Painting FAQ — Massachusetts homeowners.

Interior repaints in Massachusetts range from about $2,500 (single room) to $12,000+ (whole-home with trim). Exterior repaints run $5,500–$22,000 depending on size, substrate, prep depth, and elevation count. Cabinet refinishing is $2,800–$12,000. Deck staining is $1,200–$7,500. Use our painting cost calculator for a service-specific range, then book an on-site visit for an itemized written quote.

Yes, every estimate is free, on-site, and written. We walk the space with you, listen to your vision, and email a detailed scope with paint brand selection and timeline — typically within 48 hours.

We accept cash, check, and major credit cards. A signed estimate typically requires a deposit at start; the balance is due on completion after your final walk-through. Specifics are confirmed in writing on every estimate. Call (508) 258-4325 if you'd like to discuss payment terms before the visit.

No. Every estimate is line-itemized — surfaces, prep depth, paint brand, sheen, and labor. Change orders only happen if you change the scope after signing. If we find unexpected substrate damage mid-job, we stop and discuss with you before doing extra work.

Most 3-bedroom interior repaints are completed in 3–5 working days. Larger homes or full trim packages can extend to 7–10 days. We give you a confirmed written timeline before we start.

Typical exterior repaints run 5–10 working days depending on home size, substrate, weather windows, and prep depth. We commit to a written timeline before mobilizing and watch the dew point — we'll cancel a paint day rather than push through bad conditions.

About a week — Day 1 is removal and on-site prep, Days 2–4 are shop spray on doors, Day 5 is on-site box spray (kitchen out of service for ~24 hours), Days 6–7 are reinstall and walk-through.

Mid-May through mid-October for exterior work. Surface temps need to stay above 45°F overnight and humidity under 70%. Interior painting runs year-round in occupied homes. See our painting schedule page for more detail.

We typically schedule on-site visits within 2–3 business days of your call, send a written quote within 48 hours of the visit, and can usually start within the same or following week — depending on scope, season, and current backlog.

Benjamin Moore Regal Select and Aura for walls, Advance for trim and cabinets. Sherwin-Williams Emerald and Duration for demanding applications. We specify by surface and use case, not by lowest cost per gallon — see our side-by-side comparison.

Yes. All our interior paints are low-VOC (<50 g/L) by default. Zero-VOC options (Benjamin Moore Aura, Sherwin-Williams Harmony) are available on request — recommended for nurseries, asthma-sensitive households, or any project where windows can't stay open during cure.

Generally we discourage it. We buy paint through a contractor account at a discount and pass the savings to you; the brand and tint base are matched to our process. If you have specific colors already purchased we can work with them, but we won't warranty paint we didn't specify.

Yes. Most of our projects are in occupied homes. We use low-VOC paints so it's safe to stay, isolate the work area each day, cover floors and furniture, and clean up every evening before we leave.

Yes — we move furniture to the center of each room and cover it with plastic. Heavier pieces we cover in place. Nothing leaves the house.

Free color consulting is included on every interior estimate. We bring physical sample boards so you can see real paint in your home's light before committing.

Minor repairs are included — drywall patching, nail-hole filling, light caulking, swapping a damaged clapboard. For larger carpentry (replacing rotted siding, rebuilding window casings) we coordinate with trusted local carpenters and add their scope to your estimate.

Our in-house crew, every job. Andre walks every estimate and leads every project. We don't use subcontractors — the team you meet on day 1 is the team finishing on day 5.

Yes. Our crew is EPA RRP-certified for lead-safe practices on pre-1978 substrates. We follow federal containment, dust-control, and disposal rules — required by law for homes built before 1978. See our lead-safe painting guide for what that means on a real Massachusetts project.

Yes. AJ Painting Services Inc. is fully licensed, bonded, and carries general liability plus workers' compensation insurance. A certificate of insurance is available on request for every project.

2 years on exterior painting, 1 year on interior, cabinet refinishing, and deck staining. Written warranty on every signed estimate. See our warranty page for full coverage details and how to make a claim.

We serve a ~40-mile radius from our Ashland headquarters — 100 cities total across Metro West, Worcester County, Greater Boston west suburbs, Norfolk, and Bristol. Primary cities are Ashland and Worcester; we run weekly projects in Framingham, Natick, Holliston, Hopkinton, Sudbury, Westborough, Shrewsbury, Wellesley, and dozens more.

No travel surcharges. The estimate price is the price, regardless of which of the 100 cities you're in. Towns at the outer edge (Fitchburg, Quincy, Attleboro) may have slightly longer lead times for scheduling but the per-project pricing is the same.