What to know before you start
A paint job is judged by the finish, but it succeeds or fails on the prep. Scraping, patching, caulking, sanding and priming take longer than rolling on color, and they are the first steps a rushed bid leaves out.
DougCO Builds writes the prep into the scope. Our estimator measures the walls, ceilings and trim, notes damaged siding or drywall, and lists the coats and sheen for each surface. Every painter bids on that list, so a low price can't hide a skipped step.
What the job includes
- Moving and covering furniture, floors and fixtures
- Washing, scraping and sanding surfaces before any paint goes on
- Patching nail holes, dents and small drywall cracks
- Caulking gaps at trim, windows and siding joints
- Spot priming or full priming where the surface needs it
- The number of finish coats for each surface, written into the scope
- Masking, cleanup and labeled leftover paint for future touch-ups
What we scope
Interior rooms
Walls, ceilings and trim, from one bedroom to every room in the house.
Exterior repaints
Siding, trim, soffits, fascia and garage doors, with repairs noted before the first coat.
Cabinets
Kitchen and bath cabinets cleaned, sanded, primed and finished, with doors and hardware removed first.
Doors, trim and railings
Interior doors, baseboards, stair rails and spindles, the surfaces that take the most wear.
Decks and fences
Stain or paint for wood decks and fences that the sun has dried out and grayed.
What drives the cost
Every project is different, so your True Bid prices yours line by line after the site visit. These are the things that move the price most.
- Surface area and height
- Square footage sets the base. Vaulted ceilings, stairwells and two-story exteriors need tall ladders, scaffolding or a lift.
- Prep and repair
- Peeling paint, cracked caulk, water stains and damaged drywall add labor before any color goes on.
- Number of colors
- Each extra color means more cutting in and more masking. Accent walls and two-tone trim add up.
- Color changes and coats
- Covering a dark color with a light one, or painting new drywall, takes primer and extra coats.
- Paint grade and sheen
- Better paint costs more by the gallon but often covers in fewer coats and holds up longer.
- Furniture and access
- Empty rooms go faster than rooms full of furniture that has to be moved and covered.
Permits and HOAs in Douglas County
Painting usually doesn't need a building permit, whether you live in an incorporated town or in unincorporated Douglas County. Lead is the rule that matters. If your home was built before 1978, older coats may contain lead paint, and the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule requires lead-safe certified firms for paid work that disturbs more than a small patch of painted surface in those homes. Scraping and sanding count.
Exterior colors are the other checkpoint. Many Douglas County HOAs approve body, trim and door colors before work starts. We add that approval to the scope, and the painter waits for it before the first coat.
Built for Douglas County
Colorado's strong sun is hard on exterior paint. South and west walls fade and chalk sooner than the rest of the house, and dark colors show it first. A good primer and a better grade of paint help the finish last.
Weather sets the exterior schedule. Paint needs the temperature and dry conditions listed on the can to cure, and spring and fall nights here can drop below that. Freeze-thaw cycles also work open caulk joints and let water behind the siding, so an exterior repaint is a good time to recaulk.
How DougCO Builds runs your project
- Tell us about itSend the basics through the project form. We call to set up a site visit.
- One site visitOur estimator measures, photographs what's there and talks through what you want.
- Your True BidYou get a written, line-by-line scope and a budget before any contractor sees the job.
- Contractors bid on the same scopeVetted local contractors bid without your contact details. You compare the bids side by side.
- We manage it with youWe check insurance and licensing before work starts, then walk the job at milestones and at the finish.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What prep is included, and which surfaces get primer?
- How many coats go on each surface, and which paint line and sheen will you use?
- If my house was built before 1978, is your firm EPA lead-safe certified?
- Who moves the furniture, and how will you protect floors and fixtures?
- What does your warranty cover if the paint peels or the caulk fails?
Painting questions
Do I need a permit to paint my house in Douglas County?
Usually not. Painting on its own doesn't need a building permit from your town or the county. Your HOA may need to approve exterior colors, and homes built before 1978 bring lead-safe rules into play.
How do I know my exterior needs paint?
Look at the south and west sides first. Fading, a chalky residue that rubs off on your hand, cracked caulk and peeling paint are the signs. Bare wood left exposed to sun and snow breaks down fast.
Is better paint worth it?
Often, yes. Higher-grade paint usually covers in fewer coats and stands up better to scrubbing and sun. We name the product line in the scope so every bid is priced on the same paint.
Can my kitchen cabinets be painted instead of replaced?
Yes, if the boxes and doors are solid. Cabinet painting takes careful cleaning, sanding and priming, and a sprayed finish usually looks best. Our estimator can write up painting and replacement side by side.
