Cost of painting. Is it too much???

Colleen

Colleen

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
I had a professional painter come to my house a couple weeks ago to give me a price on painting a couple rooms and the hallway going upstairs.

The rooms I wanted painted are the living room (13x21) and one bedroom (11x11). The hallway is 3x15. Two coats. Nothing huge or complicated. The price was $1300. Is this typical nowadays? I know paint is at least $45/gal. (he uses Sherwin Williams).
 

Nathan said:
House painting (indoor or outdoor) seems expensive, but it is labor intensive.
Is this a painting contractor? Maybe a local handyman could do it cheaper.
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Yes, this is his business. He's so booked up that I couldn't get scheduled until the middle of September.

I think I might go on Nextdoor and see if there's someone to paint.
 

Things to consider.
1.All the same color?
2. Furniture to move or cover?
3. 2 coats = drying time = contractors hours

Then there is his time to pick up the paint. You might save a little by knowing how much paint you will need & the colors. That paint covers about 400 square feet. double coat would be a little over 800 sq, feet.
It's not a big job but sometimes the smaller ones cost more simply because the time involved isn't always profitable.

But as Jace suggested if possible get other estimates.
 
Three years ago we hired painters to paint the celing of our dining room, front porch hallway and one bedroom and it was $600. It seems high but painting is very labour intensive. Thereā€™s taping to be done.
It seems reasonable to me.
 
Painting is not so hard until you have to get on a ladder. After we bought this house, I painted the whole of the inside alone on the weekends. I would love to change things up but now getting up on a ladder is impossible.

When my Mom came to live with me about 10 years a go we got a quote to paint the inside of her home. It was $6,000.00, needless to say we did not do it. Once the house was listed, she had nine offers in 24 hours.

I guess I am lucky I chose very basic colors, good quality paints, when I did all the work. It is very easy to clean when needed and will go with any decor.
 
In our house rebuild, 980 SqFt, all new sheetrock, 5 gallons of primer, 11 gallons of paint assorted brushes and rollers and we have over $750. now to get it on the walls and ceiling.
 
I love painting, and have been doing it since I was 12, and know this:
- The room prep and clean up can take a lot of time and effort (to do it right).
- Labor rates vary quite a bit from area to area, and I suspect your area is fairly high.
- I recently checked paint prices and $45 was about in the middle of the pack.
- Definitely get a couple more bids. And remember, often you "get what you pay for".

Over the last 20 years or so I've bought goods and services that are not everyday items (i.e. car parts, furniture, appliances, home repairs, yard work, etc.). And like the retired financial guy I am, I'll estimate what I think the bill will be beforehand. Wow, in almost every case I've been way low in my guess! Lately I've learned to add 50 percent to my best guess and that seems to come pretty close.
 

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