A painting scope of works defines exactly what's included in a job — surfaces to be painted, preparation required, number of coats, paint type and brand, exclusions, and completion criteria. It protects both the painter and client by eliminating ambiguity and preventing disputes over what was agreed.
Prices last updated: April 2026
You want to create clear, professional scope documents that protect your business and set client expectations.
Start building professional quotes →You're quoting commercial or multi-stage residential work and need a detailed scope to support your price.
You want a template your team can use consistently across all jobs.
A scope of works is a detailed document that describes exactly what painting work will be done. It sits alongside your quote and acts as the agreed specification for the job:
On smaller jobs, the scope can be part of your quote. On larger residential or commercial jobs, it should be a separate document attached to your quote.
A complete painting scope of works should cover:
Stop losing money on vague agreements. Create detailed quotes with built-in scope definitions that protect your business.
Vague scopes lead to disputes, lost money, and unhappy clients:
A good scope takes 15–30 minutes to write but can save hours of dispute resolution and thousands in unbilled work.
Here's a practical scope structure for a standard residential repaint:
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Project | Interior repaint — 3 Bed, 1 Bath, Lounge, Kitchen, Hallway |
| Surfaces | All walls (approx 180m²), all ceilings (approx 95m²), all doors ×8, all trim/skirting (approx 120 lin.m) |
| Preparation | Wash all surfaces, sand to P120, fill holes and cracks, caulk gaps at trim junctions, spot prime repairs |
| Paint system | Walls: Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, 2 coats. Ceilings: Resene Ceiling Paint, 2 coats. Trim: Resene Lustacryl Semi-Gloss, 2 coats |
| Colours | Per client selection — max 3 wall colours, 1 trim colour, 1 ceiling colour |
| Exclusions | Furniture moving (client responsibility), wallpaper removal, exterior work, structural repairs |
| Timeline | 5–7 working days from start |
| Variations | Any work outside this scope quoted separately with written approval |
Attach this to your quote. For help building professional quotes, see our quoting guide or use our quoting calculator.
A scope of works attached to an accepted quote forms part of your contract. If a dispute goes to the Disputes Tribunal or court, the scope is the primary document used to determine what was agreed. Always get written acceptance of both the quote and scope.
Even for small jobs, include surfaces to be painted, preparation, number of coats, paint brand and finish, and exclusions. It can be a few bullet points on your quote rather than a separate document, but it should still be clear what's included.
Include the paint brand, product, and finish in the scope. Colours are usually confirmed separately as the client may not have chosen yet. Note the maximum number of colours included in your price — more colours means more time and materials.
Include a variation clause in your scope: any work outside the agreed scope will be quoted separately and requires written approval before proceeding. Document changes in writing — even a text message creates a record — and confirm the additional cost before doing the work.
Stop losing money on vague agreements. Create detailed quotes with built-in scope definitions that protect your business.