how do i hire a house painter

Hiring a reliable interior or exterior house painter takes 4 steps:

1. Do your research. Understand what to expect and what to look for in a pro. ...
2. Call pros for site inspections and estimates. Always get three to five estimates.
3. Check references, compare quotes, look at past work. After you have estimates in hand, do one final pass to compare the contractors.
4. Sign a contract with the pro of your choice. ...

Full Answer

Is it cheaper to hire a painter or to do it yourself?

After collecting quotes from professional painting companies, you may find that the project costs less if you do it yourself. You have to consider: Your ability to do the work well, access to high areas, tools and also how high of a value you place on your property.

What do most painters charge hourly?

While less common, some painters will calculate their labor costs per hour. Hourly rates for a professional painter will average $20 to $50 for basic painting but can increase to $100 per hour, or more, for specialty work such as murals or specialty paint.

What to look for in hiring a painter?

A painting contractor should have, at a minimum, a license and current insurance coverage. You can start by researching companies online and reading reviews. The best contractor for the job should have extensive experience with painting projects and a long list of satisfied customers.

Is it worth hiring a painter?

Many DIYers think “why hire a professional painter when I can do it myself?” While some projects are small enough to do well and in a timely manner, most paint projects would benefit from hiring a professional. Not only will professional painters do it well, but they will also do it quickly.

Do you tip painters?

House painter Tipping is not required or expected, but if you are especially pleased with your new paint job, you can give each painter $10 to $20, depending on the scope of the work. Even better than a tip, however, would be to give the painter a positive review on Yelp, HomeAdvisor or similar websites.

Why do painters charge so much?

It's not always the case, but most of the time, the single biggest factor in why it is so expensive to paint a house, is the level of quality the painter can deliver.

Do painters quotes include paint?

Expect the contractor's estimate to include: Travel costs. Prep work. Materials (paint, tools)

Do painters bring their own paint?

They set up shop in one or 2 areas that allows them plenty of space to store their ladders, plastic sheets, paint, etc. Even though painters will bring in all of their own stuff, you may want to make room for them to keep all of this stuff.

Do painters clean up after?

The short answer is yes, painters should clean up after themselves before calling it a day, whether they're tackling a commercial or residential project.

How often should interior walls be painted?

every 3-5 yearsFor the best results, your interior walls should be repainted every 3-5 years. If you remodel your home or change the style of a room, you may need to repaint sooner. Depending on your lifestyle, family, and your activities, you may have to paint more often to keep walls from looking dingy.

Do you paint the walls or the trim first?

Paint the Trim First, Then the Ceilings and Walls Pro painting tips will usually tell you to follow a certain order when painting a room. They paint the trim first, then the ceiling, then the walls. That's because it's easier (and faster) to tape off the trim than to tape off the walls.

What should I expect from a professional painter?

Here are some things you can expect from a quality professional painting company.Estimate. An important part of hiring a painting service is the estimate. ... Color Advice. The painters should also be able to provide expert color advice. ... Preparation. ... Equipment and Supplies. ... Expertise and Results.

How much should I charge for a painting?

Multiply the painting's width by its length to arrive at the total size, in square inches. Then multiply that number by a set dollar amount that's appropriate for your reputation. I currently use $6 per square inch for oil paintings. Then calculate your cost of canvas and framing, and then double that number.

How do painters calculate square footage?

To estimate the square footage, you multiply length x width. For example: If you are painting a bedroom, you should measure from corner to corner of a wall and then measure the height. So if your wall is 12 ft wide and 8 ft high, that wall is 96 square feet.

How much does it cost to paint the interior of a 2000 square foot house?

With an average cost of $3.50 per square foot, painting the interior of a 1,000 square foot home would cost $3,500, a 2,000 square foot home would cost $7,000 and a 3,000 square foot home would cost $10,500.

What is the hourly rate for a painter in Florida?

As of Oct 8, 2022, the average annual pay for the Painting jobs category in Florida is $26,679 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $12.83 an hour.

Hire a True Professional

You want to make sure you’re hiring a professional painter If they have many years of experience, they should be ready to take on any project that you have for them. Make sure you are clear on the scope of your project.

Is Your House Painter Verified

Paintzen interior and exterior painters have all the necessary documents to complete any paint job.

Check References

Read the reviews of our house painters. With numerous reviews on Yelp, Feefo, and more, you can get a rich picture of our Paintzen painters and see some images of projects they have worked on in the past.

Why do you need a professional to paint your house?

If your home needs a fresh coat of paint, hiring a professional is the best way because it saves you time and ensures the job gets done right the first time.

How important is it to ask about the number of painters to work on the job?

It’s also good to ask about the resources available, especially the number of painters to work on the job. This is especially important if you’re being charged by the number of days. You need to make sure you have assurances that the job will be completed on time.

How to know if a painter is reliable?

Communication and Reliability. One of the ways to know if a painter is going to be reliable is if they are on time to the appointment to quote your painting project. You can’t afford to have an unreliable contractor painting your home.

How important is it to reach a paint contractor?

But it’s important to know how you can reach the contractor whenever you need to. 10. The Quality of the Paint. The experience and knowledge of the painting contractor are really important to make sure you receive a professional paint job on the exterior of your home.

How much does painting the exterior of a house increase the value of the property?

Did you know that painting the exterior of your home can increase the value of your property by up to 5 percent ?

How to avoid confusion when painting?

The best way to avoid confusion is to produce a list of the work. With this information , each contractor should be able to provide you with an honest painting quote.

