Have you been thinking about painting your home’s exterior? Do you need to know if this significantly large project will even fit into your budget?
You need to know exactly how much it costs to paint your homes exterior.
In this post, we will the question of How Much Does It Cost To Paint A House Exterior, and additionally, we will break down the details to help you know what to expect from this big home improvement project.
You will also find this list of information helpful to plan as needed, whether you choose to tackle this project yourself or if you find you need to hire a professional painter.
So let’s find out the best route for you!
The Cost of Painting A House Exterior
One of your first thoughts is probably, what factors will determine the average cost of painting your house exterior? Well, when in the market for exterior painting, here are the things you need to know and consider:
First, you need to find out the square footage of your home. If you already know, then you’re off to a great start! The square footage of your home will tell you a lot about what the average cost is going to be to paint your home according to its size as a whole.
Next, It’s essential to determine if you will be painting on siding, brick, wood, etc. Again, knowing the different materials of your home is vital because your project will call for other methods, paints, etc., in accordance with those types of materials.
Is your home one story, two stories, even multiple stories? How many levels will make a difference in the cost of your exterior paint and materials.
Lastly, identify and carry out the preparation work before applying paint. These additional prep costs can include scraping, sanding, caulking, repairing and or filling holes, filling cracks, and sometimes power washing and priming. These tasks you may not even think about will have to be factored into the costs whether you choose to tackle this on your own or hire a painter.
With so many things to consider, if you feel hiring an exterior painter is best, our best advice is to get quotes from a handful of companies and compare what each company is willing to offer you. In your interviews, you need to find out what the additional cost of labor plus the materials will price out to be and not just the hours it takes to paint your home.
Hiring An Exterior Painter
The most important thing you will want to do when deciding to hire an exterior painter is to run a few companies through an interview process.
Exterior Painting is a big project, so it’s important to interview potential exterior house painters before choosing who will be the best fit and who you feel most comfortable hiring.
Additionally, It doesn’t hurt to get competing bids from a handful of companies so you can get the most bang for your buck!
Breaking Down The Cost of Painting Your Home’s Exterior
Here are some factors in determining what costs will look like regardless of whether you hire out this project or decide to tackle it on your own.
For example, you can expect to pay anywhere from $0.50 to $3.50 per square foot to hire a painter for exterior painting. If you are doing it yourself, you will be looking at about $0.75 to $2.00 per square foot for the total painting project.
Your Home’s Square Footage
No matter which route you choose, a significant first step is knowing the square footage of your home. This will help you understand how large of an area you will need to cover, along with how many gallons of paint you will need to have.
You can use this square foot calculator if you’re unsure of your home’s square footage:
Home Square Footage Calculator
Multiple Stories
How many stories your home is will significantly impact the cost of your home’s exterior paint. You will need to think about additionally if there are any special requirements when it comes to your multiple stories as well.
On average, you will find a single-story 1,000- 1,500 square foot home will cost you anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500 to paint.
If your home more fits the two-story 1,500- 2,500 square foot home category, it’s going to cost you between $3,000- $6,200 to paint your exterior.
It’s safe to say that no matter what, the bigger the space, the more it will cost you; a two-story home can cost as much as 50% more to paint than a one-story home!
Additional Costs To Consider
There are a few additional costs to consider, such as the trim along your house. The trim will usually need to be hand-painted and will be another additional cost to factor into the final price of painting the exterior of your home. Remember that generally, the trim is a different color than the rest of the exterior, requiring extra paint and materials.
You will also need to remember to factor in the cost of any doors, fascia, shutters, and or gutters that will be painted on your home’s exterior. They will require an additional color of paint and maybe even different materials.
Painting Different Types of Homes
The materials your home is made of are essential factors in the cost of painting the exterior. We have broken down a rough estimate of what this could look like regarding the cost to paint different types of homes.
Here is an estimated cost per square foot to prep and paint different home materials:
- Vinyl will cost between $1.25 to $3.00 per square foot.
- Wood will cost between $1.00 to $3.00 a square foot.
- Stucco will cost you between $1.50 to $6.00 a square foot.
- Brick is between $2.40 and $4.50 per square foot.
- Concrete will run you between $1.00 and $7.00 per 100 square feet.
