[Travilinggal]

Does anyone know the going rate for painters here. My son is considering coming here from St. Louis were the going rate is $3.00/square foot. He has been a union painter for 18 years and would like to go into business for himself but wants to make sure he can earn a living wage. What other things should he consider? Thank you in advance for your thoughts and advice.

[Papa_lecki]

Don’t know what the rate is. If he is a good tradesman, and he follows through with customers, i think he would make a GREAT living.

Also consider the lower cost of living, no state income tax (vs 4% in MO; lower property taxes, etc).

[bob47]

Originally Posted by Travilinggal

Does anyone know the going rate for painters here. My son is considering coming here from St. Louis were the going rate is $3.00/square foot. He has been a union painter for 18 years and would like to go into business for himself but wants to make sure he can earn a living wage. What other things should he consider? Thank you in advance for your thoughts and advice.

I must be out of touch. $3/ft2? $300 for one 8' x 12' wall? Over $1000 for the 4 walls of one room?

[LAFwUs]

Op,
your son needs to consider the sheer number of painting companies near/around this area.
Google results show somewhere in the range of 500 separate painting companies operating here.

That level of saturation is going to drive prices down and it wouldn't surprise me if some of the larger ones have a lock on certain areas, contracts with builders or other means of pushing away competition.

We were quoted $3800 to paint the entire inside of our 1300sq ft, north end house.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Travilinggal

Does anyone know the going rate for painters here. My son is considering coming here from St. Louis were the going rate is $3.00/square foot. He has been a union painter for 18 years and would like to go into business for himself but wants to make sure he can earn a living wage. What other things should he consider? Thank you in advance for your thoughts and advice.

He will never make a living charging $3 per square foot. I have heard of charging $300 to $400 per room for the walls only (no trim and ceiling), but not by the square foot. He would need to visit the area and talk to some painters to get a feel for what they make, but he will not make union wages in The Villages. Comparing starting a competitive business to expecting union wages is like comparing apples to oranges.

[villagetinker]

IMHO, he would probably be best to use Indeed or equal to find a job in this area, get his feet wet, and then make his plans for opening his own company. I have no idea of painting costs, and I currently still do my own, at over 70 years old. Also, there is a difference between inside and outside painting. 2 neighbors had 3000 sq ft to 4000 sq ft houses painted OUTSIDE, and as I recall the cost was around $3000, this was 2 coats of paint, one primer, and one final, as well as the second color for the trim and accent areas. I believe this works out to well below $3/sq ft.

[CZN715]

A jack all trades kind of guy told me the exterior of my stucco courtyard villa would be between $1 and $2 per square ft. One coat/ Baer Paint. No power washing first. This was 18 months ago. I did not hire him.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by Travilinggal

Does anyone know the going rate for painters here. My son is considering coming here from St. Louis were the going rate is $3.00/square foot. He has been a union painter for 18 years and would like to go into business for himself but wants to make sure he can earn a living wage. What other things should he consider? Thank you in advance for your thoughts and advice.

Why not start up in the area he knows?
$2.75 a square foot to start, then when established and in demand (if he is good!) $3+.
If the going rate for contractors is $3 a foot, he can easy undercut, as he will not have the overheads of bigger contractors.
A school mate of mine started as a P&D taking on the small jobs the big contractors didn't want.
In 10/15 years he had a load of guys working for him, and he was the big boy in the area.

[jparsoneau@aol.com]

I’m a retired contractor. And just currently got a new house here and looking to have the interior repainted the entire inside of the house which is 2008 ft.² will be repainted with two colors. This does not include any ceilings or trim or doors or cabinets, which are already painted by the contractor just flat walls. Price is $3100 which I personally felt was a little high since I could paint the house myself but I’m not here full-time and I’m trying to be retired lol. my suggestion if he wants to come down here is to get a job first know the area first , even if he makes a living here he may hate the area of ViceVersa.
This quote was as recent as last week

[Shish]

Is that $3 per "square foot room" or "square feet of wall?"

[larcha]

Originally Posted by LAFwUs

Op,
your son needs to consider the sheer number of painting companies near/around this area.
Google results show somewhere in the range of 500 separate painting companies operating here.

That level of saturation is going to drive prices down and it wouldn't surprise me if some of the larger ones have a lock on certain areas, contracts with builders or other means of pushing away competition.

We were quoted $3800 to paint the entire inside of our 1300sq ft, north end house.

I think that works out to just over $3 per Sq Ft.

[Causey]

This week I had the master bath, master bedroom, and foyer painted. Walls only, no trim or ceilings. 2 coats Benjamin Moore paint, included 2 gallons @ $72 per gallon.
2 Guys, started at 9:00 done by 3:00. Moved the furniture, covered with plastic, nice job, all cleaned up in the end, furniture back in place. $900 included everything.
Not even going to get my ladder out for $900.

[Glowfromminnesota]

I had mine done by finding a contractor on this site last year looking for top reviews. Beautiful job by a husband and wife. Did the entire house walls only (except closets and one room that I did) for slightly over $1,000. They used top of the line SW paint and the walls were already a light creamy color. Paint has gone up significantly from a little over one year ago.

[JGibson]

He should stay at his union job and then retire here.
It's very hard to make good money in Florida as a painter. They’re a dime a dozen and it's really not a highly skilled trade.

The reason folks are getting quoted so high to paint is that TV residents pay almost double for contractors because they think we’re all rich.

[defrey12]

Originally Posted by bob47

I must be out of touch. $3/ft2? $300 for one 8' x 12' wall? Over $1000 for the 4 walls of one room?

It’s per sq Ft if house, not the walls