6 Factors That Affect the Costs of Painting a House in Tampa

Are you interested in painting your house? Giving your property a fresh coat of paint can make it look as good as new. In addition, it also increases property values and protects your home from the elements.

However, many homeowners don't know how expensive house painting projects can be. That's why Tampa's residential house painters are here to explain the six factors that affect the costs of painting a house. 

1. Home Size

Home size is probably the most important factor regarding painting costs. Usually, painting services calculate your home's paintable surface area and charge accordingly. However, you can calculate this surface area yourself to get an idea of how much you'll have to pay.

You'll want to determine the square footage of the surface area of your home. To do so, start by measuring the total perimeter of your home's exterior, then multiply that value by its height. Next, calculate the area of fixtures that won't need paint, such as windows, shutters, and doors. 

Finally, subtract the non-paintable area from the total area, and you'll know how much area your painters will have to cover. Typically, you'll have to pay anywhere from $1.25 to $4.17 per square foot.

Given these costs, you'd have to pay about $1,355 for a 500-square-foot paint job, a rate that scales up as you increase the area involved. However, the national average cost for home painting is $3,348, as most homeowners have between 1,000 and 1,500 square feet of paintable area. 

2. Type of Paint

Most home painting companies use one of two types of paint: latex-based or oil-based. Latex paint is water-based, making it a more eco-friendly paint. However, it's not as tough as oil-based paint, which excels at protecting homes from damage.

Latex paint costs anywhere from $20 to $63 a gallon, depending on the brand and quality, while oil paint usually costs between $20 and $70. Paint costs also vary depending on finish type, as higher-gloss paints cost more than matte paints.

3. Prep Work 

When considering the costs of painting a house, it's essential to remember the prep work involved before the painting begins. Usually, contractors must perform additional tasks to prepare your home for painting, such as power washing, sanding, and repairing damaged siding.

These tasks require additional labor, parts, and time, increasing costs. However, you can do some of these prep tasks ahead of time to save yourself money. For instance, try taping off windows and doors yourself or filling in holes with caulking.

4. Labor Costs

Each painting project varies when it comes to length, but the average home takes about 80 to 120 hours to paint. Based on national averages for hourly painting rates, these costs come out to about $26 to $79 per hour. However, if you're hiring multiple painters, you'll have to pay this amount for each painter.

While understanding how hourly rates work can help you estimate your total costs, you should remember that most professionals price projects on an overall scale. They may also add additional fees depending on the level of effort required to paint hard-to-reach spots.

5. Type of Primer

You should include primer costs when calculating the costs of painting a house. Primer plays a key role in any painting project as it prepares a surface for a new coat of paint. Without primer, paints fade away more quickly and look strange.

Like paints, primers fall into two categories: latex-based and oil-based. You should pair primers and paints based on whether they use latex or oil. Usually, oil-based primer costs $20 to $65 per gallon, while latex-based primers cost $20 to $80. 

6. Type of Siding

Siding refers to the material used on your house's exterior. Common types of siding include metal, wood, concrete, brick, stucco, and vinyl. Although each has its benefits, it's important to consider that contractors will charge you more depending on which type of siding you have.

Different materials require more coats of paint and primer. For instance, stucco is notoriously tricky to paint, so it costs about $3.33 per square foot. Metal siding, on the other hand, is simple to paint, so it costs only $1.59 per square foot.

Professional Painting Company in Tampa, FL

Original Florida Painting Company offers premium-grade home painting services in Tampa. Their team understands the costs of painting a house, which is why they prioritize blending quality with affordability. If you're curious as to the best time to paint a house exterior in Tampa, contact the experts for more information.