two painting quotes 3k apart why so different

Paint is a minority of the cost on almost any job. Labour dominates, and most of the labour is preparation, which is invisible the moment the job is finished. That is why the cheaper quote is rarely cheaper paint.

Make the quotes comparable

• Ask for the product name and the finish, not just a brand. Ranges within a brand differ enormously in price and durability.
• Ask for the number of coats, and whether that includes a primer or sealer on bare or patched areas.
• Ask what preparation is included: washing, sanding, filling, caulking gaps, spot priming, and repairs to damaged substrate.
• Ask what is excluded. Rotten timber, render repairs and rust treatment are common exclusions that become variations later.
• Ask about protection and making good: covering floors and fixtures, and cleaning up.

What good preparation looks like

Washing to remove dirt and chalking, sanding to key the surface and remove loose material, filling and sanding defects, caulking gaps at trims, and spot priming everything bare. On exteriors add rust treatment on metal and repairs to any timber that has begun to fail. On a repaint of a tired exterior, preparation can easily be two thirds of the total hours.