When I first started my business, I never requested any money up front. Then again, they were pretty small jobs mostly for friends and family. However, when I landed my first piece of business with a decorator she advised me to request 50% of the total in advance. Since then, it has been the norm. A few times I have been so sure that the client was definite that I went ahead and ordered hoping to avoid a delay while waiting for materials to be delivered when I got the final “go ahead”. Then I got the call from the client who tells you that they have either changed the project or dropped it entirely. No there I was, stuck with a hole in my work schedule and gallons of plaster I didn’t need. All I could do is hope that eventually I would have a client who selected the same finish so that the money spent wouldn’t be entirely wasted. Still, time is the most perishable product there is. Once lost, it cannot be regained.

We are so busy now and booked in advance that I don’t put any work on the schedule until there is a deposit. That’s the only way I can be certain that a client is serious. On the other hand, I could understand a client’s hesitation to pay upfront $$$ to someone they don’t know for work that hasn’t been done yet. I read Greg Dawson’s (consumer advocate) column all of the time and it’s mostly dominated by tales of contractors who disappeared with a clients deposit, never to be heard from again. While I have never had a client hesitate to pay the deposit, I would not be at all offended to be asked for references. It’s a good business practice!

The first thing a person really wants to know is “How much is this going to cost?”. Although it’s usually the last thing they ask.

I will attempt to give you enough information so that you will not be among the clueless when you shop for decorative art or faux finishing or when you call us. Of course it all comes down to two things - TIME (aka LABOR) & COST OF MATERIALS.

These two little subjects can get pretty complicated though. Let’s talk about what things effect them:

1. SIZE OF THE SPACE This is obvious, so we’ll start here. But don’t be fooled… Although the size of the space effects how much materials will be used, the square footage alone cetainly does not indicate how long it will take to cover the surface. i.e. Time (Labor).

Oh yeah - A note on “square footage”. Quotes are rarely given by the SF, but when it does happen, the space taken up by doors and windows are included in the calculation as though they do not exist… Reason - It takes much longer to have to prep, tape and go around these obstacles than it would the flat additional square footage if they did not exist.

Sorry, but someone has to “Square Footage” the bill!

2. SHAPE OF THE SPACE How complex is it?

A. Are there lots of cabinets, doors, windows, niches, alcoves, plumbing, etc. to have to work around? This kind of space requires lots of taping and prep work. Let’s not even talk about having to squeeze yourself into the space above the cabinets or below the toilet. Owie! Owie!

Kitchens and bathrooms are what we’re talking about here. It’s amazing how long it can take to do these areas. Clients are always surprised that the price can be relatively high for such a little bitty space. Oh yeah… Is the powder bath so tiny you can’t open a ladder, but the ceiling is 12 feet? This is a 25% danger factor add-on.

B. Which brings us to - How tall are the walls? If they’re over 12 feet, a rolling scaffold will probably be needed. Archways can make things a wee bit challenging, but are usually not tough enough to effect pricing. If the walls are even higher than 14 feet, the danger factor kicks in again along with the inconvenience factor of having to carry and set up multiple layers of scaffold.

3. WHERE IS THE SPACE?
If you’re looking for a faux finish on the floor, you can expect to pay more than the same finish on a “vertical” surface (wall). Ceilings are fashionable, but also the most difficult areas to do. The higher they are, the more difficult (danger factor). You can expect to pay as much as double the price from a vertical surface to a ceiling. After all, how would you like to work all day with your neck cranked back and your arms in the air creating a thing of beauty? I don’t think we need to spend much time discussing stairways, do we? Oh, it’s spiral? Go figure!

4. WHAT KIND OF ART OR FINISH DO YOU WANT? The cost of a mural will depend on the size and the amount of detail required as well as where you want it painted (location, location, location). Also, if the artist is very accomplished and in high demand, you will pay more. Most people are not looking for cheap, bad artists. $500 per day is pretty average. So it’s best to find an artist who is very good and very fast. By the way, Disney stuff is all under copyright, so please don’t ask someone to paint Nemo…

Glazing VS. Archetectural Coatings Glazing is basically using opaque paint as a base with layers of translucent colors blended and manipulated over the base with the use of sponges, rags, plastic sheeting or bags, brushes, or many types of implements. It’s very nice and less expensive than the archetectural coatings. Some of the more basic applications may be demonstrated in a lot of DIY “Big Box” stores.

Archetectural Coatings are, simply put, plasters. They can be metallic and layered with waxes and glazes to enhance the art. They can be rugged and distressed to look ancient. They can imitate brick, stone, marble, concrete, your dog (okay, so that’s a stretch).

Of course, we are all familiar with Venetian plaster which can be used in many decorative ways outside of the traditional “marble-like” application for which it was invented…

The possibilities are endless. These can be cutting edge modern, traditional, or old world Tuscan. You name it. You are limited only by your imagination and the talent of your artist. Oh yeah, we forgot to mention one other thing - the budget. Your imagination might be expensive; but you’re worth it!

IMPORTANT NOTE: When you are purchasing beautiful decorative art for your home or business, especially a mural or an archetectural coating like a Venetian plaster it’s the same as adding granite counter tops, onyx, or marble tile. It becomes an asset and adds intrinsic value. If you just think of it as paint and you can change it in a couple of years when you get tired of it, then you probably want to stay with something like the paint and glaze option. In fact, you might want to play around with it a little yourself…

If you are interested in DIY, check back with us often. We have some big surprises in the near future about classes for those who would like a new adventure into the art of decoration for your own home…

I hope this helps you to understand all of the things you might need to consider when deciding on your special decorative art. Check back for more on this topic as it evolves…Ciao Bella!