Let’s be real: Some painting quotes are just wild ass guesses. A number scribbled on a pad, pulled from thin air, or lowballed to undercut the next guy — with no real explanation behind it. We’ve seen it firsthand. Homeowners have shown us quotes for the exact same project ranging from $6,000 to $13,500 — and even as high as $20,000+. That’s a $14,000 difference for the same project. How does that happen? Simple: most companies guess. They price based on gut feeling, square footage alone, or what they think a competitor might charge. At Pearl Painters, we don’t play that game. Our quotes are built on hard data, not hunches. We use production rates — real-world numbers based on time, skill, and scope — to give you a price you can count on. This approach ensures we’ve allowed enough time to do the job right, without cutting corners, so you actually get what you’re paying for and a price that does NOT change once the job starts — No fluff. No surprises. Just quality work, priced with purpose.
But what exactly are production rates, and how do they ensure you’re getting a fair and transparent price?
What Are Production Rates?
Production rates are: the number of square feet, linear feet, or units per hour that we can complete a specific task. Put another way, production rates reflect how quickly we can move through a task. Our production rates are based on our real-world data from past jobs, using the same tools, in the same order, and following a specific process known as our Best Known Methods (BKMs).
How Pearl Painters Uses Production Rates to Create Accurate Quotes
Here’s an example: our production rate for cutting and rolling two coats of paint on one-story textured walls is 75 square feet per hour. Let’s say you have a bedroom that’s 12′ x 12′ with 8-foot-high walls. That room has 384 square feet of wall surface to be painted, which means we’ll allow 5.12 hours of painting time for the project.
By using data-driven production rates to price our projects, we cut out uncertainty and deliver consistent, fair pricing every time.
At Pearl Painters, we’ve spent over two decades refining our production rates to be as accurate as possible. Here’s how we apply them to your painting project:
We measure everything.
Before giving you a price, we take precise measurements of every surface being painted – including walls, ceilings, trim, doors, and cabinets. This ensures that our production rates are applied accurately.We consider surface condition and complexity.
Painting a brand-new, smooth wall is much faster than painting an older, textured one with imperfections. If a surface requires extensive prep – like patching holes, sanding, or priming – we adjust the production rate accordingly.We factor in application methods.
Spraying cabinets takes less time per coat than brushing and rolling, but it also requires additional prep work, masking, and cleanup. We use different production rates depending on whether we’re spraying, rolling, or brushing. We also make adjustments based on how much taping is involved.We adjust for real-world conditions.
While production rates give us a strong baseline, they don’t replace experience. If we anticipate extra challenges – like working around heavy furniture or matching a difficult paint color – we adjust accordingly to ensure our quote reflects the true scope of work.
The Benefits of Using Production Rates for Pricing
Many contractors guess when pricing a project – or worse, they base their quotes on square footage alone, which doesn’t tell the full story. At Pearl Painters, our production rate system offers:
✅ Fair, Transparent Pricing – You get a quote based on actual data, not a random number.
✅ No Surprise Costs – Because our estimates are based on real-world experience, you won’t get hit with unexpected charges.
✅ Efficient Scheduling – We know exactly how long your project will take, so we can plan accordingly and meet deadlines.
✅ Consistent Quality – Production rates ensure that our team works efficiently while maintaining the high standards Pearl Painters is known for.
Production Rates in Action
Let’s look at a real-world example of how we might use production rates to provide a cost estimate. Say you hire us to paint your kitchen cabinets. Here’s how production rates guide our pricing:
Step 1: Measuring – We measure the linear footage of your cabinets.
Step 2: Applying Production Rates – Based on our production rates, we know that we can prep and paint a typical kitchen at a rate of 1.4 Linear Feet per hour. Now it’s just simple math. Let’s say you have 50 linear feet of cabinetry (this is the outside perimeter of your upper and lower cabinets) 50′ x 1.4 = 70 man hours for your project. Now we can provide an accurate cost that gives us enough time to complete your project without cutting corners.
Step 3: Adjustments – If the cabinets have deep wood grain that requires extra sanding and priming, or if they need a specialty finish, we adjust the production rate to reflect the added time and labor.
Final Quote – Because every step is accounted for, you get an accurate price before work begins – no vague estimates, no surprises and no changes.
Beyond the Numbers: Experience Matters
While production rates provide a scientific approach to estimating, they’re only part of the equation. Experience is what makes them truly reliable.
At Pearl Painters, we’ve spent over 20 years refining our process, tweaking production rates based on real-world feedback, and ensuring that our pricing remains competitive while reflecting the true effort required.
Get a Painting Quote You Can Trust
If you’ve ever had a contractor throw out a price without explanation, you know how frustrating it can be. At Pearl Painters, we believe in clear, honest pricing backed by data—and decades of hands-on expertise.
If you’re planning a painting project and want a fair, accurate quote, we’re here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and see the difference a professional, production-based estimate makes!
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