How pricing works
What decides the price of a hand finish
We don't print prices, because two walls in the same house can cost very differently. Here is what moves the number, and what the estimate says.
Wall area and height
Square footage, and whether a ceiling is tall enough to need scaffold.
The finish
Limewash is a few thin coats. Polished plaster is several, each dried and burnished, so it takes more days.
What is under it
Cracks, flaking paint, texture to flatten and old plaster to repair come before any finish.
Colors and glazes
More colors, a glaze over the finish or a metallic accent add coats and mixing.
Access and furniture
Stairs, tall walls and rooms full of furniture slow the work.
Boards and design time
The estimate says whether sample boards carry a charge and whether it is credited toward the job.
The written estimate
What a good estimate states, and what a vague one skips
Hold any estimate, ours included, up against these lines.
| Line | A vague one | A clear estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Walls and areas | A vague one"Living room" | A clear estimateEach wall listed with its size |
| The finish | A vague one"Decorative finish" | A clear estimateNamed: limewash, polished plaster, glaze |
| Coats | A vague oneNot stated | A clear estimateThe number of coats and the prep coat |
| Repairs | A vague one"As needed" | A clear estimateWhat we expect to fix, and what would cost extra |
| Colors | A vague oneNot stated | A clear estimateHow many, and what a new one costs |
| Schedule | A vague one"A week or so" | A clear estimateDays on site and a start date |
| Payment | A vague one"Half down" | A clear estimateA deposit, a mid-job payment and a balance |
At the visit
Who comes, what they check, when you get the number
Who comes
Ariadna or Estefania, with the boards. The same person writes the estimate.
What they check
The wall's surface, its cracks, the height, the light, and what has to move.
When you get the number
In writing, after you have chosen a board. We don't quote a finish you haven't seen.
Price questions
What is not in the estimate?
Repairs we find only once a wall is opened, extra colors added after boards are chosen, trim and ceilings that aren't on the list, and moving heavy furniture. We write each of these down so you can ask us about it.
Do the sample boards cost anything?
Your written estimate says whether boards carry a charge and whether it is credited toward the job. Ask at the first call and we will tell you before we make any.
How do deposits and payments work?
The estimate shows the payment schedule: a deposit to hold the dates and order materials, a payment partway, and the balance when you have walked the finished walls with us.
What does the warranty cover?
Terms, limits and exclusions are in your written warranty, which comes with the estimate. Ask us to walk through it before you sign.
Want the number for your wall?
Book a board visit. The estimate comes after you have picked a finish.