Expert Tips To Save Money On Painting Costs

How To Keep Exterior Painting Costs Down

Keep Up With Maintenance Painting

Painting the exterior of your home goes beyond aesthetics, paint is one of the layers of protection for your home. Unfortunately many homeowners wait far too long leaving their home until there’s an extensive amount of scraping, sanding and re-caulking to be done. The extra labour to do this preparation will add to the painting costs.

Neglecting the maintenance of a home’s exterior can result in wood rot, excessive mold or mildew build up or water ingress. Wood siding or trim work that is not kept well protected with paint can become prone to warping, cupping or cracking. Having to hire someone to replace damaged wood can be costly, especially if it’s on the higher levels of the house.

Luckily this scenario was not as bad as it could have been. With the exception of about a dozen boards the siding on the house was still in relatively good shape. However, the cost and installation of the new cedar boards and extensive preparation added a significant cost to the painting of the house.

Don’t Let Areas Of Your Exterior Go Neglected Because You Are Waiting Until The Entire House Needs Painting

It’s a mistake to allow one portion of your house to deteriorate because the rest is not in need of painting. If one side of your house is exposed to harsh sunlight or elements of the weather it may require painting long before the rest of the house. Take care of it when it’s needed to avoid costly repairs down the road. Trim work and fascia boards are particularly prone to weathering, fading and discolouration while the body of the house may still be in good condition.

Use Quality Exterior Paint And The Proper Surface Preparation

High-quality paint is essential for durability, however the preparation prior to its application is what ensures a long-lasting finish. Low-quality paint is prone to faster fading, accelerated mildew and algae growth and may scuff or stain easily.

Interior Painting Tips To Save Money

• Schedule painting while the home is empty or unoccupied – Schedule painting before moving into a house or plan painting for when you’re on vacation in an otherwise occupied home. Painting contractors can work efficiently without accommodating household activity and it’s less stressful for your family.
• Paint In Winter – Off season or winter painting tends to be slower for the painting industry and contractors may offer discounts, particularly in the months of November through February.
• Book Several Rooms Or The Whole House At Once – Having a contractor come in to paint several interior spaces at the same time is more cost effective versus having them return on multiple occasions.
• Help The Painter Save Time– Painters base their estimates on how long the job will take. If they have to move furniture, remove window coverings, or clear clutter before starting, that extra time adds to your cost. By clearing walls, surfaces, and smaller furniture ahead of time, your painters can get started faster — saving you money.

Keep the number of colours to a minimum – Multiple colours increase the labour and paint costs.

• Each colour requires a separate brush, bucket, roller sleeve and tray and liner.
• More paint is required – Example: three bedrooms requiring 1.5 gallons each in separate colours requires purchasing 6 gallons of paint. Done in the same colour a 5 gallon bucket does the job with at least half a gallon to go towards another space.
• When painting one colour throughout a house the painters can efficiently transition between rooms, going between spaces applying first and second coats as drying times allow.
• Future painting will also be at a reduced cost and easier to do with one or minimal colours involved.

Be mindful with accent or feature walls: One is fine; multiple can slow progress and increase labour and paint costs.

Skip unnecessary areas: Painting closets or pantries is labor-intensive with many of them containing complex hanging systems and shelving – omit them if they are in good condition and the colour doesn’t require changing.

Final Thoughts

Planning and proper scheduling can reduce painting costs and using proper preparation techniques and high-quality paint is the key to ensuring a professional, long-lasting finish. Regular maintenance and smart choices save both time and money.