When deciding whether or not to paint your home’s interior, one of the first things any home owner considers is the cost. Sadly however, calculating the cost of painting isn’t an exact science. Each homeowner has their own vision, and each space has its own challenges. That’s why at Encore Painting, we don’t offer flat rates, we need to evaluate a space before giving an estimate. However, here are some ways to estimate the cost of painting your home yourself, ways you can save some cash if you hire professionals, and what you can expect if you do decide to go with the pros.
How do I estimate an interior paint job?
Though there’s no way to calculate the exact cost of a paint job, here are a few things to keep in mind if you are planning on taking on the project yourself. Unsurprisingly, the first thing you need to consider is the cost of the paint and primer. A general rule is that one gallon of paint can cover 400 square feet, so measure the square footage you’re going to be painting, divide it by 400, and that’s how many gallons you’ll need to cover the space. Keep in mind however, this is only for one coat, and depending on the project, you will almost certainly need more than that.
Painting a black wall white is going to take several coats of paint to get a solid result, while touching up an already white wall will likely take one. Be sure to consider this when calculating how much paint you’ll need. As for materials, you can paint your home’s interior with limited equipment. You’ll need the brushes and rollers, a painting tray, drop clothes for the floor, and painters tape to protect edges. If you are painting the ceiling or hard to reach areas, you’ll need a ladder or roller attachment. That’s about it! Like the paint and primer, the cost of the material is going to vary depending on the retailer, so be sure to compare prices to get the best deal, but this should give you a good baseline on how to estimate the cost of your painting project.
What is a reasonable price for painting?
As we mentioned, like most professional companies, Encore Painting does not have a flat rate for a project – there are just too many variables to consider. However, if you are planning on going with professional painters, there are a few things you can do yourself that will lower the overall cost of the job. The biggest way to do this is to prepare the room yourself. For example, removing wallpaper yourself is a great way to save some money.
Professional painters will happily remove the wallpaper for you, but it will cost extra. This goes for fixing imperfections as well. If you take a caulking gun to drill holes or chips in drywall and sand them down yourself, it’s one less thing you need to pay the painters to do. The difficulty of the job will also affect the cost. For example, if you are wondering whether or not to paint the ceiling or trim, keep in mind that this will add more time for the painters, which will add to the bill. When someone comes to evaluate your home, be sure to see if there’s any prep work you can do beforehand that will help speed up the project and cut some of the costs!
Is it worth it to hire painters?
For a more in depth answer to this question, check out our blog Should you hire a pro to paint your home’s exterior? because the same principles apply to the interior of your home, but the short answer is that it depends. To summarize, painting your home yourself is almost certainly going to save you money, but the money you spend on professional painters will do more than give you a professional quality paint job. It will save you the trouble of doing the work yourself, as well as the hassle of researching the proper materials needed and buying or renting them. Finally, professional painters will ensure that the project is done efficiently, so you won’t have to worry about a project taking longer than expected, which is always a risk for the inexperienced painter. This is why, for many people, the peace of mind given by professional painters can be well worth the extra cost. But if you’re not sure, there’s no risk in getting a free estimate! With nearly fifteen years of experience, Encore Painting Ltd. knows what it takes to do a job right. Our professionals will evaluate your space at no cost, so you can know exactly what to expect and decide whether or not to go with a professional company. Contact Encore Painting Ltd. today to get your free estimate today.