- Finally, metal (Aluminum) will cost between $0.83 cents and $2.50 a square foot.
Reasons For A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Now that we know how big of a project this really can be, it’s essential to discuss why this is necessary.
When you find that your exterior paint is beginning to fade, peel, or depreciate, refreshing your exterior paint will add a great deal of curb appeal and style to your home!
Maybe your exterior paint isn’t quite dull and faded yet, but it’s just not the style you picture for your home; this is another excellent reason to consider painting the exterior. It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do for a property, and it’s beautiful to be able to fall in love with your home once more!
Lastly, you may see current styles pop up that have you wishing for a change. Instead of moving, you want to try and work with what you have! Use exterior paint to match existing styles of homes that are more your taste. The paint cost will always be cheaper than the expensive world of real estate and moving expenses that follow.
Don’t forget that painting your exterior will always up the value of your home for future sales!
Paint Type and Quality
When it comes to the type of paint to use and the quality, for exterior paint, we would choose a good quality as you will want to have a long-lasting effect with a size of a project like this. This project takes a lot of work, and you will enjoy it last for many, many years.
Different types of houses materials will depend on the steps it takes to paint the exterior. As we talked about above, if you have brick, wood, siding, etc., these materials will call for different types of paint to get the best results. Also, your house will probably require a coat or two of primer in addition so remember to factor in those costs.
Quality is ideal, but of course, it will always cost you. For example, the final cost of your exterior painting project will depend on the quality of paint used. The benefits of high-quality paint are the long-lasting effect that you will receive. You can think of it like this: you will get what you pay for in the end! Look at painting your exterior as a home investment rather than pinching too many pennies on paint and materials. This isn’t a frugal type of project!
Costs of Outdoor Paint By The Gallon
Let’s take a look at what outdoor paint will cost you by the gallon. You’ll want to use high-quality exterior paint because, let’s face it, your exterior paint is going to last so much longer. We are talking about the difference of at least a decade over a few years.
A single gallon of paint varies; it can run anywhere from $20 a gallon to a super high quality being in the range of $80 per gallon. It might seem like a lot of money upfront, but it’s going to be even more if you find yourself repeating the project in half the time than you would have had to with a higher quality of paint.
Remember, when you hire a professional, they will have access to contractor discounts and can get paint in bulk and at much lower prices than the typical consumer has access to. Painters can sometimes get discounts between 25%-50%, which in return they then can offer you promotions and deals. This plan will leave you with a better and higher quality result than you would achieve on your own.
Always use the highest quality of paint that your budget will allow you. You’ll be so happy you did in the end. You get what you pay for and will be able to tell a vast difference in quality paint. Your exterior paint will end up looking the nicest and save you money because it will take less paint for great coverage and give you better durability over time. Better coverage will also mean fewer labor costs as you or your certified painter will not have to put in extra time to compensate with more coats of paint.
Ways To Save On The Final Cost
Exterior Painting is a big step in home improvement and a large project that should be thought through extensively! Always think ahead and plan before jumping in with two feet on large home improvement projects! Do it when you’re ready, save up, and research!
If you need to try and save on the costs, instead of saving money by choosing lower quality paint or taking on a project you’re unsure of taking on, we recommend looking for any sales and promotions that pop up during the year. Painting in the cooler months is better for drying time, and you will find deals during these months.
If you choose to hire a painter, ensure that you have an interview, along with a written contract that you all agreed upon and is then carried out. Having an arrangement saves so much trouble in the end for both the customer and the company or business. Also, make sure to agree upon a contained amount of hours the painter will spend on the job from start to finish; this will save you money and worry in the end!
A final way to save on your exterior paint is to compare and receive competing bids among companies. Then, ensure that your contract with your chosen exterior painter is fair and reflects the price you can handle.
Wrapping Up How Much Does It Cost To Paint A House Exterior
Now that you know first-hand what a big project painting your home exterior can be, we hope that if you choose to take on this project yourself, you will find an excellent guide within this article to help you along in the process.
After knowing what goes into this large home improvement project, you know you want to hire a painter; we at Minneapolis Painting Company would be honored to speak with you and help you carry out this project with our certified and trusted painters!
Have you painted the exterior of your home recently? We would love to know how it went!