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How Alpine Painting Transformed Their Commercial Estimating Process
When you're running a successful commercial painting operation, the last thing you want to hear is that the custom estimating software you invested in isn't cutting it anymore. But that's exactly the realization Dave Scaturro and his team at Alpine Painting and Sandblasting Contractors came to, and it turned into one of the best decisions they ever made.
Meet Alpine Painting and Sandblasting Contractors
Alpine Painting and Sandblasting Contractors isn't your typical residential repaint company. Based in Paterson, New Jersey, this larger commercial and industrial contractor specializes in projects most painting companies never touch: airport hangars, massive warehouses, and towering water towers. These are complex, high-stakes projects that require precision estimating, detailed proposals, and the ability to close deals quickly in competitive bidding environments.
Dave Scaturro, one of the owners, had built Alpine into a successful operation. They had systems in place, experienced estimators on staff, and even custom-built estimating software designed specifically for their needs. On paper, everything looked dialed in.
But "doing well" and "operating at peak efficiency" are two very different things.
Custom Software That Couldn't Keep Up
For years, Alpine relied on custom estimating software. When you're a specialized contractor working on unique projects, the logic seems sound: build software tailored exactly to your workflow. No compromises, just exactly what you need.
In theory, it's perfect. In practice? Not so much.
The reality of custom software is that it becomes frozen in time. Unless you have developers on staff constantly updating it, your "custom solution" quickly becomes outdated. Technology moves fast. Your business grows and changes. But your custom software stays exactly as it was the day it was built.
For Alpine, this created critical bottlenecks:
Speed was an issue. The custom platform worked, but it wasn't fast. In commercial painting, where you're often competing against multiple qualified bidders, the contractor who can turn around a detailed, professional proposal fastest often has a significant advantage.
Field estimating was essentially impossible. Alpine's estimators couldn't close deals in the field because their system wasn't designed for that kind of speed and mobility. They'd visit the site, take notes, drive back to the office, build the estimate, and follow up later. That delay can cost you projects.
Scaling was difficult. Adding new estimators meant extensive training on a system that only existed within their company. There were no online tutorials, no user community, and no support beyond their internal knowledge base.
Development and maintenance were ongoing concerns. If Alpine wanted new features or bug fixes, they needed to maintain a relationship with the original developer or find someone else who could work with their proprietary system.
Dave knew something had to change. But switching from a familiar system to something completely new? That's a significant decision for a company handling high-value commercial projects.
Maybe There's a Better Way
Dave's first impression of PaintScout probably matched what a lot of commercial contractors think: "That's probably great for residential guys, but it's not going to work for what we do."
It's a common misconception. Many commercial contractors assume that estimating software is built primarily for the residential market. But that doesn't mean the technology can't handle complex commercial and industrial projects.
What separated PaintScout was the flexibility and underlying structure of how the platform was built. It wasn't trying to force every contractor into the same box. Instead, it provided powerful tools that could be configured and customized to match different workflows, markets, and project types.
Still, Dave had doubts. His team had doubts. They'd already invested in custom software. Was it really worth the risk to make a switch?
As Dave puts it, he went from "a little concerned to a full-on believer."
What Changed When Alpine Switched
Speed and Efficiency: Doing More in Less Time
The first thing Dave and his team noticed was speed. PaintScout was significantly faster than their custom platform.
In commercial painting, estimating speed matters for several reasons. There's the competitive advantage of providing proposals first. There's the opportunity cost; every hour spent building proposals is an hour not spent on higher-value activities.
PaintScout's production rate estimating system, combined with its intuitive interface and time-saving features, meant Alpine's estimators could build accurate, professional proposals in a fraction of the time.
Field Estimating: Closing Deals On-Site
This was a game-changer. With their old system, field estimating wasn't possible. With PaintScout, Alpine transformed their process to close projects in the field.
Using tablets or laptops, estimators could build detailed proposals on-site, review them with the client, handle questions in real-time, and walk away with signed agreements.
This shift had multiple benefits:
Higher close rates: When you address concerns while physically present with the decision-maker, conversion rates go up dramatically. Questions get answered immediately. Objections get handled before they grow.
