If you’re wondering how much does it cost to get the outside of your house painted, the good news is that a professional house painter is probably more affordable than you might realize! Today’s paint brands are also designed and manufactured to be more durable than ever before, so they withstand storms and harsh sunlight while staying bold and bright for years.
Paint is also an excellent way to change the look of your home and protect siding, metal, and other materials from damage. Rather than putting off needed house painting, consider how much it costs to get the outside of your house painted, how painting protects your home, and some tips on ensuring that paint lasts as long as possible!
Most house painting contractors price jobs by the square foot, and average costs for having a house painted range from $0.50 to $3.50 per square foot. This price depends on the paint type chosen, your home exterior’s overall condition, obstructions along exterior walls, accessibility, and your home’s location. On average, a homeowner might expect to pay between $1700 and $4000 for exterior house painting.
No matter how much it costs to get the outside of your house painted, it’s vital you schedule this work when needed. New paint can update and even change your home’s appearance, boosting curb appeal, and creating a stylish look. The cleaning and prep work needed before painting also protects a home’s exterior surfaces, removing layers of damaging dirt and grime as well as old, dilapidated paint.
Exterior house painting requires specific tools and techniques, as well as some stamina! A house needs cleaning and prep work before painting, which is often tedious and difficult. The painting itself is also more detailed than homeowners realize and requires some physical flexibility, as you need to reach and stretch to paint far corners, roof eaves, and other spots along the home.
If you do want to tackle this job yourself, consider some vital tips for making it easier overall and for ensuring a paint job that lasts for years. As with all home improvement projects, be mindful of safety and wear proper eye protection and a dust mask or breathing apparatus.
How long it takes to paint the outside of a house depends on a few factors, starting with needed prep work. If your home is especially filthy, you might need several hours to clean all its exterior surfaces including corners and crevices, insect nests, and other troublesome dirt!
Scraping away old paint and then patching holes and other such repairs also adds to your overall time, and some homeowners might find that they need several hours to fill in damage and scrape away old paint. That’s a full day just to prep your home!
It typically takes two people an average of three days to paint a typical house, meaning a one-story or two-story home with three bedrooms or fewer. Two or three people will usually need four to seven days to paint a larger home, or one with four or five bedrooms, a sunroom, and other such areas that increase its exterior square footage.
Whether you’re planning on tackling exterior painting yourself or will be hiring a painting contractor, you’ll want to calculate your home’s square footage so you know how much paint is needed for the job. This can help you ensure you get an accurate quote from a contractor, but note that they will always order extra paint to use around edges and for touch-ups and other such details.
To calculate square footage for exterior painting, first measure around the home’s perimeter, excluding outside porches, decks, and other obstructions. In other words, you want to know the width of the home’s exterior walls, and this doesn’t include measuring the size of a deck or porch.
You’ll add those numbers together and then multiply that sum by the height of your home for its overall square footage. If you’re not sure a home’s exact height, start with 9 feet per story (18 feet for a two-story home) plus an additional 4.5 feet for the home’s two gable ends, or where the roof forms a triangle above the home.
To illustrate, suppose your home’s front and back walls measure 24 feet each, and the two side walls measure 36 feet each. You would then add 24, 24, 36, and 36, for a sum of 120. For a two-story home, multiply that by 22.5 (18 feet for the two stories plus 4.5 feet for the gables); 120x22.5=2700 square feet.
If you’re purchasing paint yourself, ensure you read the label and note how many square feet it should cover. Most exterior paints cover about 250 square feet per gallon, so you would then need 10.8 gallons for that 2700 square foot home.
Choosing a paint color is just the first step in finding the best option for your house! Exterior paints often have special additives for various needs, and it’s vital you choose a paint that will withstand your area’s weather conditions while still being attractive and easy to clean.
For homes in tropical areas, consider a paint that resists mold, mildew, and moss. You might need to power wash your home far less often over the years if the paint itself resists mold and other contaminants in the first place.
Some paints also have special additives that resist odors. If you cook or smoke outdoors, these additives help ensure your home doesn’t absorb smoky smells. Opt for odor-resistant paints if you live near a production facility or other business that emits foul odors.
A home will typically need new paint every 7 to 10 years, on average. Harsh weather and sunlight often cause house paint to fade sooner than average, and low-quality paints also tend to fade, chip, peel, or otherwise need replacing far sooner than high-quality paints and primers.
Some materials also hold paint better than others. Wood exteriors, for example, might need new paint every 5 years, while brick can hold paint for 10 to 20 years if not even longer! Cement fiberboard might also need repainting after 10 to 15 years. Proper surface preparation before painting also helps ensure paints last as long as possible before your home needs a fresh coat.
A homeowner might also schedule house painting if they’re simply tired of the home’s exterior color. Fresh paint, especially something starkly different or more subdued than its current color, can make a home seem more modern, more warm and welcoming, or just more suited to your personal style! Painting eaves, window frames, and other trim work a fresh contrasting color or a crisp white can also make them stand out and improve your property’s curb appeal in an instant.
Once you’ve invested in fresh paint for your home, you’ll want to maintain it and keep it looking great for as long as possible. Regular exterior house washing is the best way to keep paint in good condition and preserve its color and appearance. Use a company specializing in soft wash systems, as high-pressure washing can chip, peel, or otherwise damage paint.
It’s also vital you avoid doing anything that might damage or stain your home’s exterior paint. Keep grills and fire features away from exterior walls, to avoid smoke stains. If you don’t use a bagged mower, remove grass clippings clinging to the home’s exterior with a garden hose right after mowing. These simple tips should keep your home’s fresh paint looking like new for as many years as possible!
The Kansas City House Painters is happy to bring this information to our readers and hope you found it useful. If you’re still wondering how much does it cost to get the outside of your house painted, or need house painting in Kansas City area, give us a call!