HELP - Is this expensive for interior painting?

That's the exact price we've been quoted for our house for adding a 3rd coat (2 storey, about 31 sq). Not sure how many storeys you have and how big is your house, though ...

We paid $1600 to upgrade to three coats....that was the cost back in 2008 too.

Hi, I'm a painting contractor and theres a few things to consider when asking for three coats on the walls..

Firstly if your getting two coats, are the two coats one of plasterboard sealer then one of the wall coating i.e typically low sheen. (true two coat system)
Or is it two coats of low sheen over plasterboard sealer. final being cut and rolled initial sealer and first coat of low sheen being sprayed(techniqually thats a three coat system)

However, the only benifet of getting a true three coat system is that 2 coats of low sheen are cut and rolled by hand, this comes down to the way a new home is painted, you see when painters spray the home they typically spray the walls before the ceilings, what cause's issues here is that the ceiling flat and undercoats to the trim are sprayed or are typically sprayed AFTER two coats are sprayed on the walls, which means the wall paint is oversprayed, then one coat being applied by hand once trims and ceilings are finished. This creates a massive differance and is rarely done correctly in new homes , as contractors if requested to do three coats as opposed to two will usually just spray another coat on the walls during spraying.

What you want is to stipulate that you get three coats ,that being one of plasterboard sealer, then two of low sheen done by hand! otherwise its pointless.

As you can tell by that requesting three coats and having it sprayed on, really the painter isnt doing anything wrong as he is giving you the three coats you've requested, but you're not really recieving the benifets of having a three coat system.

I'm probably making this post far too long and boring however the issue comes back to the transperancy of the low sheen sheen, when you spray the sealer and ceilings trim etc, you end up with spray lines and overspray all over your walls ,then once ONE coat is cut and rolled, while it looks good you will see sheen marks from the overspray below, if you do two coats by hand after spraying the first coat eliminates 80% - 90% of the below overspray etc then the final gives you 100% opacity 100% sheen level etc.
Very few people have a true three coat system in there homes done this way, but its what everyone should really have. The differance is noteable.

plasterboard has to be sealed. Pays to check the specifications, it is unusual to get two coats of low sheen cut and rolled, even if a builder specifies three coats they will almost certainly spray the sealer and first coat of low sheen.
Chances are the builder wouldnt know how the painters are doing it.

HI Swarvy,

THANX heaps for sharing so much information about your trade!
It wasn't boring but I have to admit that I did re-read your post several times wornout: and also try to recall what had already been done so far. Up til now, I was still trying to figure out what was meant by 2 and 3 coat system (primer and 1 coat of paint = 2 coats or primer and 2 coats of paint = 2 coats????) Now I know

I think last Friday, the crew were prepping the walls and ceilings (i.e. I think they were sealing the plasterboards cos' I saw some sort of sealant/primer thingy).
On Monday, the painter at the house said that the ceiling had been sprayed the one coat and the walls (upstairs) had been painted (I'm not sure how the wall paint was applied since the painter had already packed up his equipment). I was told that the ceilings would be sprayed but the walls cut and rolled (nice to finally know the proper technical term cos' before this I'd just say brushed and rolled!) I'll have to quiz the painter tomorrow or Friday....

should cost you about 5 grand be weary of the cheaper quotes and check the scope of works and spec of more expensive quotes, don't right anyone off go by the scope of works as to compare value for money. Also ask for a scope of works with any quote. (should receive one with every quote but i'll doubt you'll receive any at all unless you ask for them)