How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House Exterior? And Why You Should Do It This Fall 

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On average, exterior house painting will cost about $3,000, but the price can range between $1,900 to $6,900, depending on the size of the house exterior, the type of exterior housing material, the number of stories, and several additional cost factors.

Find out more about the costs to paint a house exterior.

Meet the Expert

Mike Sandness has spent over a decade working as the hands-on franchise owner of Minneapolis’ Wow 1 Day Painting, which specializes in both interior and exterior painting projects.

Cost Factors to Paint a House Exterior

Size

Generally, the most important factor to consider when budgeting for an exterior house painting job is the size of the house. The larger the area that is being painted, the more paint and supplies will be needed to complete the work. Additionally, larger homes will take longer to complete, increasing the cost of labor for the project.

On average, exterior house painting costs between $1 to $4 per square foot.

“There could be additional fees based on requests for changes in the work order and including extra areas to complete,” says Mike Sandness, expert painter and franchise owner at Wow 1 Day painting.

1,000 Square Feet: $1,000 to $4,0002,000 Square Feet: $2,000 to $8,0003,000 Square Feet: $3,000 to $12,000

Story

The price of the project can also increase for taller homes with more than one story. The taller the home, the more time and effort it will take to paint the exterior. Similarly, taller homes will require specialized tools to ensure the job is completed safely, including fall arrest equipment, scaffolding, and ladders.

Above 8 feet: Add 30 percentAbove 13 feet: Add 60 percentAbove 17 feet: Add 90 percentAbove 19 feet: Add 120 percent

House Exterior Material

The material on the exterior of the home can also affect the cost.

Aluminum siding typically costs around $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot to paint, or about $1,500 to $2,500 for 1,000 square feet of aluminum siding.Brick is one of the more costly exterior housing materials to paint, averaging $1.40 to $4.20 per square foot, or about $1,400 to $4,200 per 1,000 square feet. The high price is due to the rough texture and highly porous composition of the material.Concrete surfaces can be painted for about $1.20 to $2.70 per square foot, which works out to around $1,200 to $2,700 for a 1,000 square foot exterior. However, the cost of painting concrete can increase due to the high porosity and the prep work required.Engineered wood siding is the least expensive house exterior material to paint, ranging from just $1 to $2 per square foot, or $1,000 to $2,000 for a 1,000 square foot home exterior. Since engineered wood siding is usually pre-primed, it should not need priming.Fiber cement siding is a non-porous material that often comes pre-primed, which reduces the overall price. Painting fiber cement siding will still cost between $1,200 to $3,200 for a 1,000 square foot exterior, or about $1.20 to $3.20 per square foot.Steel siding is a highly durable, non-porous, and weather-resistant material, so it doesn’t usually need to be painted. However, if you want to improve the exterior of the home, you can pay between $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot, or $1,500 to $2,500 to paint a 1,000 square foot home exterior.Stone veneers are typically designed for use without paint, but they can be painted. To change the look of the stone exterior, you can have the veneers painted for about $2,400 to $5,000 for a 1,000 square foot exterior, or about $2.40 to $5 per square foot.Stucco siding typically requires extensive repair and prep work, which can increase the cost. Expect to pay about $1.50 to $4 per square foot or around $1,500 to $4,000 for a 1,000 square foot area.Vinyl siding is one of the more affordable surfaces to paint, with costs that range from about $1 to $3 per square foot. This work out to around $500 to $2,500 to paint a 1,000 square foot home exterior.
Wood siding is another relatively inexpensive home exterior material to paint, ranging from just $1 to $3 per square foot, or $1,000 to $3,000 for 1,000 square feet of paintable space.

Additional Exterior Surfaces

When you paint the exterior, you’ll also typically paint the trim, fascia, shutters, and window sashes, which comes at an extra cost.

