Norman Painting Pros: How much does it cost to paint a house?

How much does it cost to paint a house?

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How much does it cost to paint a house?

The way you paint your home can reflect a lot about your personality and can revive the visual appeal of a home on so many levels.

Whether you are embarking on an interior or exterior painting project, it’s important to have all the information ahead of time to make it a success.

In this article from Norman Painting Pros, you’ll learn everything you need to know about painting indoors and out, such as average costs, factors to consider, and what colors to choose.

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House on Average?
Reduce and Estimate Painting Costs for Your House.

The cost to paint your home can vary depending on the type of dwelling you reside in. Apartments and condominiums are often the least expensive to paint as they are smaller and can be broken up into sections between tenants.

A trailer or mobile home may be more expensive as it is often larger than an apartment, but smaller than a full house.

These average costs will help you estimate how much to expect to spend on the project.

TYPE OF DWELLING	AVERAGE COST
APARTMENT	$1,500 -$5,000
CONDOMINIUM	$1,800 - $5,000
TRAILER	$2,000 - $4,500
HOUSE	$3,000 - $14,500

Of course, the actual cost of a project will not only vary depending on your location and the individual company providing the quote, but also on the type of project, number of colors, wall types, square footage, and many other factors.

It is important to always get a written quote from your painting company before proceeding with a project, which may require them to come and assess the property and solidify a scope of work before agreeing to a project.

How Can I Save on the Cost to Paint My House?
(Painting a House Doesn’t Have to be Expensive)

You might be wondering, how much does it cost to paint a house if you’re frugal about it?

There are two main factors that professional painters must take into consideration when they provide a price quote: labor and cost of materials.

Both of these are an expense to the contractor and must be covered in the scope of work before they agree to a project. Labor includes an hourly rate for each professional who visits the home and begins the process, from preparing the walls, to painting, and finally clean up. Their travel expenses and time spent purchasing new materials must also be covered.

The other factor, the cost of materials, is often fixed. The contractor is often able to excuse costs for re-usable equipment, like paint rollers, buckets, ladders, stepladders, and smocks, but must always consider the purchase of new materials such as paint, stir sticks, and drop cloths.

If you want to save on the cost it takes to paint your home, you may consider the following:

Get competing bids from painting companies

Like with any other home improvement service, shopping around can save you money. You should ensure that the contractor is licensed and insured properly where required. In each bid, the contactor should estimate the time it will take, what products they will use, and the cost for additional coats of paint if necessary.

Get competing bids from painting companies

Any time you agree to pay a contractor, ensure there is a written quote and a contract in place. The contract should detail the type of equipment and materials necessary, a financial quote and estimated timeline, as well as scope of work.

Do all or some of the work yourself

While a DIY job may not look nearly as professional, you can still do some of the work yourself, like preparing the walls or taping edges ahead of time. You may also want to trim shrubs for exterior work, move furniture for interior work, or uninstall outlet covers.

The type of DIY work you can do to help save costs on a job should be discussed with the contractor you wish to do business with, as they may be able to guide you more directly on ways to trim their scope of work.

Don’t wait too long to repaint

The less prep, the less expensive painting a house will be. The more that a professional has to prepare the surface before they can paint, the more the project will cost. Don’t wait until you see flaking or peeling paint to get the job done, as it can be the difference between 40 – or 10 hours – of preparation.

Average Cost to Do the Paint Job Yourself
– How Much Per Job Type? -

The cost for a DIY job may look like it is less expensive, but that is often not the case.

Let’s walk through a quick example:

One can of paint will cover about one coat on every wall in a 12-by-12 area, which equals about 400 square feet. Assuming each area will need 3-4 coats of paint, you are easily looking at spending $350 per room on just the paint alone, not including time.

Once labor and other materials are considered, you are looking at a cost of about $550 per 12-by-12 room, which is on par with professional services.

