How to Estimate How Much Exterior Paint Will Cost
When you have a professional paint a house, the majority of the cost is for labor because the materials are inexpensive, and the painting is labor-intensive. If you plan on painting the outside of the house, you just have to estimate how much the paint and other materials will cost. It's not hard to do if you have a tape measure and calculator.
Supplies:
- Tape measure
- Calculator
- Measure the length of the house's exterior walls. Write them down.
- Measure the height of every wall. Measure a section of boards or panels and count how many there are on the siding. Multiply that by the measurement from earlier. Multiply the height by the length of every wall.
- Multiply the length around the house by the depth of the eaves. The eaves are projected overhangs at the bottom edge of the roof.
- Measure the height and width of every peak and divide it in half. Add up the calculations to figure out the square footage.
- Figure out the kind of siding you have. Divide the square footage total by the estimated per-gallon coverage how much is needed per coat.
- Determine the price of the paint you want to buy. Multiply the price of each gallon by the number of gallons you need to paint the house.
- Double the previous number for two coats of paint. Exterior paint jobs will look better and are more durable with two coats.
- Factor in the trim paint you'll need. A gallon of trim paint for eight gallons of siding paint is a good estimate.
- Create a list of the other materials. Other materials include primer, spackle, caulking, glazing, sandpaper and painter's tape.