What a painting work order is for
Most painting mistakes are not brush skills; they are the wrong color on the wrong wall, or trim painted that the customer wanted left stained. A work order with colors by room, prep notes and what not to touch prevents that. It also tells the crew where they can set up, wash out and park.
What to put on a painting work order
- Rooms and surfaces, in order.
- Color, product and sheen for each surface.
- Prep steps and problem spots.
- What to protect or leave alone.
- Setup, washout and parking.
- Walk-through sign-off.
A worked example
Day one of the main floor. The crew lead needs colors by room and the prep list. Prices are hidden on this copy.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living room walls, color A, eggshell | 420 | sq ft | Your price |
| Dining room walls, color B, eggshell | 310 | sq ft | Your price |
| All ceilings, flat white | 430 | sq ft | Your price |
| Prime dining ceiling stain first | 1 | each | Your price |
| Baseboards and casings, semi-gloss | 260 | ft | Your price |
Write in site notes that the built-in bookcase stays natural wood, where washout is allowed, and that the cat must stay upstairs. Those three lines save the most trouble on a job like this.
Line items painters use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Paint walls, two coats | sq ft | Wall area, not floor area; say the paint line and sheen. |
| Paint ceilings | sq ft | Flat ceiling paint unless the customer asks otherwise. |
| Paint trim and baseboards | ft | By the foot, or per room if you prefer. |
| Paint doors and frames | each | Both sides and the frame, or say otherwise. |
| Paint cabinets | each | Per door and drawer front; say whether boxes are included. |
| Drywall patching and sanding | hour | Nail pops, dents and small holes before paint. |
| Prime stains or new drywall | sq ft | Stain-blocking primer where water or smoke marks are. |
| Caulk gaps at trim | ft | Where trim meets wall. |
| Exterior siding, wash, scrape and paint | sq ft | Prep matters most outside; describe it. |
| Scrape and prime bare wood | hour | Exterior prep that varies by condition. |
| Move and cover furniture | room | Say whether you move it or the customer does. |
| Wallpaper removal | sq ft | Price separately; condition varies. |
| Lead-safe work practices | each | For homes built before 1978, where federal rules apply to disturbing paint. |
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer, the site and the date.
- Add who is assigned, the arrival window and access.
- List the tasks and materials in the order the crew will need them.
- Put gate codes, pets and anything to protect in the site notes.
- Print it for the truck or send it to the crew's phone as a PDF.
Free tools for painting
The same work order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
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