How Much Will A Painter Cost?
A Cincinnati homeowner who wants to find a really good painter will naturally be concerned about how much such a painter will cost. There are many factors that will determine how much a paint job will cost. Prices vary from contractor to contractor, but the type of paint used, the size and shape of the home, the existing paint color and other factors all have a bearing on painting costs.
The following estimate is meant to be a general guide for a homeowner who wants to know how much a new paint job for the home will cost. However, those who want a specific price estimate should ask a number of contractors to come to the house, see the work that needs to be done and give a price evaluation. Most Cincinnati painters will do this free of charge and getting a price estimate from a company does not obligate a person to hire the company in question.
What do Painters Cost?
Painting costs are generally divided into two parts: materials and labor. Following is a breakdown of what regular painting contractors charge for every aspect of painting a house:
- The labor usually costs anywhere from $20 to $50 an hour, depending on which area of the home needs to be painted, the type of paint used and how experienced the painters are.
- Paint costs anywhere from $20 to $50 a gallon. It is helpful to have an understanding of oil based paint vs. water based paint. Water based paint is usually cheaper than oil paint. Paint prices also vary depending on the quality of paint to be used. A good gallon of paint should cover 400 square feet; however, more paint will be needed if a person is painting a light color or paint over a dark color of paint.
- Paint is not the only material that will be used, especially if a person is having the exterior of the home painted. A good painting company will also use primer to ensure that the paint sticks to the walls. Primer usually costs anywhere from $10 – $20 per gallon and covers 300 – 400 square feet, depending on how porous the wall is.
- Painters will charge an hourly fee for cleaning mold and mildew off the walls, scraping, filling holes, sanding and doing other prep jobs. Once again, the cost ranges from $20 to $50 an hour. If special materials are used to get rid of mold or mildew, a person will be charged extra for the use of these materials.
Generally speaking, a person who wants to have a 3,500 square foot home painted can expect to spend anywhere from $4,500 to $7,500. It should also be noted that it costs more to paint a house that a person is living in than it does to paint a vacant house.
DIY vs. Professional Paint Job
After seeing the above estimate, a homeowner who is short on cash may want to consider painting the house on his or her own. This can in some cases be the best option, but it is not always advisable. A homeowner who wants to sell the house should have a professional paint both the interior and exterior of the home, as a new, professionally done paint job is sure to attract more clients and higher price bids than a DIY job.
A DIY paint job will save a person from having to pay the labor costs of having a house professionally painted. At the same time, the above mentioned price estimates for paint and primer remain the same. Furthermore, a homeowner will need to buy high quality paint brushes, rollers, paint remover, a ladder and other materials. A person will need to pay between $20 – $25 for a good paint brush and roller. Other painting materials may cost anywhere from $20 – $50, depending on which materials a person needs to buy and the quality of the materials in question.
Saving Money on a Paint Job – Is it Worth It?
Naturally, people want to do everything possible to save money on a professional paint job. At the same time, it is more important to make sure the job is done right than it is to save a few dollars. This is particularly important when having the exterior of the home painted. A company painting the home’s exterior walls should use top quality paint and materials. Primer should be applied as well and the company should be able to provide a written guarantee that the job will hold up for many years.
The inside of the home should also be properly painted; in fact, a person who hires a good painting company to do the work should not have to hire a company again for another four to five years. It is often better to pay extra and have the job done right than it is to cut corners and deal with the complications afterwards.
Nonetheless, it is a good idea to compare prices from various companies. As was noted above, most companies give a free price estimate. If the companies are good, then their price estimates should not be drastically different from each others, but there will likely be some price difference and a homeowner who does some “comparison shopping” when choosing Cincinnati painters can save a fair bit of money.
The question of what do painters cost is not easy to answer. A lot depends on the area to be painted, the quality and type of materials used and how long the job will take to complete. Other jobs that need to be done before painting can begin will also be added to the costs. A homeowner who wants a house painting price estimate should use the above information as a guide and then call a number of local companies to see the house, check out the job that needs to be done and give a company price estimate. When a homeowner hires a painting company, the price should be clearly stated on the contact so that there are no misunderstandings or unpleasant surprises down the line.