and whatever a painter's terms are, they belong on the quote.
What does your insurance cover?
Painters work on ladders, around your floors and furniture, inside your home. Ask what their insurance covers and whether you can see proof. DATCP notes that you can ask any contractor for a certificate of insurance with your name and address listed as the certificate holder. It shows the policy is active, and you're told if it lapses.
A good answer is a quick yes and a document. Hesitation, or an answer like we've never had a problem, doesn't tell you anything about coverage. We're fully insured, and you should ask any painter, us included, what that covers. More in why painter insurance matters.
What happens if something isn't right afterward?
Every painter has had a finish that didn't bond or a spot that got missed. What matters is what happens next. Ask what the painter will fix, what they won't, and how you reach them.
A good answer separates two things: problems that come from the work itself, like a finish that peels, and damage that happens later, like a scuffed wall from moving furniture. Here's ours. If a problem comes from the quality of our work, we come back and make it right. Damage from everyday use or accidents after the job isn't covered, but we're happy to quote the repair.
Ask for the names of recent customers as well, and call a couple. DATCP suggests asking whether the painter showed up on time, cleaned up and followed through, and whether they'd hire the painter again.
The list on one page
| Ask about | A good answer sounds like | Keep looking if |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | A named person and role | The answer keeps changing |
| What's included | A written list of rooms and surfaces | It's just a total |
| Prep | Covering, cleaning, patching, sanding, priming | We'll just paint over it |
| Paint and coats | Brand, sheen, primer, coat count | No details on the paint |
| Start date and delays | Dates in writing, price stays put | No dates, no answer on delays |
| Insurance | A quick yes and a certificate | Hesitation or deflection |
| After the job | Clear on what's fixed and what isn't | Nothing in writing |
What to do with the answers
Write the answers down next to each quote. You'll likely find that one painter was easy to talk to, one was fast to quote and one explained things better than the rest. Our guide to comparing painting quotes turns those notes into a side-by-side decision, and red flags when hiring a painter covers the answers that should slow you down.
If you're thinking about a project in Madison, Middleton or anywhere else in Dane County, ask for a free estimate. It starts with a phone call, George visits if he needs to see the space, and you get a written quote with a start date. You can read more about our interior painting too, or see the page for Middleton.
Common questions
What are the most important questions to ask a painter?
Who will do the work, what the price includes, what prep happens before painting, which paint and how many coats, what the insurance covers, and what happens if something isn't right afterward. If you only have time for three, ask about prep, insurance and the start date.
Should I ask a painter for references?
Yes. Ask for the names of recent customers and call a couple of them. Wisconsin's consumer protection agency suggests asking whether the painter arrived on time, cleaned up afterward and followed through, and whether they'd hire the painter again.
How do I know if a painter's answer is a good one?
Good answers are specific and match your job. A painter who describes the prep, names the paint and explains the schedule has thought about your walls. Vague answers, or answers that dodge the question, are a reason to ask again or keep looking.
Should I ask a painter to put their answers in writing?
Yes. Anything that affects the work or the price, like the scope, the paint, the start date and how changes are handled, belongs on the written quote. If it isn't on paper, you can't point to it later.
Can I ask a painter to explain why their quote is higher or lower?
Of course. A good painter will walk you through what's in the number. A higher quote often includes more prep or coats, and a much lower one is worth a question about what it leaves out.
Sources
- Home Improvement Consumer Tips, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
- ATCP 110.05: Home improvement contract requirements, Wisconsin Legislature
More on interior painting and every hiring a painter post.
