Throughout the seasons, your home’s exterior may gradually give in to the elements and start fading. You may begin to notice spots where the paint has been scraped off the edges; you might also notice some discoloration. Soon enough, you would find yourself having to plan an exterior paint job. Giving the outside of your home a makeover is especially important if you want to boost curb appeal. While assessing the situation, you may be wondering how much it would cost to paint the outside of a house. Planning your budget carefully can help you carry out the exterior paint job in a more cost-effective manner.
Factors to Consider for Budgeting
There are several factors that could affect the total exterior paint cost. Taking these factors into account could help you paint a picture of how your budget may look like.
Size of Your House
To determine how much paint you’d eventually need, simply calculate the square footage of the surfaces you are going to paint, excluding surfaces you’re not going to paint, such as doors and windows. Perhaps you may know the diameters of your house from when you were having it built. Otherwise, you could consult a professional contractor. If you prefer doing a quick calculation, a simple formula can give you a rough estimate.
To obtain the square footage of a surface, multiply its length, width, and height. To calculate the total surface area, simply add the square footage of all surfaces together. For example, a house with an exterior surface area of 2000 square feet would require almost 6 gallons of paint.
Number of Stories
A house with more than one story will bring forth some additional costs. Painting the exterior of a multi-story house, other than the need for more paint, could also require the use of scaffolding. On average, scaffolding rentals can cost you anywhere from $15 to $50 per day, depending on height. Another, and the possibly cheaper option could be an extendable ladder, which is typically more expensive than your average stepladder. To compare the options, take into account that the exterior paint job may take more than a couple of days, in which case you may need to calculate the rental price of scaffolding accordingly. A ladder with extensions, however, can be an investment for many years — especially if you’re often taking on home projects yourself.
comments