Plan wall painting in Rochester, NY

Define the work before comparing estimates

Walk through each room with the painter. Point out peeling areas, holes, cracks, and stains. Ask for a preparation plan for each problem and identify repairs that need a separate estimate. For damp areas or recurring stains, arrange an assessment of the cause before approving a cosmetic repaint.

Request the paint manufacturer, product, color, sheen, primer, and proposed coat count in writing. Ask whether the price covers furniture moving, floor protection, switch-plate removal, patching, and cleanup. List ceilings, doors, baseboards, and window trim as separate surfaces so you can compare wall-only offers.

Get site-specific written estimates to establish your budget. Compare identical scopes and ask each painter to separate materials, preparation, repairs, and tax. Require your approval for additional work, including repairs discovered after preparation starts. Ask whether the painter charges a fixed amount or uses another pricing method.

Resolve older-paint questions before sanding

EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule covers paint-disturbing work in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978. Painting preparation falls within that scope. EPA generally requires firms, including sole proprietors, to hold firm certification for covered paid work. Ask for the firm's certification and identify the certified renovator responsible for your project. [1]

Ask the painter to explain any claimed exception. EPA describes a minor-repair exception for work disturbing six square feet or less of paint per interior room. Window replacement and demolition of painted surfaces remain covered regardless of area, and prohibited activities remain prohibited regardless of square footage. Ask about the full preparation area before accepting an exemption claim. [1]

EPA does not require paint testing under the rule. Without documentation that affected paint is not lead-based, applicable RRP requirements apply. If you choose testing, use an appropriately qualified professional to test the affected surfaces. Request results before work starts and ask the painter to explain containment, cleanup, occupant access, and project documentation. [1]

Arrange room access and the final walkthrough

Agree on work hours, furniture moving, room access, and equipment storage. Tell the painter about pets, children, and rooms you need to keep available. Request product-specific ventilation and reentry instructions, along with the manufacturer's drying, recoating, and curing guidance. Ask for a schedule covering preparation, coating, cleanup, and inspection.

Approve a color and sheen sample in the room before authorizing the full job. At the walkthrough, inspect the agreed surfaces in daylight and under your usual lighting. Look for missed areas, uneven edges, paint on adjacent surfaces, and unfinished repairs. Record touch-ups with the painter and agree on their completion date.

Account for tax, purchase fees, and leftovers

New York's Department of Taxation and Finance identifies repainting existing interior spaces as taxable real-property repair or maintenance work. Ask the painter to include applicable tax in the estimate. If painting forms part of a larger renovation and the contractor claims capital-improvement treatment, request the basis; the state's guidance distinguishes maintenance from qualifying capital improvements. [4]

Cattaraugus County publishes a statewide New York paint-stewardship fee schedule based on container size, effective May 1, 2022. The chart shows its three positive-fee categories as retrieved on October 11, 2026. The same schedule lists no fee for containers of half a pint or less. Confirm the applicable purchase charge with your supplier. [5]

Ask the painter to leave agreed touch-up paint in its labeled container and record the product, color, and sheen. Separate usable paint you want to keep from unwanted leftovers. Specify who will transport discarded paint and whether the quote includes that task.

Published New York paint-stewardship fees: positive-fee containers

Choose the next step for your walls

Your hiring checklist

1. List rooms and surfaces, separating walls from ceilings, doors, and trim.
2. Show damaged areas and request written preparation and repair terms.
3. Share the construction date, paint-test reports, and any county lead-hazard notice.
4. Ask the painter to explain the certification and lead-safe preparation applicable to your scope.
5. Approve the paint product, color, sheen, primer, and coat count.
6. Agree on room access, protection, cleanup, and product-specific reentry instructions.
7. Compare totals including tax and require approval for added work.
8. Schedule the walkthrough and decide who keeps or disposes of leftover paint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a painter need EPA certification for my older home?

EPA generally requires firm certification for paid work that disturbs paint in housing built before 1978. Painting preparation counts, though specified exceptions exist. Ask the painter to explain the planned disturbance and any claimed exception before approving work. [1]

Must I test the walls for lead before hiring?

EPA does not require testing under the RRP rule. Without documentation that affected paint is not lead-based, applicable requirements apply. If you choose testing, use an appropriately qualified professional and share the results with the painter. [1]

Should the estimate include sales tax?

Ask for applicable tax in the total. New York identifies repainting existing interior spaces as taxable repair or maintenance work. A contractor claiming capital-improvement treatment for a larger renovation should explain the basis. [4]

Can I take leftover paint to ecopark?

Monroe County accepts paints and stains through household hazardous waste collections by appointment. It excludes one-third of a can or less of latex paint and provides drying-and-trash instructions for that quantity. The county also describes PaintCare drop-off options. Check the selected site's instructions before visiting. [2]