The cost of painting your home’s exterior can be high, but it is worth the investment. Painting the exterior of your house can be a great way to make it look new again. However, it is not something that most people can do every time they feel like it. The cost for painting a home exterior can be so expensive, it is best to avoid it. Painting your home’s outside is much more difficult than painting the interior of a room. It takes professionals several weeks to complete. They can make your home last a decade and more if they use quality paint and properly prepare your house.
All that paint, time and labor will cost you. How much will it cost? Find out how much it will cost to paint your house’s exterior based on factors such as size, condition, and location.
Average exterior painting costs
Interior & exterior house painting cost in wellington, nz are largely determined by its size and location. We know that a price range is helpful. Home Advisor estimates the cost of painting the exterior of a 2,000 square foot, single-story home to be between $2,000 and $8,000. This includes labor. It does not include paint or other materials, which are essential to the project. Paint is one cost that you can control. We’ll talk about it more below. In the Northeast and West Coast, where living costs are higher, the cost to paint an exterior house is significantly higher. It can be as high as $15,000 or even more.
You can expect to spend twice or more on labor, even if the material costs are identical. A single-story home can be painted for between $1,800 and $6,000 while a three-story home will cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000.
Also, the pitch and complexity are factors. Victorian-style homes with intricate trim and turrets, for instance, will cost more to paint.
Exterior Painting Costs Breakdown
If you hire a professional, they will divide their estimate into materials and labor. If you use a cheaper paint formula, it may not last as well as a better-quality paint. Hiring a cheaper crew or doing the job yourself can help you save money on labor. Exterior painting requires patience and skill. The longer it lasts, the more both are put into it. Avoid the cheapest paint formulas and painters if budget is an issue. Instead, choose options that are in the middle.
Materials
Exterior paint can cost anywhere from $30 to $80 a gallon, depending on the formula and brand. Professional painters can get contractor discounts to lower this price. These prices are for latex or acrylic-based standard exterior paint. You’ll pay more for mineral-based paints, like limewash, which is used on brick. They cost between $100 and 150 per gallon.
It’s best to estimate the amount of paint needed, even if it is a professional. It’s best to overestimate the amount of paint you will need. If you hire a professional, make sure they do so as well.
You can expect to spend $300-$1,300 on 10-16 gallons of house paint. This is a large range but can be useful for budgeting. Choose a high-end exterior paint formulation if you can. Paint that is better will last longer, look nicer and need fewer touch-ups. Check that the estimate you get includes the exact formula of paint you want and not one cheaper.
Labor
Home Guide states that the cost of labor for painting the exterior of your home should be 70-80% of the overall project cost, or between $0.80 and $2.80 a square foot. Professional painters charge an average of $200 to $500 per workday plus materials. Make sure to include labor in your estimate along with the materials.
Exterior painting costs that you didn’t Expect
You can’t predict everything that may come up when you are repainting your home’s exterior. You may not be aware that your home requires repairs because of damage caused by the sun, rain, wind and other weather conditions. While exterior painting, you can check the condition of your windows, screens and storm windows, as well as your roof and gutters.
Preparation Work
This step is much more time-consuming and important than the actual painting. Preparation work can take up to a week, depending on the size and condition of your home. It is worth the effort to get the exterior walls in top shape. Paint adheres better on a well-prepared and smooth surface. Your home must be thoroughly cleaned. This means power-washing your entire exterior (50 to 80 dollars per hour), and letting the surface dry. Then, you’ll need to scrape off any paint that is peeling. As you or your painters examine the damaged, worn-down, or rotting areas of your home’s façade, unexpected repairs and expenses can begin to appear. The final step is to apply a new coat of primer. You may need to apply a second coat of primer if you are changing colors dramatically, such as from dark blues to whites. According to Improovy, the cost of all this preparation for painting is between $0.58 and $0.9 per square foot.
Protecting Historic Property
You may need to take extra precautions if you have an older house. Prior to 1978, lead paint was commonly used. Your lawn and surrounding area must be protected during the cleaning, sanding and stripping process if your home was built before 1978. To prevent lead paint from contaminating the air, grass or bushes, you will need a professional shop vacuum, plastic sheets, and ducttape. Consult an EPA certified contractor to learn how to remove and dispose of residue.
The time of year and climate
It may seem obvious, but it is impossible to paint a house when it is raining, snowing or too windy. It is best to paint your house after April showers, but before the heat and storms of summer. Weather is unpredictable so you should budget for any delays due to rain or rework.
Exterior Paint Cost by Material
The type of home you have will determine the cost to prepare and paint it. You can paint even metal siding. You just need to give it a little more TLC.
Siding (Vinyl Wood and Aluminum)
It is very common to paint vinyl siding. Painting vinyl siding costs between $5,259 to $8,388 per two-story house, which is about 10 percent cheaper than painting wooden siding. Metal siding is about the same price as vinyl but requires more maintenance. It also needs to be painted more often, around every five years.
Stucco
Stucco painting is more expensive because of its texture, and requires more detailed work. It costs between $6,428 and $10,253. Stucco requires special expertise for its preparation and gentle washing (as opposed power-washing it) to maintain structural integrity.
Brick
Costs for painting brick homes range from $7,889 up to $12,583. Brick requires a special masonry primer, which is more expensive. Brick takes longer to paint as well.
How much does painting your house increase its value?
Yes, you can increase the value of your home by painting its exterior. The color will determine how much your home’s value increases. The most popular exterior colors are neutrals such as white, black and navy. They add more value to the home than other avant-garde hues like pink or light green. According to the 2022 Remodeling Report by the National Association of Realtors, a new coat of exterior painting can provide a return of investment of up to 55 percent for homeowners who are looking to sell. The exterior paint of your home also received the highest “joy” score of all exterior renovations with a 9.8.