When you’re looking to paint your home, the first question that may come to your mind is “how much is this project going to cost me?”
There’s a lot that can go into calculating your cost, but let’s break it down into two options – doing it yourself or hiring a contractor.
Option 1 – Do It Yourself
A lot of people love a good DIY project, but you must do all your research before you start or you’ll be left with an end result that wasn’t worth the time or money you put into it. The Different Types of House Paints is the area where you must be familar with so that you can choose the right variety of paint for exterior and interiors too.
Cost Savings
Since contractors charge money for labor, deciding to do it yourself is a way to save money.
More Control
You get to decide when the painting is done and all the tiny decisions about materials, colors, and quality.
It’s All Yours
Finishing a project by yourself or learning how to paint your own house can give you a great sense of accomplishment! Hello bragging rights!
Lower Quality
It’s at no fault of yours, it’s simply that it can be easy to underestimate the amount of work and proper tools needed to get the job done correctly. Without proper training it can be difficult to get the prep just right, those clean sharp lines, and the full, even coverage.
Large Time Investment
To get a result you’re satisfied with, you need to set aside a lot of hours for the work.
A Lot of Research Required
Getting the job done right means you need to do your research to find the quality and type of paint you want, proper prep and painting techniques, and tools that are required. You can look at our previous and continuing blog posts for some of your research.
So What Does It Cost to Do It Myself?
If you’re doing your painting project yourself, you’ll need to start with the basic tools to get the job done. If you’re wanting a quality job, it’s recommended to pay a little more for the tools you need. You don’t need to choose the most expensive item each time, but also don’t choose the cheapest option.
The tools you need depend on the project you’re doing, but here are the most common tools we recommend:
- Paint Roller & Paint Roller Frame ($10-$25)
- Paint Roller Extension Pole ($7-$15)
- Canvas or Plastic Drop Cloths ($5-$15)
- Paint Brushes ($3-$20/brush)
- Paint Tray ($5-$10)
- Sandpaper ($5-$10)
- Painter’s Tape ($5-$15)
- Putty Knife ($5-$10)
- Interior and/or Exterior Ladder ($60-$300)
- Wall Cleaner ($5-$10)
- Pressure Washer – Rent or buy ($150-$350)
- Calk & Caulk Gun ($15-$20)
- HVLP or Airless Paint Sprayer – Rent or buy ($100-$1000)
- Interior Paint ($30-$60/gallon)
- Exterior Paint ($40-$70/gallon)
- Cabinet Paint ($45-$80/gallon)
Keep in mind that the total price of everything will depend on factors like quality, brand, and type. This is where your research will play a vital role!
Option 2 – Hiring A Contractor
Hiring a professional home interior painting contractor is a great way to save you time and ensure you get the quality paint job you have in mind and quick completion, but it comes at a greater investment than DIY.
High Quality
Painters are experts in this field and have spent countless hours perfecting their skills. You’re paying for the quality they provide, which is something to keep in mind when comparing bids.
Time Savings
If you a hire a contractor, you can spend your free time doing things you want to do or with your family instead of getting straight to work on your painting project. You can save hours of headache by letting us do the painting for you.
Hiring someone to do the painting also allows you to focus on the details that surround a great paint job. Details like décor changes, deep cleaning, or minor improvements your family has always wanted to get done.
Warranty Provided
If you mess up your paint job then you have to redo it, but if a contractor messes up there should be a warranty that requires them to come out and fix it.
At MTS, we have a 7-year labor and material warranty to make sure you’re covered from the day we start painting to 7 years from project completion.
Safety & Insurance
Professionals are trained to be safe! Our safety motto is that everyone goes home in the same condition they started.
This goes for your belongings as well – everything you own is in the same or better condition when we leave. If anything does happen, God forbid, we have excellent insurance to cover any accidents.
More Expensive
The biggest and most obvious downside to hiring a contractor comes to the final price tag. Since you are paying for the cost of labor in addition to materials, it’s going to be more expensive than doing it yourself.
So What Does It Cost to Hire A Contractor?
There are so many factors that go into calculating the overall cost you would pay to have your house painted. MTS Painting doesn’t just want to be your painter, we want to be your partner. We may be the experts in painting, but no one know what you want better than you do. The foundation we build on trust, devotion to ethics, and dedication to high quality are designed to give you the most value for your money. The investment you make with MTS for your paint job will be worth it.
MTS takes every detail into consideration when coming up with an estimate, and you can always complete our quick estimate tool to see about how much your project would cost. We also offer in-person or virtual estimates so that we can give you a more accurate bid, just let us know which type of estimate you’d prefer!
This is a very good company. We’ve used them several times in the past ten years and are extremely satisfied with their workmanship, care for our property and excellent people. Fair pricing, too. Highly recommend MTS!
John G.
In the end, the cost of painting your home can come down to more than just money. It comes down to time spent on the project, activities you have to give up completing it, and any additional time and money spent fixing any errors. Weighing out the pros and cons to each aspect can help make your decision of where to invest your money for your painting project.
