Coating quotes are hard to compare because the expensive parts of the job are the parts nobody photographs. Two prices for "painting the warehouse floor" can describe completely different pieces of work.
Ask what the preparation actually is
This is where quotes diverge most, and where failures begin. A contractor should tell you the method, not the adjective:
- How will the surface be prepared — shot blasting, diamond grinding, needle gunning, chemical wash?
- For steel, which standard and grade — Sa 2½, St 3 — and how is it verified?
- How will moisture in the concrete be measured before coating?
- What happens if the substrate turns out worse than expected? A contractor who has no answer will paint over the problem.
A quote that is materially cheaper than the others has almost always saved the money here.
Ask for the system, not the product name
"Epoxy" is a family, not a specification. You want the primer, intermediate and topcoat named, the dry film thickness per coat in microns, and the total build. Then ask how thickness is verified — wet film gauge during application, dry film gauge afterwards, and whether readings are recorded and handed over.
If nobody measures, nobody can prove what you received, and neither can the manufacturer if you make a warranty claim.
Ask about conditions and scheduling
In Saudi conditions this is not a formality. Pot life shortens in heat, and applying near the dew point traps moisture under the film. A contractor who plans around temperature and humidity, and who will stop work when conditions are wrong, is telling you something important about how they operate.
Ask what happens after
- Who inspects, and against what?
- What is handed over — thickness records, batch numbers, datasheets?
- What is the warranty, and what voids it?
- How is remedial work handled if a defect appears in six months?
The signals worth trusting
Reference sites you can actually visit are worth more than a portfolio. Ask for work of a similar type, in similar conditions, that is a few years old — anything looks good the week it is finished. Ask who will be on site, and whether the crew is directly employed or subcontracted on the day.
Where BK Services fits
Our construction and industrial finishing division covers interior and exterior painting, epoxy systems, waterproofing, wall textures and industrial linings, with surface preparation and quality control treated as part of the work rather than an optional extra. Our coatings work includes NEOM, Hilton Olaya, Panda and ABV Rock.
If you have a project to quote, tell us what needs coating and we will survey and specify before pricing it.