So, your neighbor painted the exterior of his house, and it looks pretty good, right? And all the money he told you he saved by doing the job himself has inspired you to take on painting your own home. Before you begin, there’s more to a DIY house painting story.
Repainting your home enhances curb appeal and reflects your personal style. A fresh coat of paint also boosts resale value and protects your investment.
If your house is one story, no sweat. But if your home extends up to two, three or four, that can be quite challenging. Add in a complex roof line and that DIY exterior house painting can turn into a “more than you bargained for” project—regarding time AND money!
Hiring a professional exterior house painter may be a better idea! In this blog post we’ll go over some helpful tips to help you choose between DIY house painting vs. when to call in the experts.
Is It Worth Painting Your House Yourself?
Painting your house yourself could be a good idea. However, DIY house painting comes with its challenges too:
- Time and effort: Painting, especially on the exterior, is time-consuming and physically demanding. A multi-story home is more challenging to paint due to the height of the roofline. DIY exterior house painting requires energy, patience and possibly equipment rentals (for taller heights) to complete the project.
- Lack of professional tools: Professionals use specialized tools and techniques to ensure high-quality results. Without these, a DIY project may not look as professional or last as long.
- Lack of professional techniques: Professional painters have techniques perfected over years of experience that help any painting job look professional and last longer.
Key Considerations and Tips for DIY Exterior House Painting
For those set on tackling exterior painting, preparation is key. Proper surface prep—such as cleaning, scraping, and priming—is essential for a lasting finish. Safety is also critical; working on high walls or rooftops requires caution, ladders, and safety gear. It’s also important to consider seasonal factors, as cold weather painting requires special planning and techniques to ensure success.
The following are circumstance of when DIY exterior painting might be feasible:
- Simple, single-story homes: Homes with minimal architectural (roof) detail are easier to paint without professional tools.
- Minor touch-ups: If only small sections need a fresh coat, DIY can be effective.
- Simple color change: If your home just requires a one coat, color change, you may not need to hire a professional painter.
However, if the following apply to you then you should consider hiring a professional exterior house painter.
- Complex exteriors or multi-story homes: High interior walls or intricate exterior architectural details may require additional safety measures. Mistakes are more common, and personal injury is a real risk when attempting to reach hard-to-access areas while painting. It’s not worth it!
- Homes needing advanced weatherproofing or ceiling/drywall repair from water damage: At George Apap Painting we use top-grade paints and methods to ensure long-lasting, weather-resistant results. Replacing sheet rock or damaged siding is part of the extensive prep work that results in a professional finish.
- Your walls are in poor condition: We also provide guidance on the finish of any paint to help camouflage imperfections (or even repairing the walls prior to painting).
- Removing lead-based paint: If your home was built prior to 1978 it’s possible it has lead paint, which requires additional care and safety precautions to strip it away. The surface will need proper prepping and priming to achieve a professional finish that lasts. Handling this type of complex job requires the help of professional painters who understand the regulations and care for removing lead-based paint.
If your painting project involves complex challenges like intricate exteriors, weatherproofing, or lead-based paint removal, hiring a professional ensures safety and superior results. Contact George Apap Painting today to schedule your consultation and let our expert team handle the hard work for a flawless, long-lasting finish.
Tips for a Successful DIY Interior House Painting Project
To ensure a clean finish, it’s essential to protect floors, tape trim, and move furniture. This preparation minimizes mistakes and keeps your home tidy.
Gather tools for painting like paint brushes, paint rollers/trays, tape, caulk gun, putty/putty knife, cans of paint and rags.
Remove hardware from doors, cabinets, drawers, electrical outlets and any lighting fixtures.
Repair and patch any nail holes or cracks in the drywall. Then sand the area with 200-grit paper and remove dust prior to painting.
Choose a quality primer when applying a light coat of paint over a darker one. Also apply primer when preparing to paint new drywall or fresh plaster.
Select a high-quality latex paint for the walls and test out a spot to see if you like the finished color once dried.
Choose the right finish (from not shiny to shiny). Flat finish for low traffic areas; matte finish for easy touch ups; eggshell for a velvety sheen, glossy satin that is scrubbable for high traffic areas; semi-gloss for trim and doors; high gloss for doors, entry ways or ceilings.
DIY works best for smaller projects, like:
- Single rooms or accent walls: Painting single rooms or accent walls is perfect for DIY paint projects. Tackle one room at a time for the best results.