What happens if you don't call ahead to bid on a painting?

That said, if the painter calls ahead of time to let you know he is unable to make the appointment, then that also speaks volumes for his professionalism and respect for your time.

How much does it cost to paint a house?

A whole-house interior paint job like the one described in this article can easily cost around $10,000 or more .

What Is a Painting Contractor?

A painting contractor can work as a sub, or sub-contractor, under a general contractor, or can hire itself out directly to the homeowner. Usually, the painting contractor is a relatively small operation, ranging from the one-man sole proprietor up to 20 or 30 painters working for a small company.

How many coats of interior latex paint?

Two coats of the color of interior latex paint on the walls.

What is covered before painting?

Coverage of all areas that will not be painted, such as floors, windows, kitchen counters, and cabinets. Minor surface preparation before painting, which means light sanding and scraping away loose paint, tapping in a few protruding nails, cleaning off the woodwork, using tackcloth in some areas.

Is it hard to paint?

But painting is more difficult than it looks. So, it is with great pleasure that many DIY painters decide that it is now time to hire a painting contractor to take on the job. Let us find out what painting contractors do, how to hire them, and how to negotiate the best price for your painting job.

Is moving furniture a painter's job?

Moving furniture away for better access to the areas to be painted. This is not a painter’s job, so you would need to confirm this beforehand.

Do you know what is going on inside your neighbors house?

So, other than the painter’s white panel van out front, you often do not know what is going on inside your neighbors’ houses. Urban areas often have local magazines (e.g., in Seattle, there is Seattle Magazine ), and many of them feature renovated homes.

What does it mean to hire a painter?

Hiring a home painter also means you’ll wind up with a professional-looking finished product, which may be difficult to achieve on your own. Of course, you want to hire the right painter—someone who will get the job done on time, charge a fair rate, and leave your home looking beautiful.

How much do painters charge per hour?

Of course, tackling these tasks yourself can help you save money by cutting down on labor costs, since most painters charge an hourly rate—about $25 to $100 an hour on average—though some painters charge per room, says Reba Haas, a real estate agent with Team Reba of Re/Max Metro Realty, in Seattle. 5.

How much of a paint job is prep work?

Generally, one-third of a high-quality paint job is spent on prep work—such as removing stains, caulking cracks, sanding rough wall surfaces, or repairing drywall, says Ryan Benson of Benson Painting Services, in Apple Valley, MN.

How long does a painter's warranty last?

Therefore, you want to select a painter who will guarantee his work. Painter’s guarantees typically last one to three years.

Do it yourself approach to painting?

Taking the do-it-yourself approach can help you save money, but it’s not right for everyone —especially for people who are looking to paint more than one room, says Katie Wethman, a Washington, DC–based real estate agent and founder of the Wethman Group.

Can you hire a subcontractor for painting?

Many painting companies hire subcontractors (also called day laborers) instead of having their own full-time staff. Allowing subcontractors into your home, though, creates a number of risks. Background checks are often not performed on subcontractors.

Do you need workers comp insurance for painters?

Even if painters have workers’ compensation insurance—which, once again, they absolutely should—the last thing you want is to have a painter get injured on your property. To mitigate that risk, professional painters are expected to wear safety equipment such as goggles, gloves, coveralls, and other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection.

Why do you need a house painter?

Not only does hiring a house painter reduce your personal workload, but it also ensures your freshly painted house will look amazing. Professional painters have experience, meaning they know the best tools of the trade and they understand how to be precise enough to get the paint looking perfect and free of smudges or other imperfections.

How long does it take to paint a house?

If you paint your house yourself, expect to commit 2 to 3 weeks. Professionals can get it done in half that.

How much does it cost to paint baseboards?

Painting door trim will generally cost $1 to $3 per linear foot or $500 to $1,500 total, while painting baseboards is about $0.50 per linear foot with a typical 125 linear foot project costing $300 on average.

How much does it cost to paint a 15x12 house?

Professional painters typically charge $250 to $400 to paint a 15-foot-by-12-foot space, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. That includes $0.50 to $2.50 per square foot to prep a house with simple repairs and power washing.

How much does a gallon of paint cost?

A gallon of paint costs an average of $25 to $50 and will cover about 350 square feet. Keep in mind that that’s only one coat. If you’re changing the paint color on your house completely, whether interior or exterior, you’ll need several coats to make the color pop. If it’s a quick touch up, one coat may do the trick.

Is it worth hiring out to paint a house?

If you’re physically able to get up on a ladder and slather a coat or two of paint on the interior or exterior of your house, hiring out may not seem worth it. But a professional looking paint job isn't as easy as it may seem at first.

Do you have to pay anything else until you finish a painting job?

Once you pay that deposit, you usually won’t need to pay anything else until they finish the job. But for larger, more time-consuming jobs, the company may require smaller periodic payments throughout the process. Painters set their prices either by square footage, hourly, or by the amount of time the job takes.

Can You Provide Examples of Past Work?

Do You Have The Necessary Qualifications?

What Are Your Payment terms?

What Is Included in Your Contract?

What Type of Materials Will Be used?

What Prep Work Will You do?

How Long Will The Project take?

Who Is on Your Team?

• If your painting project is a big one, your painter may need to work with subcontractors. These professionals may be the ones to work on prep work, specialized finishes, or clean-ups. For even larger projects, you may want to hire a general contractor, who in turn brings in specialist painting contractors. If the house painter does not give enough ...

See more on residencestyle.com

Who Cleans The Mess?

What Warranties Do You offer?