California,
Wish I had a dollar for eveytime someone asks that question….but only a fool or a person just filthy rich wouldn’t ask it. I’m going to rely heavily on other painters and body men to agree, disagree, offer more information or just give me the ’nod’ about the following information:
Approximating the paint costs.
Depending on the type of paint and chemistry you choose is directly related to the price and how durable and lasting the finish endures through the next several years. Uncomplacated basic paint like Valspar’s BPS Paint can be shot with mineral spirts, optional hardener, optional Naptha to increase drying times and the paint color you choose for about $35. a gallon. As economical as that sounds you have to figure that the durability of the finish is only 12-18 months when exposed to all the elements of weather. The next choice and a much higher durability rating is acrylic enamel with catylist (hardener) and temeprature specific reducer (thinner) and optional clears. A solid color and related chemistry runs about $90-$120. per gallon. Shine and reflectivity well last 5-6 years, but the paint is susceptible to scratches and chipping for equipment used routinely and in an environment typical of agricultural operation. Polyurethanes, Urethanes and BC/CC cleared paints are indeed the most expensive and on average these paint packages with all the related chemistry to activate them run about $200-$300 per gallon. They offer the most durable finish, elastic topcoat properties that are designed for (other than show car caliber paint jobs) industry and agriculture long term (10-15 years) and tenacious bite (grip). They are easily repairable should you sustain an impact greater than normal operation.
Since all of the above choices are available…cheaper is most often not better. Especially when considering all the preparation including disassembly, cleaning, chemical or abrasive blasting, neutralizing paint ready surfaces, applying substrates (primers), abarasives, Scotch Brite and other stripping-sanding basics will often more than double the costs of the paint chemistry. So now your paint chemistry at $300 totals more than $600 (and a very consertive figure not allowing for any body work, sheet metal straightening, new hardware or parts replacement etc.).
Here’s the deal killer! Labor. To walk into a busy shop and ask for an estimate, believe me when I say it will run a minimum of $2500-$3000. for paint work only. Even a friend in that business or a hungry independent shop owner will estimate that cost of labor at $1800-$2000 or they will soon be out of business if they ask less.
This is why I have, since retired, tried to show the best and least impact on one’s budget is to do it yourself. If you’ve never painted before and you don’t want to plunk down $3K (who does?) then for half of that money you can buy an adequate and simple compressor, airline, inline dryer and fittings, a relatively inexpensive but good HVLP paint gun and do it yourself. The basics of apply paint and preparation are not difficult to learn, apply to all varieties finishes and you will recover you initaial costs on your first complete. And way ahead of the costs on your second project.
Sorry for the long winded response.
Mark