- Simple color changes: Freshening up a room’s walls or basic color changes or touch-ups are DIY-friendly.
Hiring professional interior house painters is beneficial for:
- High ceilings or intricate trim: Professional tools and experience can achieve clean lines and full and even coverage.
- Extensive square footage or damaged walls: Large spaces or areas needing advanced repair may require professional expertise.
- Using specialty paints: Some paints like lacquers require professional application to achieve the right look.
Cost Analysis of DIY House Painting vs. Hiring Professional House Painters
The costs can add up quickly when purchasing paint, brushes, rollers, drop cloths, sanders, putty and other supplies. While these materials can add up, they’re often less than the cost of hiring a professional, assuming you don’t need extra safety equipment to reach high places.
Professionals consider factors like home size, paint type, and preparation needs. Though more expensive, professional services offer long-lasting, high-quality results that may save money in the long run.
Prices run $1,600 to as high as $20,000 for a complex interior job. A professional painter has the tools and technique to achieve a professional finish that lasts longer than a DIY painting project in many cases.
Exterior prices for a DIY house painting project depend on how extensive the job is. Hiring a professional painting service to paint the exterior of a home can cost between $1,800 and $20,000.
Special Considerations for DIY Brick House Painting
A brick home is reasonably low maintenance, but when it is painted it becomes a maintenance item. Painted brick typically requires repainting every 15 to 20 years and requires pressure washing prior to painting.
Painting brick exteriors can be transformative and freshen up an old home, but it requires careful planning. Brick is porous, so using the right materials is essential for durability and aesthetic appeal. It may be a good idea to wait at least one year before painting new, porous bricks.
It is important to use masonry paint that is professionally applied. If not applied correctly, the paint will not result in a durable finish.
For small brick areas or accents, DIY may work. However, large areas of brick demand special primers and coatings for the best results.
Professionals use specific techniques to ensure even coverage, durability, and weatherproofing, especially on large brick surfaces.
They also utilize the equipment needed to achieve a professional finish. Applying the paint with a sprayer may be the best idea and is better done by a professional house painter.
How Long Does It Take to Paint an Entire House by Yourself?
Painting a home’s exterior yourself involves cleaning, prepping, and priming before actual painting can begin. This process can take days or even weeks depending on the home’s size and condition.
Interior painting typically requires less time, but larger rooms or detailed work (like doors, window casings and railings) can still take several days. Add in prep time, cutting in the paint and then priming and painting which can amount to a few days depending on how much you spend at one time. Plan for several days at the minimum depending on the project.
Professional house painters streamline the process with team coordination, specialized tools, and efficient techniques, often completing projects in half the time of DIY.
Professional painting companies typically have a team of 3-6 painters that can complete a painting job in three to four days depending on the size of the home and prep/repair work.
Is It Cheaper to Paint Your House Yourself?
DIY is often cheaper initially, but if the job lacks durability, future reapplications or touch-ups may add to the cost over time. The advantage of hiring professionals for the job is the high-quality materials and techniques they use that ensure lasting results. A DIY job may lack the precision and longevity that a professional finish provides.
Benefits of Hiring Professional House Painting Services
Professionals have access to top-grade paints and advanced techniques that deliver a polished, long-lasting finish. This also allows more time to pass before needing to repaint, saving the homeowner money.
With extensive experience, professional painters know how to navigate tricky areas and deliver flawless results faster than most DIY approaches. They have the tools to get the job done quicker with a bigger team with fewer mess-ups.
Many professional services offer warranties, adding peace of mind and long-term value for homeowners. George Apap Painting offers a 2-year warranty.
Hiring a professional painter means your job will be completed in a timely manner with multiple painters working simultaneously. The time will be shorter than a DIY paint job.
Conclusion: Weighing DIY House Painting vs. Hiring Professionals
In the Hudson Valley in New York and surrounding areas, where seasonal changes can be tough on exterior paint, choosing between a DIY house painting and hiring professionals for the job depends on several factors.
For small, simple projects, DIY can be a satisfying and budget-friendly approach. However, for larger, more complex projects—especially exterior home painting, which endures year-round weather exposure—hiring a professional team ensures durability, timely completion and high quality.
If you’re considering a home painting project and want a beautiful finish built to withstand the elements and last for years to come, reach out to a professional house painter like George Apap Painting and his team for a free consultation, superior customer service and a 2-year warranty. With over 94 years in business, our family is ready to serve your painting needs.