Services Offered by Professional Painters
Most professional painting services provide interior painting, exterior painting, and extra services.
Interior Painting
Professional interior painters can help you decide on interior paint types, textures, and finishes, and can educate you on maintenance requirements to figure out what works best where. They'll prep, prime, and paint door frames, cabinets, trim, moldings, and windows. Some professionals offer wallpaper or textured finish removal for an added fee.Exterior Painting
Before exterior painting, painters mend weathering damage, strip old coatings, seal any leaks with caulk, and wash the walls. They follow by painting decks, siding, window frames, trim, fences, doors, and additional outdoor elements.Additional Services
Painters may also provide the following extra services, depending on their qualifications and experience:- Concrete staining
- Crown molding installation and repair
- Drywall and plaster repair
- Popcorn ceiling removal
- Pressure washing
- Wallpaper hanging or removal
How To Choose a Painter in Santa Monica
When selecting a residential painting contractor, consider these key factors.
- Cost: Contact a few painters to get price estimates. Be wary of unusually cheap prices compared to the average.
- Guarantees: Make sure you get a written contract outlining any guarantees and that you understand the scope and duration of coverage.
- Paint types: Have your painting pro walk you through paint options and related benefits and drawbacks to ensure you choose the right kind for your project. Some paints, for example, withstand weather damage better than others or are more eco-friendly.
- Qualifications: Painters who work on jobs valued at over $500 must be licensed by the California Contractors State License Board. To obtain this license, a contractor must have proof of experience and must have workers' compensation insurance if they have employees. Any contractor you hire should be properly bonded and insured, particularly if they’re working on a ladder or using power equipment. If your home was built prior to 1978, and you're worried about the possible presence of lead, you may want to look for a contractor who is licensed by the EPA to work with lead-based paint.
- Reputation and reviews: Ask family, friends, and neighbors for references, or use the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website to browse companies you’re considering. You can also read customer ratings on sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews.
How Much Does Painting Cost in Santa Monica?
Home painting costs fluctuate depending on project size, your paint selections, and seasonal demand changes, with summer's busy months being the most expensive. The typical cost of both interior and exterior painting averages $0.84 to $3.37 per square foot. Since most homes have more inside than outside space, painting the interior tends to cost more than painting the exterior. For a 2,000-square-foot home in Santa Monica, expect to pay around $4,218 to paint the exterior and $1,687 to $6,749 to paint the interior. Some Santa Monica painting providers may offer alternative rates of $17.82 to $29.71 per hour. Packaging services together can help you save with these hourly rates. Having interior and exterior painting completed simultaneously instead of separately, for instance, may result in a lower bill.
