01
The assembly, not just the finish
Wall area alone is an incomplete cost basis. Substrate condition, height/access, corners, curved surfaces, mock-ups and chosen sheen change the work. A small accent panel and an entire stair hall can require different protection and staging even at similar measured area. Name the complete coating system rather than pricing a style word.
NAHB · homeowner remodeling preparation02
Ownership and maintenance
Agree an acceptable sample and repair standard. Hand-worked finishes can show variation, especially in grazing light. Consider how repairs around future fixtures affect continuity and whether the owner accepts a patch or broader refinishing.
03
What the proposal must include
List coating removal, substrate repairs, primer/base, sample panels, production layers, finish/protector if specified, scaffolding and protection. Identify who removes and reinstalls plates or fittings. Count a selected finish upgrade once: not inside both base construction and a separate selections allowance.
04
Resolve before procurement
Approve lighting and mock-ups before finalizing quantities. Obtain product-specific substrate and exposure requirements; decorative plaster is not a waterproofing substitute. Enter a direct allowance rather than presenting a guessed Santa Barbara per-square-foot price.