How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House?
Have you ever wondered, how much does it cost to paint a house? The answer isn’t as simple as selecting from a menu of set prices. The average cost to paint a house depends on a variety of factors that come together to create the final price.
We know that cost can be one of the biggest reasons that homeowners put off painting projects. However, paint is not just decoration — it’s a necessity for protecting your home! Exterior paint protects your siding and trim from water damage and UV damage. In turn, your walls and trim protect your windows and the interior of your home. Interior paint makes it easier to keep your home clean. In bathrooms and kitchens, it can be a lifesaver for keeping moisture and grime at bay. And yes, it does look fantastic and allow you to create a great look for your home.
In short, paint is important. If you have a painting project that you’ve been putting off due to fears about the total cost, read on to learn how your final cost is calculated, plus ways to avoid losing money by hiring the wrong company.
What Factors Do Painters Use to Calculate the Final Cost of Painting a House?
One of the easiest ways to explain the cost to paint a house is to look at the factors that painting contractors consider when crafting your bid. Here are the basics:
Size of the House
This is probably the most important factor when hiring a painting contractor for an interior or exterior whole-house paint project. The size of the home will determine how much paint is needed. It will also decide how much labor is required and how many hours it will take to do the job.
Square Footage to Paint
Of course, the size of the home will be less of a factor if, say, you are only painting one or two interior rooms. You can own a mansion, but if you’re only painting a 10×10 room with average height ceilings, it’s not going to cost as much as painting every wall in every room in the home.
Type of Paint
When hiring a professional painting company, you should expect your painter to use the highest quality materials, especially paint. That higher cost will figure into your final total. It is not a good idea to ask your painter to downgrade the quality of the paint, especially in high-traffic areas or on your home exteriors. A good contractor won’t do it anyway. The primary purpose of paint is protection, so they will want to give you the best foundation possible so you can be happy with your home for years. It’s worth noting that better quality paint is usually backed by a manufacturer warranty, which is definitely a plus!
Coats of Paint
Will your home require priming or additional coats of paint? Most high-quality paint formulas won’t require priming or a second coat. However, there are instances where that may be necessary, which will influence the cost.
Preparation
Preparing the home for painting can affect the average price to paint a house. Your painting contractor will want to ensure all of your belongings are protected from paint splatter and that your carpeting, windows and other surfaces remain paint-free. Not only that, they may have to do some prep work to the surfaces, like filling holes or power washing the exterior. They may also set up scaffolding, scrape chipped paint or perform minor repairs to ensure a great base for your new paint. AMC Painting will usually include minor surface repairs as part of the total project, but some painting companies may charge extra.
Complexity of the Painting Project
Some painting projects are very simple. Painting the exterior of an average-sized home with basic trim and no extra frills will cost far less than a three-story Victorian covered in intricate gingerbread trim in three different colors. An interior room without crown molding and chair rails will cost less than a room that has all those features and special paint effects and multiple colors. The cost to paint a house exterior versus the cost to paint a house interior can be far different due to the type of paint and equipment required. Complexity contributes to cost.
Accessibility
It’s also important to note that a project can also be more complex because of other factors. Hard-to-reach areas, permanent fixtures like decking or fencing, difficulty accessing various parts of the home and other issues can cause increases. Some projects may require scaffolding and specialty protective equipment to allow the painters to do their job safely. When you start requesting bids, be sure to ask questions about additional fees if your home has some of these potential issues.
Additional Considerations that Impact Price
In addition to the actual details of the project itself, other outside factors can also influence pricing:
- Time of year: You may be able to save money on the final cost by painting during the “off season.” Most homeowners pick summer for house painting projects. However, fall and spring are also great seasons for painting and typically cost less than summer rates.
- Material price fluctuations: The home services and construction industries have both experienced dramatic price shifts in recent years that make bidding and calculating house painting costs more difficult. Product shortages also influence price if a painter is forced to use a more expensive brand during a shortage.
- Labor costs: The skilled trades have experienced shortages as well. Labor shortages can have a big impact on the final cost to paint a home.
- Local regulations: Historic districts, multi-family housing and other special circumstances can increase painting prices. If your home requires special permitting, inspections or other fees, your contractor may roll that into your final proposal.
The Hidden Costs of Not Hiring a Professional Painter
We know that the cost of hiring a professional is often a key reason that customers seek out other options. Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace are full of painters looking for work. However, the cost of a homeowner hiring a non-professional can be even higher. If the cheaper painter does not get the job done right, you’ll pay a second time to have someone else correct it.
Here are some ways that seemingly affordable contractors can cost you more in the future by cutting corners in the present.
- Uses a basic big box hardware paint that does not have a strong warranty or high protective standards.
- Hires untrained subcontractors to complete the work.
- Uninsured and unable to protect homeowners and businesses in the event of an accident or injury.
- Decrease in quality or workmanship.
It’s important to note that there are similar risks even with companies that claim to be professional. We know. We’ve corrected paint jobs completed by all sorts of contractors. The way to protect yourself from either scenario is to vet your painting company before you sign your contract. Request a complimentary estimate and use that time to ask questions. If your potential contractor does not offer complimentary estimates, move along. It should not cost you money to request a proposal.
Check reviews on Google to see how customers feel about the business and how they respond to conflict. You should also look over their standing with the BBB or other local consumer protection agencies. Last, you should always ensure your contractor has insurance. A hassle-free, affordable project starts with a reliable, professional painting contractor who won’t charge you for the privilege of bidding on your job.
The Cost of Painting a House is Well Worth the Investment
These factors are all important in determining the final cost to paint a home. With this information, you will be armed with the information you need to begin collecting bids from professional painting contractors for your painting project.
In closing, your home is likely the biggest purchase you will ever make in your lifetime. If you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on something, you definitely want to do everything you can to protect it! Painting your home is a key way to do just that.
When asking the question, “how much does it cost to paint a house,” it’s also important to consider how much it costs not to. Rotting trim and siding create vectors for water, mildew, mold and insects to penetrate the infrastructure of your home. Peeling paint brings down property values and makes the job of repainting more time-consuming — and more expensive. In short, don’t let being frugal turn into neglecting your home by accident. Get your project started and protect your investment.