The cost for a DIY painting project may look like it is less expensive, but that is often not the case

Norman Painting Pros

The exterior of a home is a different story, as not only will you need to clean the walls more thoroughly during the prep stage, but you will also need more equipment than inside and different materials such as primer. For example, an exterior 40-foot ladder can easily cost $250.

The average DIY cost of the average home exterior is anywhere between $3,000 and $9,000, ranging right up there with the cost of professional painting services.

On the Average Cost to Paint a House – How
Much Does it Cost to Paint?

The average cost to paint a house can look significantly different if you are planning to DIY the work, but you must also consider labor and time costs.

Preparing, cleaning, and priming walls can take a significant amount of time, and you will also have to consider mistakes and how they fit into your budget both money and time-wise as they are inevitable in any DIY job.

In the end, DIY often looks cheaper, comes with more mistakes, and costs just about as much as professional painting. By hiring a professional, you are not only getting a better paint job, but you also don’t have to hassle with the frustration of doing it yourself. Even calculating how many square feet you need to work on so you can price how much material you will need can be difficult if you are going DIY for the first time.

Especially if you are looking to sell your house in the future, you should consider the benefits of a professional service, as it will better accommodate the needs of the home.

They already have the knowledge and equipment to help them prepare walls, choose the proper paint colors, such as moving from oil based to latex which have different costs, and work with different wall textures and surfaces from stucco to metal, brick, or vinyl.

Likewise, the price is going to be different for outdoor surfaces, whether you are working with brick, siding, or other paneling as each one requires a total primer suitable to the job.

Many of the mistakes that are made in a DIY setting can diminish a home’s value could be avoided. The price differences in painting a house DIY or professionally can make it seem like there is a lot of savings, but the total price tells a different story once the value of the property is accounted for.

For example, did you know that, while using a pressure washer is good to prepare stone and masonry walls for painting a smooth surface, using it on wood can mar the surface? Now you do!

The small additional cost it takes to hire professional painters is simply paying for their years of expertise in the subject, helping preserve and raise the value of your home and the enjoyment you get out of it.

Factors That Affect the Cost to Paint a House –
How Much Paint You Need Affects Costs.

There are many factors that go into an individual project that can affect the final cost, which is why it is sometimes difficult to estimate the cost of a project on your own.

The first factor to take into consideration is the number of coats needed for each wall. Applying a light color to a dark base will require more coats than a dark to a light base, and the type of paint underneath may also affect how many coats are needed.

Likewise, changing paint colors will require a wider range of paints, and will cost more in the way of materials. (1) To minimize the cost of a project, you should keep wall colors consistent from place to place.

Highly textured walls may also alter the cost of a project because the professional may need to bring in special equipment to ensure the walls are coated evenly without ruining the texture.

Neutral and versatile, blue paint can act as a bold accent, or provide the perfect backdrop to give you a sleepy, sweet sanctuary.

Sherwin Williams

Accent walls, murals, ceiling coats, and a variety of other factors must be considered as well, as these will shift the overall expected cost for a project.

Additionally, if you need to paint a wall that is textured differently, a different type of paint may be required. For example, kitchen backsplashes, which are usually smooth tiles, will require a different type of paint than your matte drywall.

Paint Supplies: What Essential Supplies Are
Needed for Interior Painting

For the average home, you will need the following tools. These tools will help you paint your home’s interior efficiently with minimal splatter, spills, and mishaps.

Stir Sticks – one for each color and primer
Painter’s Tape
Dropcloths
Paintbrushes
Rollers – one for each color and primer
Roller Tray
Roller Screen
Paint Primer
Stepladder

Most importantly, you will need paint.

The best interior paint is one that is high quality, low odor, and goes on smoothly with minimal coats necessary. These paints will cost more, but you get more for the price. It will also be able to withstand more wear and tear in the home, preventing unnecessary re-painting in the future.

