Two estimates for "paint the living room" or "install LVP in the kitchen" can differ a lot, and often the difference is in scope rather than price. A good estimate tells you exactly what you're paying for, so you can compare fairly.
What a good painting estimate includes
- Rooms and surfaces: walls, ceilings, trim, doors, closets, cabinets.
- Prep: patching, caulking, sanding, cleaning, priming, wallpaper removal, and how extensive it is.
- Products: the brand and product line, sheen, number of coats and primer.
- Protection: floors, furniture and fixtures.
- Lead-safe practices for pre-1978 homes.
- Who moves furniture and who removes outlet covers and hardware.
- Schedule and expected duration.
- Cleanup and disposal.
- Payment terms.
- Warranty or guarantee terms, with conditions.
What a good flooring estimate includes
- Square footage by room, including waste allowance.
- The exact product: brand, line, color, wear layer, installation type (glue-down or click).
- Removal and disposal of existing flooring, including carpet, pad and tack strip.
- Subfloor prep: moisture testing, patching, leveling, repairs, and whether it's included or estimated.
- Underlayment or vapor barrier if required.
- Adhesive for glue-down installs.
- Transitions, stair nose, baseboard and quarter round, and whether existing trim is removed and reinstalled.
- Door trimming and appliance moving.
- Furniture moving.
- Schedule, payment terms and warranty or guarantee terms.
Comparing estimates fairly
Put estimates side by side and check whether they include the same:
- Rooms, surfaces and square footage.
- Prep, especially subfloor prep and wall repair.
- Products, or truly equivalent products.
- Number of coats.
- Removal and disposal.
- Trim, transitions and finishing details.
The cheapest estimate often leaves out prep that someone will have to do. An estimate that's much higher should explain why.
Questions to ask
- Are you insured? Can you provide a certificate of insurance?
- For pre-1978 homes, are you certified for lead-safe renovation?
- Who will be doing the work, and who's the point of contact?
- How do you protect floors, furniture and the rest of the house?
- What happens if you find unexpected problems, like rotted subfloor?
- How do you handle changes to the scope?
- What does your guarantee cover, and for how long?
Insurance
Ask for a certificate of insurance showing general liability coverage, and ask about workers' compensation for employees. Insurance protects you if someone is hurt or your property is damaged during the job.
Lead-safe certification
For paid work that disturbs painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes, Wisconsin requires DHS-certified lead-safe companies and renovators; in Minnesota, EPA certification applies. See lead-safe renovation.
Licensing
Wisconsin
Wisconsin doesn't have a general statewide license for painting or flooring contractors, but certain work requires state credentials, such as lead-safe certification for covered work and dwelling contractor credentials for work that needs building permits in some cases. Local municipalities may have their own registration or permit requirements. Wisconsin's home improvement practices rule (ATCP 110, administered by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection) sets consumer protection requirements for home improvement contracts. Check with DATCP for current details.
Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) licenses residential building contractors and remodelers. Whether a particular contractor needs a license depends on the type and scope of work they offer. You can look up any contractor's license status on DLI's website. If a contractor says they don't need a license, ask why, and check DLI's guidance.
Red flags
- No written estimate or contract.
- Large up-front payment demands before work starts.
- Pressure to decide immediately.
- No proof of insurance.
- Vague scope ("paint house").
- Unwillingness to discuss lead-safe practices on older homes.
- No physical address or verifiable contact information.
Deposits and payment
Payment terms vary. Many contractors ask for a deposit for materials, with the balance at completion or in stages for larger jobs. Get payment terms in writing and pay by a method that leaves a record.
Our approach
We provide free written estimates that list the scope, prep and products, so you can compare. See our guarantees for how our best price and satisfaction guarantees work, or request a free estimate.