Some exterior painting projects may even include the doors, gutters, garage doors, and porch, ensuring that the entire exterior of the home looks like new. However, it’s important to keep in mind that painting these additional exterior surfaces increases the cost.

Doors: $100 to $500Fascia: $2.50 to $5.50 per square footGarage Doors: $200 to $500Gutters: $200 to $800Porch: $500 to $2,000Shutters: $50 to $150Trim: $1 to $6 per linear footWindow Sashes: $100 to $200

Labor

When hiring a crew of experienced painters to paint the exterior of the home, you have to factor in the cost of labor, which can range from $54 to $91 per hour depending where you live. The labor costs can vary city to city, or even between companies.

“Homeowners should ask about the experience and qualifications of the painters, the type of paint and materials used, references, and the detailed process of the project,” Sandness says. “It’s also important to inquire about the timeline, warranty, and any insurance coverage.”

DIY Costs to Paint a House Exterior

On average, it will cost about $500 to $2,400 for you to paint your home’s exterior yourself. This includes the cost of tools, supplies, and paint for the project.

Basic supplies, including ladders, brushes, rollers, tape, and drop cloths will typically cost about $300 to $1,000. Specialized equipment can add to the cost, such as renting or purchasing a pressure washer or extension ladder.Exterior paint can be purchased by the gallon, at an average price of about $40 to $90 per gallon. Given that one gallon will cover about 300 to 400 square feet of space, homeowners will need to purchase between five to 10 gallons for most exterior painting projects.Time is also an important factor to consider. You can expect a team of professional painters to take about three to four days to paint the exterior of the home, while you may need two to three weeks to do it yourself.

Additional Exterior House Painting Cost Factors

Caulking

Before painting the exterior of the home, it’s important to fill any cracks or gaps to prevent moisture from entering, leading to leaks, water damage, mold growth, and rot.

On average, an exterior painting company will charge between $0.46 to $0.88 per linear foot to caulk the exterior of the home before painting. If there is any damage that you are already aware of, it’s important to bring it up with the painting pros.

Cleaning

To ensure that the paint adheres properly to the exterior of the home, it should be cleaned to ensure a smooth finish.

If you choose to leave the exterior cleaning to the painting professionals, they will typically charge between $50 to $80 per hour to clean and power wash the exterior of the home in preparation for the exterior paint job.

Prep Work

Prep work must be carried out before the painting project can begin.

“This includes cleaning the surfaces, repairing any damages, and priming before the actual painting begins,” Sandness says. “Proper preparation is crucial for achieving a high-quality and long-lasting finish.”

Generally, professional exterior painters will charge between $0.58 to $0.93 per square foot to scrape, sand, and prime the exterior of the home.

Best Time to Paint a House Exterior

Most people can assume that painting the exterior of the house in the middle of the winter is bad idea.

“Certain conditions like severe weather, significant damage to the surfaces, or underlying structural issues can prevent painting from proceeding as planned,” Sandness says. “It’s essential to address these issues first to ensure the paint adheres properly and the finish lasts.”

With this in mind, it’s best to plan an exterior house painting project during early fall, or late spring or early summer months, when the temperature is comfortable and most of the rainy weather has passed. No matter when you plan the project, the weather can be unpredictable, so it’s always good to have a backup date in mind during the scheduling process.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much paint do I need for a 2,000 square foot house exterior?

Generally, the amount of paint needed for a 2,000 square foot house exterior ranges from about five to 10 gallons.

How often should I repaint my exterior?

The exterior of the house should be repainted about once every five to 10 years. Home exteriors are exposed to rain, sleet, hail, snow, and driving winds, as well as UV radiation and extreme temperature changes, so exterior paint tends to wear out more quickly than indoor paint.

Is three coats of exterior paint too much?

As long as the exterior of the home is well-prepped and properly primed before you begin, two coats of paint should be all you need. Adding a third coat will increase the weight of the paint, and could cause the paint to peel off the wall.

Read the original article on The Spruce.

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