Painting / Wallcovering Estimator

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Painting & Wallcovering Estimator to prepare accurate estimates and proposals for commercial painting, wallcovering, coatings, and specialty finish projects. This is a customer-facing role that combines estimating, relationship management, sales support, and light project management. The ideal candidate will be comfortable reviewing construction documents, performing detailed takeoffs, communicating with contractors and customers, and managing multiple bids and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Review plans, specifications, finish schedules, elevations, addenda, and bid documents.
• Prepare detailed quantity takeoffs for interior and exterior painting, coatings, wallcovering, and specialty finishes.
• Identify substrates, finish types, preparation requirements, primers, coatings, materials, and quantities.
• Identify scope gaps, clarifications, exclusions, alternates, RFIs, and addenda changes.
• Prepare estimating worksheets, pricing summaries, bid notes, proposals, and scope letters.
• Solicit and review vendor and supplier pricing for materials, equipment, and related scope.
• Track bid deadlines, estimate revisions, customer follow-up, and supporting documentation.
• Represent the company professionally when working with general contractors, owners, customers, project managers, and site superintendents.
• Attend site walks, pre-bid meetings, customer meetings, and scope/finish reviews as needed.
• Communicate with customers to understand project requirements, schedules, budgets, phasing, access, and product selections.
• Follow up on submitted bids and respond to customer questions and scope clarifications.
• Clearly communicate assumptions, inclusions, exclusions, finish standards, product requirements, and project value.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with contractors, customers, vendors, and project teams.
• Coordinate with project managers, superintendents, vendors, suppliers, general contractors, and customers.
• Support smooth project handoffs from estimating to production.
• Communicate project scope, budget, finish requirements, exclusions, schedule expectations, and customer commitments to production teams.
• Assist with change-order pricing, budget updates, material coordination, finish clarifications, and scope revisions.
• Identify potential issues affecting budget, manpower, schedule, quality, or customer satisfaction.
• Maintain organized project files, plans, supplier quotes, notes, communications, and bid documentation.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Experience in painting, wallcovering, coatings, construction estimating, or a related field preferred.
• Strong trade experience may be considered in place of formal estimating experience.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, finish schedules, specifications, addenda, and scopes of work.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable participating in customer-facing sales conversations, site walks, follow-up calls, and scope discussions.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple bids and deadlines.
• Basic computer skills, including email, PDF plan review, and spreadsheets.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation preferred.

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Commercial painting or wallcovering experience.
• Experience with coatings and specialty finishes.
• Experience with tenant improvement, hospitality, retail, or maintenance projects.
• Knowledge of labor productivity, material waste, surface preparation, access requirements, project phasing, and field sequencing.
• Experience with estimating and plan-review software such as: Bluebeam, PlanSwift, On-Screen Takeoff, BuildingConnected, Procore, Smartsheet, Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to build customer relationships and communicate value beyond price.

Work Environment

• Combination of office-based estimating and customer/jobsite interaction.
• Regular communication with contractors, customers, vendors, project managers, and field personnel.
• Site walks and pre-bid meetings may be required.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, bids, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• Health insurance with 50% employer contribution
• Dental insurance with 50% employer contribution
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid time off
• Select paid holidays
• Eligibility for company incentive and bonus programs