How Much Does Painting A
House Cost?
Think painting your home is all about looks? Think again. To protect the value
and investment in your home you need to maintain a protective seal against
weather damage. Ah, then the upside is, fresh paint does brighten your home
giving a sense of renewal, revitalization, and energy to your home, as well as you
each time you enter and exit your home or spend time outside you can appreciate
the overall beauty of it.
Typical costs: (These are national averages, and the rates can fluctuate based on
geographical locations.
Experts estimate that the outside of a house should be painted every 5-7
years.


Exterior paint averages $25-$40 a gallon
Premium paint can cost $50-$100 a gallon
Less-expensive paint may start peeling or fading in 4 years or less. The old
adage, “You get what you pay for” certainly is true when considering buying
paint. Choose the best quality paint you can afford; it really does last longer.
Average Cost of PAINT ONLY Based on a 3,000 sq ft home


A 3,000 sq ft home takes 15 or more gallons of paint – (Depends on the
condition of the surface to be painted) $375.00 - $600.00 – Paint only
based on $25.00-40.00 per gallon quality paint
Premium paint will run $750.00 - $1,500.00 for the same size house
based on the same 15 gallons being used.
Do It Yourself vs Hiring a Paint Contractor
Doing it yourself (unless you already own all of this equipment), also
requires renting:



a pressure washer for $50-$100 a day
extra-long ladders or scaffolding at $20-$75 daily
a power sprayer for $50-$100 daily
In addition you will need:





masking tape
drop cloths
Brushes
Rollers
other supplies.
When hiring a painting contractor, paint and supplies make up about 15-25
percent of the cost, while 75-85 percent goes for labor. Costs typically
average $1,500-$3,000 for an average single-story, three-bedroom home, but
easily run $3,000-$5,500 or more for a multi-story or multi-level larger
house.
What should be included:






Prep work should include removing all loose paint, either with a pressure
washer or by scraping; removing any trace of mildew and sealing or
covering dark stains; caulking all seams, corners and around windows or
trim; applying epoxy filler to repair serious woodwork problems;
sanding all rough surfaces, and priming the bare wood with a bonding
primer. ( If house is in rough condition, prep work may have additional
cost built into the estimate)
Spray painting is faster and easier (and cheaper), but hand brushing
(more expensive), because it is more time-consuming and uses more
paint, however, it provides a thicker coat which provides better
protection by penetrating deeper into the wood and crevasses.
Most painters' estimates will automatically include finishing touches
such as varnishing, re-finishing or painting the front door to match the
new paint color, and re-painting mailboxes, street numbers, drain pipes
and other accent items.
If you live in a historical district certain restrictions may apply to
maintain the historical preservation status. I.E. No change in color etc.
If you live in a development covered by a homeowner association or
other planning restrictions, check to see if there are any rules covering
your exterior painting project
If the house was last painted prior to 1978, the existing paint could be
lead-based; the National Lead Information Center provides safety details
****ReDoHomes is an EPA Lead Safe Certified Firm.
If your home was built prior to 1978, by law, we are required to do a lead test
if we are contracted to paint your home. If the home is found to be positive
for lead paint, all lead safety procedures and precautions will be
implemented as required by law. If the home is found positive for lead, this
will affect the overall price. Most homes have been painted several times
since 1978, so this is not an issue very often, but a significant consideration
for your health and safety if it does contain lead.
There are certain things that can add to the overall cost of painting a home. Some
of the possible additional costs are:




Lead based paint as mentioned above.
Rotted wood or siding. These areas should be replaced. In addition all
loose boards or trim fixed. If extensive repairs are needed, this will add
to the cost of the overall painting project. Prices will vary depending on
the type and extent of the damage.
Changing paint colors means more coats of paint when swapping from a
light to a dark color or vice versa. This can add up to 25 percent or more
to contractors estimate.
Multiple colors, such as two tone, or three tones for accents. This
requires additional cut in and can be very time consuming. Shutters and
items that can be removed and painted is not as time consuming as cut in
on the house itself. So shutters do not create an additional cost for a
contrast color, as long as all of the shutters are the same color.