INTERIOR HOME SIZE	AVERAGE COST
200 SQUARE FEET	$500 - $1,000
800 SQUARE FEET	$1,500 - $3,000
1,000 SQUARE FEET	$4,500 - $6,000
2,000 SQUARE FEET	$6,000 - $8,000
2,500 SQUARE FEET	$7,500 - $10,000
3,000 SQUARE FEET	$9,000 - $12,000
3,500 SQUARE FEET	$10,500 - $14,000
4,000 SQUARE FEET	$12,000 - $16,000

By choosing a professional painter, high-quality paints, and working with high-quality equipment, is it worth the price. You can ensure your interior paint lasts for years to come without scratches, dents, and uneven splotches that come with wear over time.

Choosing high-quality paint will also help you sell the home in the future, raising how much it is worth, as it will remain visually appealing for a long time.

Paint Supplies: What Essential Supplies are
Needed for Exterior Painting?

For the average home, you will need the following tools. Not only will these tools help enable you to paint all areas of the home’s exterior, but also get it done in the most professional and timely manner possible:

5-in-1 Multipurpose Painter’s Tool
Full-size Ladder
Dropcloths
Caulk Gun (and exterior caulk)
Stiff Wire Brush, Putty Knife, and Pressure Washer to Prep Walls and Siding
Paintbrushes
Paint Rollers – one for each color and primer
Stir sticks – one for each color and primer
Roller Screens
Roller Tray
Paint Primer

Most importantly, you will need paint.

The best exterior paint is one that can easily withstand the environmental conditions your home is typically exposed to year over year. For siding, you will want to choose an eggshell or semigloss paint, as matte can make the house appear dull and lifeless no matter the color chosen.

Likewise, you may need to do some additional study on how to best cover the walls.

For example, brick and siding require two different methods of painting. Siding is best covered with a paintbrush, while brick often requires airbrush coverage to look even, even with primer applied beforehand. Of course, if you need to get a airbrush machine to cover brick, even renting, that will dramatically change the price.

How much paint you will need will greatly affect the price, and is dependent on the type of wall you have, whether it is brick, siding, paneling, or another type.

SQ. FOOTAGE OF EXTERIOR	AVERAGE COST (INCL. PAINT)
800 SQ. FEET	$1,200 - $3,000 per job
1,000 SQ. FEET	$1,500 - $3,500 per job
1,200 SQ. FEET	$1,800 - $5,000 per job
1,500 SQ. FEET	$2,300 - $5,800 per job
1,600 SQ. FEET	$2,500 - $6,500 per job
2,000 SQ. FEET	$3,000 - $8,000 per job
2,500 SQ. FEET	$3,800 - $10,000 per job

It is important to note that a lot of the cost of a professional painter is in the material expense, as paint and equipment can add up quickly. (2) A lot of homeowners may be inclined to request a lower quality paint to save on costs, but this tends to backfire as low-quality paints are not as good in terms of longevity or coverage.

You may be tempted to skimp on paint to save money upfront with a cheaper brand, but you’re bound to have trouble and eventually pay more in the long run

HGTV

By choosing high-quality paint from the start, you can reduce future costs associated with poor paint quality. This will not only keep your home looking nice but also reduce how much you need upfront, as well as how often it needs to be repainted due to scuff marks and dents.

How Much Do Professional Painters Charge Per Hour?
Cost Per Square Foot and Job.

Professional painters may charge differently depending on their cost structure. The three most common cost structures are per square feet, per hour, and per room. Often, a structure that is offered per room or per hour will make it more difficult to estimate actual expense.

On average, professional painting companies who charge per hour will range anywhere between $30 per and $120 per hour.

Companies will often estimate size charges as anywhere between $3 and $6 per square ft. based on individual rooms or the whole home.

Full rooms are often calculated anywhere between $400 and $2,000 depending on the size and complexity of the project.

The differences in what you want to be painted inside the home can also change a price quote significantly, as the contractor may need to purchase new paint, special-order a different paint type, or bring in special equipment for painting difficult areas of the home.

