Painter Scope of Work Generator
Prep work, coats, and cleanup—every painting job needs clear boundaries. Create professional painting scopes that protect your profit in under 60 seconds.
Painting Scope of Work Examples
📋 Whole House Interior Repaint
Scope of Work:
- Paint all walls and ceilings in living room, dining room, kitchen, and 3 bedrooms
- Paint all interior doors (12) and door frames—both sides
- Paint all baseboards, window trim, and crown molding
- Prep work: fill nail holes, caulk gaps, sand rough areas
- Apply one coat primer on repairs and bare spots
- Apply two coats finish paint on all surfaces
- Products: Sherwin-Williams Duration (walls), ProClassic (trim)
- Walls: Flat/Matte finish | Trim: Semi-gloss finish
- Mask and protect all flooring, fixtures, and hardware
- Final touch-up walk with owner before completion
Exclusions:
- Closet interiors (add $X per closet if desired)
- Garage, laundry room, or unfinished areas
- Wallpaper removal
- Drywall repair beyond minor nail holes
- Furniture moving (owner to clear 24" from walls)
📋 Exterior House Repaint (2-Story)
Scope of Work:
- Pressure wash all exterior surfaces to be painted
- Scrape and sand loose or peeling paint
- Caulk all gaps around windows, doors, and trim joints
- Prime bare wood and repairs with exterior primer
- Apply two coats exterior paint to all siding (approx. 2,400 sq ft)
- Paint all exterior trim, fascia, and soffits
- Paint front door and garage door (2 coats)
- Paint shutters (8 total) on-site
- Products: Benjamin Moore Regal Select (body), Aura (trim)
- Mask and protect windows, landscaping, concrete
Exclusions:
- Wood rot repair or replacement
- Gutter painting or replacement
- Deck or fence painting
- Foundation or masonry painting
- Lead paint abatement (pre-1978 homes)
📋 Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing
Scope of Work:
- Remove all cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and hardware
- Label and organize all pieces for reinstallation
- Clean and degrease all surfaces
- Sand/scuff all surfaces for adhesion
- Apply bonding primer to all surfaces
- Apply two coats cabinet-grade enamel (spray finish)
- Paint cabinet boxes in place (brush and roll)
- Reinstall all doors with new soft-close hinges (owner-provided)
- Adjust doors for proper alignment
- Product: Benjamin Moore Advance or SW Emerald Urethane
Exclusions:
- Cabinet repair or modification
- Interior of cabinets
- Hardware supply (owner to provide)
- Countertop or backsplash work
- Appliance removal
What to Include in a Painting Scope of Work
✅ Always Include
- •Surface list: Exactly which walls, ceilings, trim, doors are included
- •Prep work: Scraping, sanding, caulking, patching—be specific
- •Coats: Primer + how many finish coats (usually 2)
- •Products: Brand, product line, sheen for each surface type
- •Protection: What gets masked, covered, protected
- •Cleanup: Debris removal, touch-up walk, leftover paint
⚠️ Common Exclusions
- •Drywall repair: Beyond minor nail holes and hairline cracks
- •Wallpaper: Removal, skim coating over residue
- •Furniture moving: Who clears the room
- •Wood rot: Repair or replacement of rotted trim
- •Lead paint: Testing, abatement, special procedures
- •Closet interiors: Usually priced separately
💡 Pro Tips for Painting Scopes
Specify the sheen for every surface:
"Walls: flat/matte. Trim: semi-gloss. Doors: semi-gloss. Ceilings: flat." Sheen disputes are common—eliminate them upfront.
Name the paint products:
"Sherwin-Williams Duration" is different from "contractor-grade paint." If you're using premium products, say so—it justifies your price.
Be clear about coats:
"Two finish coats over primer on repairs." One coat rarely covers, especially for color changes. Set expectations for the right coverage.
Document furniture responsibility:
"Owner to move furniture 24" from walls prior to start." Or include moving in your scope and price. Either way, make it clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a painting scope of work include?
A complete painting scope should list: exactly which surfaces are being painted (rooms, walls, ceilings, trim, doors), prep work included (scraping, sanding, caulking, patching), number of coats (primer + finish), paint products and sheens, protection/masking details, and cleanup expectations. Being specific prevents "I thought you were painting that too" conversations.
How many coats should be in my painting estimate?
Standard practice is one coat of primer on repairs/bare spots plus two finish coats. One finish coat rarely provides acceptable coverage, especially for color changes or covering dark colors. Your scope should specify "two coats finish paint" and note that additional coats for dramatic color changes may be quoted separately.
Does a painting scope include prep and cleanup?
It should explicitly state what prep and cleanup is included. Prep might include "fill nail holes, caulk gaps, sand rough areas" but exclude "drywall repair, skim coating, or wallpaper removal." Cleanup typically includes "remove masking, debris removal, touch-up walk, leave labeled leftover paint." Spell it out.
Should I include paint brand in my scope?
Yes—it justifies your price and sets quality expectations. "Sherwin-Williams Duration" or "Benjamin Moore Regal Select" tells the customer they're getting premium products. If you're using contractor-grade paint, that's fine too, but be upfront. Never leave paint quality ambiguous.
How do I handle color selections in my scope?
Your scope should note: "Colors to be selected by owner prior to start. One color per surface type (one wall color, one trim color, one ceiling color). Additional colors or accent walls may affect pricing." This prevents scope creep from "can we do this wall a different color?" requests.