A useful painting quote separates the surface area, the preparation, the labour and the materials. A price per square metre is only comparable when both quotes include the same work. Maliari Pro assesses each project individually; this guide does not publish an unconfirmed price list.
How to measure the wall, not the floor
For a rectangular room, wall area is 2 × (length + width) × height, less the openings excluded from the work. A 4 × 3 m room with a 2.8 m ceiling has 39.2 m² of walls before deductions. Subtracting 3 m² of doors and windows leaves 36.2 m². The ceiling adds 12 m² separately.
Use the paint calculator. Measure recesses, beams and irregular walls separately.
How much material that area needs
Manufacturers usually state 10-12 m² of coverage per litre per coat, and 8-10 m² for primer. A 36 m² wall in two coats needs roughly 6-7 litres, if the substrate absorbs evenly. A porous or repaired wall takes more; the manufacturer's paint calculator applies the same logic.
What the quote should cover
An itemised quote carries these six points:
- Wall and ceiling areas recorded separately.
- Whether filling, sanding and priming are included.
- The paint name, colour, finish and agreed coating system.
- Material purchasing, labour, protection and clearing up, separately.
- The number of coats and the drying intervals to be observed.
- How unexpected defects and additional work will be approved.
Why similar rooms can cost differently
A sound wall needing a colour change and a damaged wall needing full preparation are different jobs. Several colours, difficult access, an occupied room and detailed edges all change the scope. Photographs help with an initial discussion; concealed defects may still need an inspection on site.
Why a price per square metre alone is misleading
A rate per metre means something only when you know what it includes. The difference between two quotes is often not in the labour but in the preparation: one assumes two coats on a sound wall, the other levelling, priming and two coats. That is why the scope has to be equalised first.
What changes the cost on exterior work
On a facade, access often decides more than preparation does: erecting, dismantling and moving a scaffold is time in its own right. Weather postponements shift the schedule and should be allowed for separately. The details are set out in the facade planning guide.
What to send for an assessment
Send dimensions, wide and close-up photographs, the location, the current coating, the finish you want and your available dates. Mention damp or loose paint — that is what most often changes an assessment. Read about surface preparation, then request a project assessment.
This general guide was prepared with AI assistance. Technical sources are linked in the text; the specific product instructions and an assessment of the property take precedence over general examples.
