Should I Hire A Painter or Do It Myself?

The age-old question, “Can’t I just do this myself?” It is just paint after all, right? Before diving into purchasing all the materials, paints, tarps, and tools, maybe you should consider if you can truly DIY or if you should call the pros.

If you are considering taking on a new paint project in your home you may have asked yourself this question, “Should I hire a painter or do it myself?” It is a valid question after all. We have all started a project at one point in our lives and surely have thought about the ease it would have been just to call the professionals. Keep reading on to see if you fall into any of these categories, you may just want to call in the pros after all!

Should I Hire A Painter Or Do It Myself?

Time To Call The Professionals

Painting the interior or exterior of your home requires a great deal of time and effort with a bit of skill mixed in as well. Painting is an underestimated home project that seems so simple at first. It is very tempting to drive over to the local hardware store pick out all the materials and think you are ready to start painting. Trust us, when taking on a large painting project it is never as easy as it looks on the home improvement shows.

Patience, painting takes a lot of time and before you can even touch a paintbrush to the wall there is quite a bit of work beforehand. Prepping the area, moving furniture, tarping, taping of the ceiling and trim, and this is all before the paint ever touches anything.

The truth of the matter is there are certain times and situations when the help of a professional painting company is truly needed. What a professional can do in a few hours it may take a regular homeowner all day to complete.

Let’s take a look at some of the times you should call the pros, skip the headache, and save yourself the time and energy while getting a beautiful freshly painted home.

Whole-Home Exterior

Out of all of the painting jobs, whole-home exterior painting is something best left for the pros, especially if you have a two-story home. There is a lot of planning and execution that goes into painting a home’s exterior, plus the pros have specialty tools such as paint sprayers that ensure a nice even streak-free, and drip-free paint application. This will be your entire house essentially, so you are going to want it looking its best!

High Ceilings

Another time I would say it is best to call in the professionals is when you want your cathedral ceilings or any higher than normal ceilings painted. Climbing to the top of those tall ladders is never a great idea especially when you are trying to focus on multiple tasks such as even application, dripping paint, anchoring the paint tray, etc. This job is always better left to the pros.

Intricate Work

Have a lot of trim that needs to be painted? Any small or hard-to-reach spots that you know you cannot perfectly paint? What about small window trim or any other intricate woodwork or small details? If this sounds like you you will want to call the pros. Having to trim out hard-to-reach places not being a professional yourself can cause a huge headache. Professional painters have the tools and tricks to breeze through these situations with ease.

Poor Paint Conditions

If you have ever purchased a “fixer-upper” you know exactly what I am talking about. If your home has paint that is chipping, peeling, stained, or has multiple coats of paint already on it, it is best to call in your local painting pros. You always need a clean smooth slate to paint on for the best possible finished result. Sometimes over sanding and cleaning can cause more harm than good, this is why if you have poor paint conditions anywhere in your home it’s best to call in a professional painter.

Walls That Are Damaged And Needing Repair

We get it, life happens. Pet’s, children, yes, even us adults, dent, scratch, or even put small holes in our walls. It happens to the best of us. And when these things happen you will want to have them professionally repaired. Most professional painters now are experts in drywalling as well so they will have the proper tools and equipment to make those imperfections no more.

Paint Stripping

As paint ages, it can start to crack and peel, more times than not it also happens when multiple coats of paint have been painted on the walls. Sometimes you just need to clear it all off and start with a fresh coat of paint. When needing to strip any type of paint (this is for exterior paints as well) it is time to hire a professional painting company. Stripping paint can mean more dangerous chemicals or specialty tools to help loosen the paint and let the professional clear the old and bring in the new. They are equipped with the right protective gear and will not let any paint stripper get in places it was not intended to go.

Do It Yourself

I do believe there are times when you can take on the painting job as a DIY. But just because you are about to DIY this painting project doesn’t mean you should skimp out on buying the proper tools. Painting jobs are expensive and require time and planning. If you are going to take the time to complete this project, pick out the paint color, mix it up, prepare the area, you are going to want the job to look professional.

This is why you should take the time to look into the best tools that you can purchase to make sure you have a flawless painting job. This is possible! With a little research, you can save yourself from hiring the pros but get a similar result.

Here are a few times we believe you can DIY that paint job.

Small Paint Jobs

When working on smaller paint jobs such as small accent walls, furniture pieces, or even some scratched trim, I say do it yourself! As long as you have a clean prepped surface, a paintbrush, and protective gear you can totally capable of handling a project of that size on your own and save your hard-earned cash by doing so.

Changing A Room Color

Another fairly simple DIY is when you are just looking to change the paint color in one room of your home. Let’s say you recently purchased a new home but you are not fond of the color they chose for your new master bedroom. As long as the wall is in good condition I say go for it! With the help of some painter’s tape and proper tools, you will have the room color of your dreams in no time at all.

Just Walls

If you are thinking about changing up your wall color in your home or maybe just applying a fresh coat of paint this would be another do-it-yourself job. As long as you have the proper tools and protective gear you can absolutely take on this job without the help of professionals.

FAQ

Is Doing A Big Painting Job Yourself Really Worth All Of The Effort?

It really boils down to time and patience. Do you have the time? Do you have the patience to give? When taking on a larger paint job you should ask yourself these questions. Remember, a professional painter can do a job in a lot less time than it will take the normal homeowner to do it. Yes, you will have to be spending a bit more money, but if you are short on time and unsure if you are even able to complete this project, you should enlist the help of professionals.

Do You Always Need To Hire A Professional For Exterior Painting?

With exterior painting there are many factors that come into play, the size of your home, how many stories it has, are there repairs that need to be made, etc. Let’s say you want to change the paint color on your foundation, if it is in good condition and you are good with a paintbrush, I say do it yourself. But if your two-story home needs an entire painting, you should call the professionals.

I Am Not Sure If I Have The Expenses To Hire A Painter, How Much Does That Even Cost?

The great thing about most professional painting companies is they will come to your home and give you a free estimate on the job at hand. They can even give you an approximate duration of how long it will take. No two painting jobs are the same so reach out and see if you can get an estimate!

When Will I Know To Hire The Pros?

As mentioned before, many professional painters and companies will come to your home, discuss what you are looking for, and give you an estimate on how much the job will cost you. If you are lacking time, are physically unable, have a paint job that could be dangerous to you, or any of the things we have mentioned above, it may be time to call the professionals. After all, you will have peace of mind knowing the job is being handled professionally.

I Am On A Very Tight Budget, Can I Just Paint The Walls In My Home A New Color Without The Help Of The Pros?

If you already have the tools you need, the time, and other materials, I say to start that project! With the proper prep and tools, you can transform your space without the need for professionals. It never hurts to have someone help as well!

The Takeaway

Knowing what situations are best for looking into hiring a professional painting company will give you some peace of mind that you know you are making the best decision. Just knowing how much time it takes into the planning, preparations, painting, and clean-up can give you a better idea if you are looking into truly doing this yourself or seeking the help of professionals.

Want to hire a painter for your next project? Contact Minneapolis Painting Company For A Free Quote.