Windows and other component-based surfaces
Most quoting tools treat a window as "one thing" at a ballpark price per unit. Surfacely treats it as what it actually is — a collection of paintable components. You toggle each one on or off and enter its dimensions. The result: a price that matches the actual work.
Window components
When you add a window, you get five component toggles plus a "Both sides" option:
- Sashes — the timber bars around each pane of glass: every pane's edge × the face width, across the panel layout you pick (1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 panels)
- Frames — the outer frame around the window: its perimeter × the face width. The bars between panes belong to the sashes, so ticking both never counts a bar twice
- Sill — the ledge under the window: width × sill depth
- Reveal — the depth of the wall opening (two sides and the head) × reveal depth
- Architrave — the trim around the opening: its perimeter × the architrave width
- Both sides — doubles the sashes, frames, sill and architrave. The reveal is the wall depth and is painted once
Glass has no paintable area — no glass is ever priced. The base is 0 m², and area is built up from the woodwork you toggle on with its locale-appropriate default dimensions. Cutting in to the glass still takes time, so a painted sash is charged a cut-in band along every pane edge for time only, and each window you paint the sashes or frames of carries a setup time. Neither adds paint.
Reveal and jamb specifics
Reveal (window) and jamb (door) are the wall depth. They're painted once regardless of whether both sides of the frame are being done — so Surfacely doesn't multiply them by 2. This is a subtle detail that's cost painters real money to get wrong.
Frame defaults
Surfacely ships with sensible frame dimensions for your locale. In Pricing & rates → Advanced pricing → Surfaces → Frame defaults you can override them to match the window types you see most — your 6-over-6 sash default is probably different from an aluminium sliding window default.
Why it matters: windows are one of the most over-quoted and under-quoted items in residential painting. Components-based measurement gives you the real number — which wins quotes on simple windows and protects margin on detailed ones.
Tip: Balustrades and Doors use the same component pattern. Once you understand windows, the others follow.