Paint is one of the last jobs on a new house and one of the most common jobs on an old one. In Lahore, painters are asked to do everything from a one-room refresh before Eid to a full house repaint after seepage repairs, a weather coat before the monsoon, or a fresh polish on doors and kitchen cabinets.
This guide explains what painting contractors in Lahore usually cover, how to choose one, how quotes are normally priced, and what to watch for. Use it to write a clear request so the quotes you get back can be compared fairly.
What painters in Lahore cover
Most painting contractors run small teams: a lead painter (often called the ustad), helpers who scrape, sand and fill, and sometimes a separate polish specialist for woodwork. Larger contractors also take on commercial and plaza work with scaffolding.
| Service | What it is | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Interior painting | Wall putty, primer and emulsion or enamel on inside walls and ceilings | New house finishing, repaint every few years, after renovation or seepage repair |
| Exterior painting & weather coat | Weather-resistant exterior paint on outside walls, boundary walls and parapets | Faded or flaking front elevation, before monsoon, after plaster repairs |
| Texture & designer finishes | Textured coats, stucco-style finishes, metallic or patterned feature walls | Lounge or bedroom feature walls, offices, shop fronts |
| Wood polish & lacquer | Sanding, staining, sealer and polish or lacquer on doors, frames, cabinets and furniture | New woodwork, old doors that have darkened or peeled, kitchen refresh |
| Enamel on metal | Rust treatment and enamel on grills, gates and railings | Rusting gates, new grill work |
| Repair-and-paint jobs | Crack filling, patch plaster, damp treatment before painting | Older houses with cracks or damp patches |
How to choose a painter
Painting is usually not a licensed trade, so you will rarely have a registration number to check. Your checks are practical:
- See finished work. Ask for addresses or photos of jobs done in the last year, ideally a house similar to yours. Look closely at corners, ceiling lines, switchboards and door frames.
- Ask about preparation. A good painter talks about scraping, sanding, filling cracks, damp treatment and primer before talking about colour. Preparation decides how long the paint lasts.
- Get the scope in writing. Number of putty coats, primer coats and finish coats; which rooms and surfaces; whether ceilings, grills and doors are included.
- Material clarity. Agree whether you or the contractor buys the paint. If the contractor buys, ask for sealed tins and receipts and check the product and grade match the quote.
- Team and timeline. How many people will work, daily hours, and expected finish date.
- Clean-up and protection. Covering floors, furniture and fittings, and removing switch plates instead of painting around them.
How pricing usually works
There are no fixed rates. Painters in Lahore commonly quote in one of these ways:
| Pricing basis | How it works | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Per square foot (labour only) | You buy material; painter charges on painted area | How area is measured (floor area vs actual wall area) |
| Per square foot (with material) | Contractor supplies material and labour | Paint grade and number of coats must be named |
| Per room or lump sum | Fixed price for a defined job | Exactly what is included |
| Per door / per piece | Common for wood polish and grills | Both sides counted? Frames included? |
| Daily wage | Paid per painter per day | Slow progress; needs close supervision |
What changes the price:
- Condition of walls: cracks, damp, old peeling paint and previous oil paint all add preparation time.
- Number of putty, primer and finish coats.
- Paint type and grade (economy emulsion vs premium washable, weather coat, texture or lacquer).
- Height and access: double-height lounges, stairwells and outside walls may need scaffolding.
- Colour changes: going from dark to light needs extra coats.
- Whether furniture is in place and the house is occupied.
- Timeline: rush jobs need bigger teams.
Ask every contractor to quote the same written scope so you compare like with like.
Process from request to completion
- Send your request with the house size, rooms or surfaces, current condition and photos.
- Site visit. The painter inspects walls, checks for damp and measures.
- Written quote with surface preparation, coats, materials and timeline.
- Sample patch. Ask for colour and finish samples on the actual wall, viewed in daylight and at night.
- Preparation. Covering, scraping, sanding, crack and damp treatment, putty and primer.
- Finish coats with drying time between coats.
- Snag walk. Check every room in daylight, mark touch-ups with masking tape.
- Touch-ups, clean-up and final payment.
Red flags
- A quote with only a total and no mention of putty, primer or coats.
- Painting straight over damp or flaking paint without treating the cause.
- Refusing to show paint tins or asking you to pay for material without a receipt.
- Thinning paint far beyond the maker's instructions to stretch it.
- Large advance with no written scope.
- Painting over switch plates, hinges and fittings instead of removing or masking them.
- No plan for drying time between coats.
FAQs
Should I buy the paint myself? Either works. Buying it yourself gives you control over product and grade; letting the contractor supply it is simpler but ask for sealed tins and receipts.
How long does a full house repaint take? It depends on house size, wall condition, number of coats and team size. Ask each painter for a written timeline with a start and end date.
Can painters fix seepage marks? They can treat the surface, but if water is still coming through from a roof, bathroom or pipe, the patch will return. Fix the source first, then paint.
What is the difference between emulsion and enamel? Emulsion is water-based and used on most walls and ceilings. Enamel is oil- or solvent-based and used on metal, wood and some high-wear surfaces. Your painter should recommend which goes where.
When is the best time to paint the outside? Dry weather gives paint time to cure. Avoid painting just before or during heavy rain, and ask the contractor how long the coat needs before it gets wet.
Do I need a separate polish contractor for doors? Many painting teams include a polish specialist; others subcontract. Ask who will do the woodwork and see examples of their polish.
Sources
This guide uses no external figures, rates or standards. Prices vary by job and change often, so get written quotes on the same scope from more than one contractor.