Project types — repaint vs new build
Surfacely supports two project types. You pick one in the "Start a project" wizard and it's immutable after creation — the type shapes how measurement, quoting, and invoicing all work.
1. Repaint (default)
Everything Surfacely was originally built for: existing building, measure each surface, assess condition, price for repaint. Wash-down line items auto-generate on exterior work. Coats terminology is standard ("2 coats", "3 coats").
2. New Build
Same measurement flow as repaint, but with new-build defaults:
- First coat is primer, not top coat
- No wash-down line (new substrates don't need washing)
- Quote terminology shifts to "Prime + N top coats"
- Invoice milestones become First Fix and Practical Completion instead of Progress / Final
Why type is immutable
Once you set the type, you can't change it. The measurement data and invoice sequences are different enough between types that switching mid-project would create inconsistencies. If you genuinely need to change, archive the project and start a new one.
Why it matters: new build quoting and repaint quoting are genuinely different jobs. Trying to force a new build quote through the repaint workflow means wasted time on irrelevant prompts. Picking the right type on day one saves friction on every screen thereafter.