As an accomplished veteran Sydney painter with more than 10 years of administration, this is quite possibly one of the most widely recognized questions I get. What’s more, there’s no straightforward or single response! The expense of painting a house relies upon various elements – yet I’ll walk you through every one of the subtleties in this blog so you know what to plan for your next inside or outside paintwork.
Before we bounce into the nuances, let me give you my show – as you would want to take urging on such an endeavor from a fresh learner.
I’m Ibby, and I run ParramattaPainters, a reputable writing service that has been serving the Sydney metropolitan area for more than a decade. I have painted thousands of homes, from tiny apartments to sprawling mansions, with my skilled team. I’m ready to give an insider’s point of view on the variables that go into ascertaining the expense of house painting in light of this broad establishment.
Table of Contents
Size Matters
The size of your home all in all is the main figure deciding the expense of a canvas. Paint and labor will be required more frequently in the areas that need to be covered. As a general guideline:
Painting a little house under 1,500 square feet will slow down you somewhere in the range of $3,000 and $7,000; painting a medium house somewhere in the range of 1,500 and 3,000 square feet will hamper you somewhere in the range of $7,000 and $15,000; covering a huge house up 3,000 square feet will interfere with you more than $15,000. Obviously, as you will find in the accompanying passages, different variables can likewise make the costs rise or fall.
Labor vs DIY
Deciding whether to hire professional house painters or take on the DIY route yourself will have a major impact on your total painting costs.
The main benefits of hiring pros like us include:
- Faster completion times – we use sprayers and have multiple painters on staff to minimize the job duration
- Higher quality results – professionals have the skills, tools, and experience for a flawless paint finish
- No hassles for you – we supply the paint and ladders and handle the prep/cleanup
DIY painting can save on labor costs but often takes 2-3 times longer compared to pro painters. And without the right equipment, the finish quality can suffer.
On average, professional painters charge between $25-$50 per hour for interior house painting and $40-$60 per hour for exterior painting.
Prep Work Required
In order to get great results that will last, proper prep work is a must for any painting project. This includes:
- Cleaning the walls and applying painter’s putty to fill any holes or imperfections
- Light sanding and spot priming
- Masking off trim, windows, floors, etc to protect surfaces
- For exterior painting, pressure washing and scraping off old paint
Plan on budgeting for at least 2-3 days of prep work for a whole interior or exterior paint job. Larger homes could take a full week of prep. Pro painters are experienced in proper prep and have the right equipment, such as power washers, to get this done efficiently.
Type of Paint
You’ll find interior house paints ranging anywhere from $20 up to $100 per gallon. Paint & primer-in-one formulas are the most economical. Flat or matte finishes are less expensive than higher sheens like satin or semi-gloss.
Premium or designer paint brands deliver richer colors, better coverage, and added durability – but you pay more for these enhanced benefits.
For exterior house paint, expect to pay $30-$50 per gallon on average. Primers, stains, and deck/porch paints are all separate additional expenses.
A decent guideline is to financially plan for 2 gallons of paint for every 400 square feet of wall space. So, a 2,000 sq ft house would require 10 gallons of inside paint and cost around $500-$1,000 for the materials. Inside-house paints fluctuate generally in cost, going from as low as $20 to as high as $100 per gallon.
The most economical option is to select formulas that combine primer and paint. Flat or matte finishes are less expensive than shinier options like satin or semi-gloss. While premium or fashioner paint brands guarantee more extravagant shades, prevalent inclusion, and expanded solidness, they come at a greater cost point.
Expect to spend approximately $30 to $50 per gallon on the exterior. Also, groundwork, stains, and paint on decks and patios cause extra expenses. As a general rule, 2 gallons of paint should be used for every 400 square feet of wall space. As a result, a house with 2,000 square feet would require approximately 10 gallons of interior paint, resulting in material costs of $500 to $1,000.When factoring in labor costs, the total project budget would further increase.
Therefore, meticulous planning and budgeting are crucial for any painting endeavor, ensuring a satisfactory outcome within financial constraints.
Location Matters Too
House painting costs are impacted by your location as well. Urban areas like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane will be more expensive than rural towns for both labor and materials.
My pricing here in Sydney starts at around $25 per square meter for interior painting. That covers a single coat application on walls – additional coats, special finishes, or complex prep and masking may cost extra per square meter.
Painting the Interior vs Exterior
Painting the inside of your home is almost always less expensive than exterior painting. Interiors feature drywall or plaster walls that readily accept new paint. Outside surfaces like wood, stucco, brick, and siding require far more prep power washing, priming, scraping, caulking, etc.
Plus, exteriors are inherently more complex with all the edges and trim around windows and doors. Difficult access areas over multiple stories also add cost for scaffolding/ladders.
I generally quote 1.5X – 2X higher prices for full exterior house painting compared to similar square footage interiors.
Timing and Weather Considerations
If your exterior painting needs to be completed by a certain deadline for an event or sale, that can limit opportunities for delay due to weather. Avoiding rain delays may require paying extra costs for tenting or rapid prep/priming and finishing coats all on the same day.
For exteriors, the highest demand times are spring and fall. Booking well in advance can save 10-15% compared to last-minute scheduling. With interiors, any delays just impact your own personal timeline versus major damage risks.
Additional Surfaces
Beyond just walls, be sure to account for all other surfaces that may need repainting, like:
- Ceilings
- Doors and trims
- Cabinets
- Railings and banisters
- Decks/porches
- Garage floors
Priming, staining, textured coatings like popcorn ceilings, wallpaper removal, faux finishes, and mold remediation all potentially add more costs as well.
The best way to get an accurate, all-inclusive quote is to have a professional painter like us assess your specific house in person and scope every aspect of the work required.
FAQs on House Painting Costs
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I get on estimating a budget for painting projects:
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a 2-bedroom apartment?
For a 1,000 sq ft 2-room condo with parlor, kitchen, and 1-2 showers, I hope to pay around $2,500-$4,000 to paint all that inside, including roofs and entryways/manage.
What’s the typical price to paint a 3-bedroom house?
A moderately sized 3 bedroom, 2 bath house around 1,800 sq ft will likely cost $6,000 to $12,000 for a full interior and exterior paint job. The range accounts for both DIY and professional painter rates.
Should I paint the inside or outside of my house first?
Exteriors take the most abuse from weather so I’d recommend tackling the outside painting first if possible. Then you can take your time on interiors without worrying about damage from rain or sun exposure.
How long does it take to paint a house?
Due to the presence of multiple professional painters, a typical interior and exterior paint job on a single-family home can take anywhere from one to two weeks. DIY takes two to four weeks for the same task.
When is the best chance to paint the beyond your home? In Sydney, the best times to paint the beyond a house are in the fall and spring, when the typical temperature is gentle and mugginess is lower. Paint dries too leisurely throughout the colder time of year and summer heat waves.
I hope this outline gives you a good idea of the costs to keep in mind when planning your next home painting project, whether it’s inside or outside. Make it a point for a free gauge for your home; I’ll happily give you a complete quote that is custom-made to your particular prerequisites and course of events. You can depend on my group at Parramatta Painters to convey dazzling outcomes since we have over 20 years of expert work of art experience in Sydney.
