Cost to paint house??

[Paul T]

Anyone have a rough idea what the going cost is to have a house painted these days? We have fairly large 2 story colonial (~3500 sq ft) with cedar siding. The house is a gray color with tan trim around the windows (odd color combo IMO)..at least I "think" it's paint - could be a stain I suppose.

It does not look bad, just not "fresh" - I'm not sure how often something like this even needs to be done? I do everything else around the house, elec, plumbing, drywall, just put a new ceiling in the kitchen, but I have no desire to paint the exterior of the house this summer, while trying to work 55+ hrs a week at the same time. I'll probably call a couple of guys, just thought I'd ask.

On a related note, anyone ever use those cedar treatments on a cedar roof? I get flyers in the mail all the time from companies selling "sealer" treatments that are supposed to add years to the roof. Our roof is about 10 yrs old, but already looking old in spots..

[911Rob]

Im a canuck, but going contractor rate here for residential is $2.50/sqft; would be slightly less for such a large home; fyi. (may help with your budget)

[HardDrive]

I'm making a wild guess and saying $7000 if you use a lic. contractor. You could get the work done for less, but do you really want college students/illegals up on ladders on your property? I'm thinking no.

[Paul T]

Hmmm, so far you are confirming my suspicion that this was not a cheap endeavor! Not that I really thought it would be, after all, it's a lot of labor.

I think I'll go sit outside, have a Guinness and a cigar and take a real good look at it...

[t951]

We have a 1 story house that is about your same size. We shopped around, but ended up going with the husband of one of my wife's employees. We paid 3200.

[dipso]

I paint houses for a living. I am doing one down the street right now, $4400.00. Single story, lots of trim, 4 colors.
No idea what things go for in Pennsylvania.
Sq ' isn't really as important as detail. You could paint a 10,000 sq' tilt up cheaper than a 4000 sq' custom home.

[dipso]

Post a picture. I'll tell you.

I doubt it's 7,000. I have never painted an exterior for 7,000. I have done interiors for upwards of 10,000. Exteriors are usually easy. Maybe 5,000 to 6,000 tops.
Average around here is about 4,000 something and I am high.

[Dottore]

Had our house painted last year. The most amazing thing about the process was the variation in quotes—which ranged from $4,000 to $22,000!

There are some real sheisters out there. There are even guys out there who will take a job like this just in order to better case the place for a subsequent burglary.

I wouldn't hire a house painter without some solid recommendations from previous customers. And get 5 or 6 quotes.

[Paul T]

Thanks dipso - pic:

[911longhorn]

We had a shake roof on our house where I tried to "patch" it here and there. Looking back, I spent over $1,000 doing that while the price of a new roof kept going higher and higher. I should have just replaced the roof when it needed it. Replaced it with composite shingles, 4yrs later it still looks brand new. Picking the right roofer is very important. My neighbor's roof is newer and it already has waves in it from poor workmanship.

[DasBoot]

$50.

A guy, sitting in a bar, is approached by a hooker. She says "I'll do anything you want for $50".

The guy thinks about her proposition for a minute and says "OK. Paint my house".

[911Rob]

sorry, my budget quote was for the interior of the home, I was a in a rush and didn't read the OP properly. Exterior quotes vary, but judging from your home I'd say $4K would be fair?

my apologies for not reading your post properly the first time. good luck.

[Zeke]

Houses never seem to get painted in time. With the "average" amount of preparation (which is a lot), that house would cost over 10K to paint here in SoCal. It would be over 15K in San Fran proper and probably over 20K in NY, NY. If the windows are vinyl, take off up to 3K.

[dipso]

I am assuming that's the garage on the right. Also I am assuming those are wood sash, double hung windows in the front only.
Looks like a stucco chimneys and stucco outside the office, so I would guess stucco on the sides and rear. Could be painted brick but that doesn't really matter.

I would guess about $5,500, $6000.00. You might find it for 5 but I doubt 4500.
Wood sash all the way around will raise the price a little.

Like I said, I don't know what things go for out there but those prices should be good.

Basically I figure
2 days to prep
3 days to spray body
4 trim
4 windows and shutters
1 front door
1 razor blade windows and cleanup

$1000 to $1500 materials.

[Paul T]

Thanks guys. Yep, garage on the right, and stucco chimneys and on the front outside the family room. Sides and back are all siding also. All wood trim/windows..

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by Paul T

Here you go. I even put on a new roof for you. That will be $21,567.53

[ben parrish]

The prices seem about right that have been quoted...my only input is to not spray the house. Spraying will never give the penetration and durability that brushed/rolled on would. Spraying with back brushing is acceptable.
By the way, I bet that the house currently wears solid latex stain; you can generally tell by scraping an area to see if the "paint" flakes or the stain lifts with the wood.

Painting is very expenses to hire out but the right painter will be worth their price. Check references and go see the work on a few houses for those you consider. A hack with a scraper/pressure washer can do more than 6k in damage to the house not to mention the trampled shrubs, oversprayed EVERYTHING, truck tracks in the yard, etc.

good luck,
Ben

[Aurel]

Our old house got repainted for $5,200. Not a very large house though (1,400 sqft):

[jyl]

I am not a house painter but from stories I have heard from friends about house painting - be very specific on what prep and what paint will be done, get references for houses they have painted that way, go see those houses and talk to the owners. There is apparently a world of difference between a shlocky quickie job and a strip to bare wood, sand, fill, fix loose siding, prime, and detail paint job. And I have heard there are guys who are used to painting new construction now trying to do existing houses, since the new construction market has dried up, and not doing a good job. As a paint job can last 10 years, I think getting a good one is worth it, even if it means waiting a year.

[fintstone]

Wow! Last time I had a house that size painted was about 10 years ago...and only cost about $1200.