PAINTING TYPE	AVERAGE LABOR & MATERIAL COST
ACCENT WALL	$250 - $500 (per wall)
TWO-TONE WALL	$250 - $500 (per wall)
MURAL WALL	$50 - $150 (per hour)
FAUX PAINT	$5 - $10 (per square ft)
TEXTURED PAINT	$4 - $7 (per square ft)

Remember that one professional may charge differently than another, leading to a drop in price quotes for some contractors.

Often, this has to do with how much paint they price. Higher-quality materials like primer and other materials will also dramatically change how much costs are associated with the job. Likewise, the type of paint (whether it is matte, semi, or gloss) will affect price.

The varnish chosen will affect the price as well. For example, the price for gloss is more than matte, so contractors will not often choose gloss. Additionally, gloss tends to only be used for accent walls or small areas as the gloss can overwhelm the space visually.

Painters do more than just drop paint on the walls and add stucco – they will also tape off important areas and ensure lines are clean once the paint is applied. They will apply painter’s putty and primer where necessary to ensure the walls are smooth, and prior to painting, they will clean and prime the walls to ensure the paint sticks to the wall correctly.

By hiring a professional to do the work, you are not only hiring them for the time and labor in painting the wall itself but all of the prep and cleanup that comes before and after a project as well.

What are the Best Colors to Use to Save Cost
When I Paint My Home?

We live in a world of color where the outfit we wear can drastically change what others think of us, and the colors of our food can change how we savor it. Color tells a story in a way that words cannot.

The same thing applies to your homes, whether you are looking at drywall or siding. Color can influence your emotions: blues are calming, neutrals are often thought of as blank palettes, and intense, vibrant colors can evoke a wide range of emotions.

How much the energy costs of colors differ might astound you. The cost to paint a house can drastically change with the color once you consider costs beyond the painter’s quote.

To save money on energy costs when painting your home, you should first consider what purpose the color will have in your local climate. It has long been proven that dark colors are better at absorbing heat, while light colors reflect it. Painting a home has so much more nuance to it than a lot of us give contractors credit for, yet the costs can still be estimated efficiently and quickly if you know what you are doing.

It has long been proven that dark colors are better at absorbing heat, while light colors reflect it

Norman Painting Pros

If you are trying to reflect heat away from your home to save on cooling costs during warmer months, you should paint the exterior of your home in a lighter color. White or neutral colors like beige and light grey do well on many homes.

Likewise, if you are looking to help your home absorb heat and reduce heating costs in the cooler months, you may want to consider painting your home a darker color. Browns, dark blues, and dark greys are common for home exteriors, considered to be the dark neutrals of color.

Additional Cost Considerations When Painting

– The quality paint you use can dramatically change the outcome of a job, no matter if it’s DIY or professional. High-quality paint not only lasts longer and looks better, but it has a lower odor and can require fewer coats, making it less expensive in the long run.

– Remember that the color that you are covering up can also change the cost and labor expense in a project. For example, it takes more effort, time, and coats of paint to cover a dark wall with light-colored paint, and vice versa.

– Neutral is the new trend. (3) If you are painting your home with the intention of selling it, you should stick with neutral colors as neutral colors will go better with different furniture.

Neutrals come from the natural world. They range in a variety of white, gray, black, brown, beige, and taupe hues. Words like earth-tone, stony, smoky, foggy, misted, shaded, or wood-toned are often applied to such colors.

Behr

– If you choose to DIY your project, don’t skimp on materials like tape and rollers. It may seem like a great idea to opt for the cheaper materials, but poor-quality tape and rollers can sabotage your project and cause mistakes such as paint bleed, uneven coating, and unwanted texturing.

Hiring these services may seem more expensive, but they can dramatically cut the time and energy expense of a DIY job, not to mention the cost of covering mistakes.

Next time you need professional home painting, interior or exterior, contact Norman Painting Pros and get the job done right the first time. We specialize in quality service that is guaranteed to last.

How much does it cost to paint a house?

How much does it cost to paint a house?

How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House on Average?
Reduce and Estimate Painting Costs for Your House.