Better client experience: Being able to walk through a detailed proposal on-site and finalize everything in one meeting saves everyone time and demonstrates professionalism.
Faster cash flow: Projects that close in the field start sooner, which means faster completion, invoicing, and payment.
Scaling the Business: Adding Estimators and Expanding Markets
As Alpine looked to grow, PaintScout proved invaluable:
Onboarding became easier. Instead of training someone on proprietary software, new hires learned a professional platform with extensive documentation, training resources, and support. Estimators got up to speed faster.
Multiple divisions could use the same platform. PaintScout's flexibility allowed Alpine to create custom proposal templates specific to each market they worked in, professional, market-appropriate presentations, without needing separate software systems.
Consistency improved across the team. With multiple estimators using the same platform, Alpine achieved greater consistency in how projects were estimated and presented.
Revenue and profitability increased. The combination of faster estimating, higher close rates, and more efficient operations translated directly to the bottom line. Alpine handled more opportunities with the same team size, closed more deals, and increased profitability.
Continuous Improvement: A Platform That Evolves
With their custom system, improvements only happened when Alpine specifically requested and paid for them. With PaintScout, new features, performance improvements, bug fixes, and enhancements are rolled out regularly, without Alpine having to request them or pay extra.
The platform evolved and improved over time, which meant Alpine's estimating capabilities evolved too.
PaintScout for Commercial Contractors
Dave is direct about one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry: that PaintScout isn't for larger commercial contractors. He's here to tell you that it absolutely is.
Alpine's not painting living rooms and bathrooms. They're working on airport infrastructure, industrial facilities, and specialized projects that require detailed technical proposals and complex scope definitions. PaintScout handles all of it.
The key is understanding that the platform isn't prescriptive, it's flexible. It doesn't force contractors into a residential workflow. Instead, it provides powerful tools that can be adapted to any type of painting work. Whether you're bidding on a water tower or a warehouse, PaintScout gives you the tools to execute efficiently and effectively.
The Results
Let's summarize what changed for Alpine after switching to PaintScout:
- Estimating speed increased dramatically, allowing the team to handle more opportunities without adding staff
- Field estimating became possible, enabling on-site closes that significantly improved conversion rates
- Onboarding new estimators became easier and faster, supporting business growth
- The company expanded into multiple divisions with professional, market-specific proposal templates
- Revenue increased through higher close rates and the ability to pursue more opportunities
- Profitability improved through operational efficiency and reduced estimating time
- The platform continues to evolve, providing ongoing improvements without additional investment
These aren't incremental improvements; they're transformational changes that directly impact Alpine's competitive position, growth trajectory, and bottom line.
Question Your Assumptions
If you're a commercial contractor reading this, here's what you should take away:
Don't assume your current system is the best available just because it's worked in the past. Dave thought his custom software was optimal. It took being willing to explore alternatives to discover something significantly better.
Don't let misconceptions prevent you from exploring solutions. The assumption that estimating software is primarily for residential contractors has probably cost commercial contractors millions in lost efficiency and missed opportunities.
Recognize that speed and efficiency are competitive advantages. In commercial painting, where projects are won or lost based on margins, responsiveness, and professionalism, having an estimating system that enables you to move faster and close deals in the field can be the difference between winning and losing projects.
Your estimating platform should support growth, not constrain it. As your business scales and expands into new markets, your software should make that easier, not harder.
Your Next Step
Dave Scaturro went from concerned to a believer. His company went from constrained by custom software to empowered by a modern, flexible platform designed to handle the complexities of commercial estimating.
If you're a commercial or industrial painting contractor still relying on spreadsheets, outdated software, or even custom solutions that aren't keeping pace with your ambitions, it might be time to question your assumptions.
Alpine Painting and Sandblasting Contractors took that step. They're now estimating faster, closing more deals, and growing more profitably than ever before.
The question is: what's holding your company back from doing the same?
Ready to see how PaintScout can transform your commercial estimating process? Schedule a demo to see firsthand why contractors like Dave Scaturro have become raving fans.