Painting questions, answered

Cost depends on five things: the paintable surface area, the condition of the surfaces, the prep and repair they need, the paint line you choose, and access such as height, scaffolding and season. We price each house from the house itself, not from a rate card. Send photos and your town, and we quote from there.

Interior cost follows room count, ceiling height, wall condition, trim and door count, color change and paint line. Dark-to-light changes need primer and an extra coat. Plaster and drywall repair add time before any paint goes on. Your quote lists each room and each surface so you can see where the money goes.

Exterior cost depends on siding type, square footage, number of stories, trim detail, how much scraping and carpentry repair the surface needs, and the paint line. Cedar and log take more prep than smooth fiber cement. Lake-facing elevations often need extra work. A walkthrough or photos settle it.

Cabinet cost depends on the count of doors and drawer fronts, the condition of the existing finish, the color, and the hardware work. Stained or glossy cabinets need more prep than plain painted ones. Count your doors and drawers, send a photo, and we price from that.

Deck staining cost depends on deck size, the age and condition of the boards, the old finish that has to come off, railings and spindles, and the stain line. A deck with a failed finish costs more to strip than a deck that needs a cleaning and a fresh coat. Photos and rough dimensions get you a quote.

Yes. We move furniture to the center of the room, cover it with plastic, and put it back when the walls are dry. Floors get drop cloths and doorways get protection. For heavy pieces, pianos or anything fragile, tell us ahead and we plan around it. Wall art and small items come off before we start.

Time depends on room count, ceiling height, repair work and how many painters are on site. A walkthrough settles it. Your quote names a start window and a finish window. Prep takes a larger share of the schedule than most owners expect. Occupied homes and seasonal homes get different plans, so tell us which one yours is.

Often yes. September gives warm days and dry afternoons, and it sits inside the Northern Michigan exterior season. Cool nights, morning dew and shorter days narrow the working hours, so we start late in the morning and watch the forecast and the surface temperature. If the week turns wet, we move the job and do not paint over moisture.

The exterior season runs roughly May through October. Late spring and summer give the longest dry stretches and the most reliable surface temperatures. Spring is the time to wash, scrape and repair so the paint goes on in summer. Fall works when the forecast cooperates. Book early for lake-facing houses, because the good weeks fill first.

Lake-facing exteriors need a wash to remove algae, mildew and grit, scraping of failed paint, sanding of edges, repair of rot and open joints, spot priming of bare wood, and fresh caulk. South- and west-facing walls take the heaviest UV and the worst freeze-thaw damage, so those walls get the most attention before any topcoat.

We spray. Spray lays down a smooth, even film that does not show hand marks. We spray the doors, drawer fronts and face frames, and brush only the tight spots a sprayer cannot reach. The finish is Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel.

Cabinet painting takes longer than wall painting because every coat needs time to cure. We tell you before the job starts how long the doors are out and when the kitchen is back in full use.

Yes. Stained wood, old paint and glossy finishes all take paint once the surface is cleaned, degreased, sanded and primed with a bonding primer such as Extreme Bond. Skipping that primer is the usual reason painted cabinets chip. Cabinets with failed laminate or peeling thermofoil need a closer look, so send a photo first.

Yes. Every M22 Fresh Coats job uses paint, stain and primer from Sherwin-Williams. We match the line to the surface: Emerald for premium interiors and exteriors, Duration where stain resistance or a thick film counts, Cashmere for large walls, SuperPaint for dependable everyday work. We name the brand to say what we use. We are an independent painting company, not a dealer.

Emerald is the premium line, sold in interior, exterior and trim versions. It costs more per gallon than SuperPaint. It earns that cost where hide, washability or a hard film matters: kitchens, formal rooms, lake-facing exteriors, trim and cabinets. For a low-traffic bedroom on a tight budget, SuperPaint does the job.

Yes. If you live somewhere else part of the year, we agree on access, alarm codes and updates before we start, and you see the finished house when you arrive.

Yes. Drywall and plaster repair is part of the job. We fill holes and cracks, skim rough patches, sand, spot-prime and caulk gaps before topcoats go on. Paint shows every flaw, especially under satin and gloss finishes. Water damage, large patches and structural cracks need the cause fixed first, and we tell you if that applies.

Yes. We wash the surface to remove dirt, chalk, algae and loose paint, then wait for it to dry before scraping and priming. We set pressure to the surface, because high pressure scars cedar and old wood. Washing is the first step of every exterior we paint, because paint cannot grip a dirty or damp wall.

Ask for a certificate of insurance before any work starts, from us or any contractor you hire. We send current paperwork on request.

Yes. We paint across Grand Traverse County, Old Mission Peninsula, Leelanau County, Elk Rapids and Torch Lake, Glen Arbor and Empire near Sleeping Bear Dunes, Interlochen, Kingsley, and Benzie County towns such as Frankfort and Beulah. If your town is not on the list, call (231) 642-6282 and we tell you whether we can reach it.