Write the scope before the quote
Painters can only price what they're told. Say "paint the downstairs" to two painters and they may picture two different jobs. The surest way to get quotes you can compare is to walk your own home first and write down exactly what you want done. This page shows how to do that for an interior repaint.
Wheeling's figures
Census QuickFacts counts Wheeling's households, 2020-2024, at 12,614, with 2.00 persons per household. In an average year at Wheeling/Ohio County, about 9 miles from Wheeling, NOAA counts about 264 hours with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F and about 1,110 hours above 67°F. Those are the bureau's and the station's figures as published. The wet-bulb counts come up again below, where drying time comes in.
Room by room
For each room, write down:
- Walls: all of them, or one accent wall?
- Ceiling: included or not, and any stains or cracks on it?
- Trim: baseboards, window casings, door casings, crown molding.
- Doors: one side or both, and closet doors?
- Closets: walls and shelves, or skip them?
- Repairs: holes, cracks, peeling spots, water marks.
- Color: the same color again, or a change, and light over dark or dark over light?
Keep the list and hand the same copy to each painter.
Choosing sheens as you go
Sheen changes how washable a surface is and how much it shows flaws.
- Flat or matte hides flaws and suits ceilings and low-traffic walls.
- Eggshell and satin wipe clean better and suit most living spaces, halls and children's rooms.
- Semi-gloss suits trim and doors, and bathrooms and kitchens where splashes and steam are part of daily life.
Writing a sheen beside each surface saves a back-and-forth later. See paint sheens and finishes.
Drying indoors
The wet-bulb counts above measure warm, humid hours at the station. In general, indoor paint dries more slowly when the air in the house is humid and more quickly with air moving and the temperature inside the label's range. On a muggy day, fans, air conditioning or a dehumidifier can help a coat dry before the next one. Ask whether the painter will want them running, and for how long after the last coat.
Furniture, floors and access
Note which rooms can be emptied and which will need furniture pulled to the middle and covered. List fragile items, wall hangings and window treatments to take down. Tell the painter about pets and children, and which rooms you need back first.
Who you hire
West Virginia's Contractor Licensing Act says the term contractor does not include a person who performs landscaping or painting services for commercial or residential customers. That is the code's wording at West Virginia Code 30-42-3, and nothing more is drawn from it here.
Whoever you choose, lay your written scope next to their written proposal. Every item on your list should appear on theirs, with the prep, primer, coats and product named. You can also ask for proof of liability coverage.
When the quotes come back
- Does each quote cover every room and surface on your list?
- Are repairs included, or priced as found?
- Is primer listed where colors change or patches go?
- How many coats on each surface?
- Who moves the furniture?
- What's the schedule, room by room?
Our interior painting page and the drywall repair and surface preparation guide go further.