Cost Factors for Painting a Home’s Exterior

Painting the exterior of your home helps prevent surface deterioration, saving you from costly repairs later on. The cost of painting the exterior of a home depends on a variety of factors.

Cost of Painting a Home’s Exterior Includes:

Labor and materials are both included in the cost of painting the exterior of your home. Materials include not only paint, but also paint brushes, rollers, tape, and whatever else the contractor deems necessary. Labor includes not only actually painting the home, but also prepping the home to be painted and also cleaning up after the process is complete. Painting the exterior of your home includes both materials and labor. Expect to spend at least $1,500 to paint the exterior of your home. Many people will have to pay more than this.

Location, Location, Location

Where you live will affect how much it costs to paint the exterior of your home. Sometimes, when an area is experiencing high unemployment, people will be able to have jobs such as painting the exterior of their home done for less than what it costs where the job market is robust. Furthermore, areas with more competition will also experience lower overall costs, as contractors compete for your business.

Seasonal Factors

If you are concerned about the overall cost of painting the exterior of your home, consider having the process completed during the off season. Early spring and late fall typically boast the best prices. You can also see if a contractor will squeeze you in between projects during the peak of the season. If they squeeze you in, they will typically offer a discount because you are filling in what would otherwise be dead time.

Other Factors Affecting Cost

There are many other factors that affect the cost of painting the exterior of your home. What type of paint you want, how big your house is, and whether or not the contractor will need to use a ladder or scaffold to access portions of your home are all things that will be considered during your price quote. A contractor will also need to repair any damage in your wood siding before beginning, and this could also add to the cost of the project.

Proceed with Caution

A project performed in a haphazard manner could create more work later on down the road. An experienced contractor may charge quite a bit more to repair a shoddy job. To avoid this, use a reputable contractor with plenty of experience painting a home exterior.

Your paint job should last for many years. Try to hire the same contractor for touchup jobs, and you may find that they will offer you discounts for repeat business.

Sources:

http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=GH5939

http://www.costhelper.com/cost/home-garden/painting-exterior.html