How Much Does It Cost to Paint Your House?

Last Updated: April 28, 2017

 

A blue house with two garage doors and a black roof

 

A fresh coat of paint is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to improve the look of your home and increase its value should you ever decide to sell it. However, painting the exterior of your home is a challenging project that requires proper planning and preparation. In most cases, it’s best to hire a professional to ensure the final result is perfect. If you are on the fence about painting your house, let’s look at some of the costs involved to help you make the best decision.

 

House Painting Costs

It should come as no surprise that the size of your house can increase or decrease the overall costs. For example, a three-story house that is 2,500 sq. ft. will be more expensive to paint than a one story house that is the same square footage. Not only that the surface is larger, but painting on a ladder is more difficult and time-consuming.

So, depending on the size of your home, the cost for painting starts at $2,500 generally and goes up from there.

But, there are other lesser-known factors that can influence the overall cost of your house painting project. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

  1.       Consider the Season

For a long time, contractors recommended that you never paint your house if the ambient temperature is 50 degrees or below. Today, however, some paints can be applied even when the weather is as cold as 35 degrees. 

This is good to know, because late spring and summer are considered to be the best months for painting the exterior of your house. Although the warm temperatures and low precipitation rates can help the paint dry quickly, these seasons are extremely busy for contractors. In other words, getting your project locked in on your ideal date might be challenging and even more expensive.

  1.       Paint Quality

Paint plays an essential role in protecting the exterior of your home against the elements, such as rain, heavy wind, snow, and so on. The better the quality of the paint, the more it can hold up against these elements. Sure, durable paints, such as latex or alkyd ones are pricier than bargain paints, but they contain more pigment and last longer, helping you save in the long run. When you’re getting a bid, make sure you understand this principle.

  1.       The Prep Work

Most homeowners take into account the material and the time needed to complete the project, but they usually forget about the prep work. Most contractors will power wash the home exterior before beginning the job, which can increase the overall cost to around $450-$700. Just remember that the less time needed for prep work, the less time-consuming your project will turn out being.

Asking how much does it cost to paint your house is a very common and fair question. We schedule free estimates to make sure you know exactly what it will take to bring your house to life. Request a quote to get started!

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