Wall Painting in Baltimore: Hiring and Prep

Compare quotes for the same wall work

Give each painter the same room list and photographs. Identify the walls you want painted and whether you want ceilings, trim or doors included. Point out furniture that needs moving and surfaces you want left untouched. Ask bidders to visit before quoting extensive repairs or difficult access.

Request separate descriptions for patching, crack repair, preparation, primer and finish coats. Specify the paint manufacturer, product, color and sheen. Ask how the painter plans to handle stains, peeling areas and previous repairs. Photograph those areas together so you have a shared reference when reviewing the finished work.

Ask for a total for the agreed scope, with separate prices for optional ceilings, trim or extra rooms. Confirm who supplies materials, protects furniture and floors, and handles cleanup and disposal. Compare the included work before choosing a quote. Ask the painter to document how you will approve additional repairs and their prices.

Check the contractor and payment terms

Ask for the contracting company’s MHIC number and confirm its current license with the commission. Maryland includes painting house walls and decorative finishes within home improvement. The home improvement contract must identify the contractor’s name, address and MHIC license number. [1] [2]

Maryland requires a written, legible contract signed by both parties. The homeowner must receive a signed copy before work begins. The contract must describe the work and materials and include approximate starting and substantial-completion dates. Make sure the scope you compared during bidding appears in the agreement you sign. [2]

The contractor cannot accept payment before signing or take more than one-third of the contract price as a deposit. You can negotiate a smaller deposit and the later payment schedule. Agree on those later payments in writing, including the work you expect the painter to complete before each installment. [2]

Request insurance documentation and references for projects with similar wall conditions. Ask who supervises the crew and who handles questions during the job. Keep the supervisor’s contact details alongside your scope and approved changes.

Resolve old-paint preparation before booking

Find the home’s construction year and share existing lead inspection reports with bidders. EPA says homes built before 1978 are more likely to contain lead-based paint. Renovation and repair that disturb painted surfaces can create lead dust. Ask how the painter will assess the existing paint before agreeing to sanding or scraping. [5]

For a painting project in a pre-1978 home, EPA recommends hiring a certified lead-based paint inspector or risk assessor to determine whether lead is present, or assuming it is present. EPA also recommends a lead-safe certified contractor. Ask the bidder to explain their qualifications and proposed work practices before approving preparation. [5]

Discuss work-area access, protection of belongings, cleanup and the conditions for using the room again. Plan how you will keep children and pets away from the work area. Avoid starting your own scraping or sanding while waiting for an assessment; EPA advises homeowners against attempting lead-paint removal themselves. [5]

Agree on room access and the finish inspection

Ask the painter to sequence the work around rooms you need to use. Discuss access hours, keys, furniture storage and who moves heavy items. Request room-use instructions based on the selected paint product, including when to return furnishings against walls and when to wash the finish. Put your access arrangements in the scope.

Walk through the rooms with the painter before the agreed final payment. Compare the result with your scope and photographs. Record missed areas, paint on adjacent surfaces and repairs you want reviewed. Agree on a correction date and keep the product names, sheen and color information for future touch-ups.

Contract shares when a painter takes Maryland’s maximum deposit

Choose the next step before painting

Your hiring checklist

1. List the rooms and identify whether ceilings, trim and doors belong in the scope.
2. Photograph cracks, stains, peeling paint and previous repairs.
3. Find the construction year and gather existing lead reports.
4. Ask each bidder for the same scope and separately priced options.
5. Request the contractor’s license number, insurance documentation and supervisor’s contact details.
6. Agree on furniture moving, access, cleanup and room-use instructions.
7. Keep the signed contract, payment schedule and approved changes.
8. Walk through the finished work and document agreed corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a residential wall painter need a Maryland license?

Maryland includes interior, exterior and decorative house painting within home improvement. Check the contracting painter’s current MHIC license. The home improvement contract must identify the contractor’s name, address and license number. [1] [2]

How much deposit can the painter request?

For a Maryland home improvement contract, the contractor cannot accept more than one-third of the contract price as a deposit or take payment before signing. You can negotiate a smaller deposit and the later payment schedule. [2]

Do I need a permit to change the wall color?

Baltimore requires permits for exterior color changes on specified protected properties and interior color changes on designated public-interior landmark lists. Ask the city to confirm your property’s designation. For an ordinary private interior repaint, confirm the permit requirements with Baltimore before work starts. [4]

Can repainting replace a rental lead inspection?

Review the property’s certification status with an accredited inspector. MDE describes separate certification and inspection requirements for pre-1978 rental dwellings, including lead-free exemptions. Full Risk Reduction certification requires a dust inspection before a new tenant moves in; arranging a repaint alone does not complete that inspection. [3]