Services Offered by Professional Painters
Most painting companies offer both interior and exterior painting, plus additional services.
Interior Painting
Interior painting companies have the skills and training to help you select interior paints, textures, and finishes and can explain the upkeep requirements of your selections. This helps you choose the best paint for your space. As part of the project, your provider will prime and paint windows, cabinets, trim, door frames, and moldings. Some (for an additional fee) will remove wallpaper or textured surfaces prior to painting.Exterior Painting
Painting pros will begin exterior work by repairing weathering or damage, stripping old paint, sealing leaks with caulk, and cleaning walls. They will then paint siding, window frames, doors, fences, decks, trim, and other outdoor areas.Additional Services
Painters may provide the following services as well, depending on their skills and qualifications:- 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 Bellingham
When choosing a painting service, keep these key factors in mind.
- Cost: Get price quotes from at least three painters. Be cautious of any company that offers a substantially cheaper rate than the average.
- Guarantees: Request guarantees in writing and ensure you know which items are covered and for how long.
- Paint types: Have your painting pro walk you through paint options and related pros and cons to ensure you choose the right type for your project. Some paints, for example, are more eco-friendly or better at withstanding weather damage.
- Qualifications: Painters in Washington must be licensed as specialty contractors by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. In most cases, painters cannot employ subcontractors. The state requires contractors to be bonded and insured, and it's important to verify this information with the painter you hire, particularly if they’ll be 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 might look for a firm and a contractor that are certified by the Department of Commerce to work with lead-based paint.
- Reputation and reviews: Obtain references from family, friends, and neighbors, or review the Better Business Bureau (BBB) pages of local painters. You can also browse customer reviews on websites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews.
How Much Does Painting Cost in Bellingham?
Home painting costs fluctuate depending on your home's surface area, the paint you choose, and seasonal demand changes, with summer's busy months being the most expensive. The typical cost of both interior and exterior painting ranges from $0.74 to $2.98 per square foot. Since most homes have greater interior than exterior space, painting the interior is generally more expensive than painting the exterior. For a 2,000-square-foot home in Bellingham, you can expect to pay around $3,724 to paint the outside and $1,489 to $5,958 to paint the interior. Some painters in Bellingham may offer alternative rates of $14.58 to $24.30 per hour. Packaging services together can lead to savings with these hourly rates. For example, you'll likely spend less if you schedule exterior and interior painting together rather than as separate projects.
