Do it yourself or hire a professional? Often, homeowners find themselves caught in this dilemma when it comes to repairing or improving their homes. Probably, one of the main reasons why homeowners choose the DIY route is because of cost savings. Why pay for the professional fees of a contractor when you can finish the job yourself, right? Well, that’s not always the case.
Although there are some home repairs that you can do yourself, some projects are best left with the professionals – such as painting your home. You’re probably asking, ‘Is it worth hiring a professional painting contractor?’ There are plenty of benefits to hiring a professional painting contractor, which we will list down in this article. But one of the biggest reasons why hiring a pro painter is worth your money, is that you’re assured that the job is done correctly and efficiently the first time.
What are the advantages of hiring a professional painting contractor?
Did you know? Painting your home is the least expensive investment with the highest return when it comes to home improvement. Painting the interior of your house can give you a 107% return on investment, while a fresh coat of paint on your exterior walls can garner you a 55% ROI.
However, if you really want to get your money’s worth, you have to consider hiring a contractor to do the job. Take note that painting your walls is more than just slapping on some new paint. It starts with inspecting your walls, doing some repairs and preparations before the actual painting begins. Failing to do these things would have you end up with a low-quality paint job that wouldn’t last long– which also translates to wasting your time and money. That said, let’s look at the benefits of hiring a professional painter.
Save Your Time
As the old saying goes, “time is money”. As we just mentioned, there are a lot of things you have to do before you even start painting, and someone untrained may be spending lots of time just giving their walls a facelift.
When you hire a professional painter, you can go on to do other important things. You can rely on the painter’s skills and experience that the job will be done exceptionally. Also, since their only focus is to complete the work, you can expect the project to be completed in a just a day or two, depending on the project.
No Need to Invest in Other Tools
In painting a home, you would need more than just paint and paintbrushes. In many cases, you have to have patching and caulking tools, and you might even need some applicators and spraying equipment. You’ll also have to invest in safety gear, especially if you’re painting the exterior of your house. Chances are, you won’t have the correct painting tools lying around so you’ll also have to purchase them that would add to your costs.
A painting contractor will have all the necessary tools needed to finish the job, so it’s another thing you don’t need to worry about.
Pick the Right Type of Paint
Besides having the right tools, a high-quality paint job also involves choosing the right type of paint. Take note that it’s more than just getting paint for your interior and exterior and choosing between a flat or a glossy finish. A professional painter will guide you through picking the correct paint for your space– the right type that will hold up long even in various types of weather conditions.
Insurance
Do you know that most states require painting contractors to be licensed? And typically, a professional will be bonded, which means that the painter will cover losses that were incurred by the homeowner if the job was not completed according to the contract. This means that hiring a professional painter protects you if the work is not done successfully.
More importantly, licensed contractors are required by some states to have liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage that relieves that project owner for any damages that were incurred by the contractor. It also means that the homeowner does not need to pay any medical fees if the painter is injured during the completion of the job.
High-Quality Work
A huge advantage of hiring a painter than doing it yourself is the results that you will get at the end of the project. Naturally, a professional painter will produce professional results, so you’re guaranteed that you’ll get what you expect–and even better! A high-quality paint job will ultimately boost your home’s curb appeal and will make your investment worth it.
How much does it cost to hire a professional painter?
Like with any home improvement or repair project, it helps to get an idea of how much the job is likely going to cost.
It’s important to note that majority of professional painting contractors will charge a job by the square foot of the wall space. Painters would usually charge for an interior painting around $2 to $6 per square foot,which includes two coats of paint. For additional work on moldings, trims, or doors, do expect that this amount will be a bit higher.
As per the latest rates, the cost for an interior repaint of an average-size home will cost anywhere from $1,200 to $6,500 with the median cost running at $3,500. *These rates can vary based on the size of a home.
For exterior painting jobs, contractors charge $3 to $6 per square foot, which will include the gutters, windows, trim, shutters, etc. Often, painters will calculate the expected overall square footage and will provide you with a quote for a flat rate job.
If you’re only looking to repaint a part of your home, some contractors (although not common) will charge you per room. Expect to pay around $800 to $1,200 for a bedroom repaint, while for bigger spaces, such as a living room, will cost you anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000.
Other Factors that Affect Cost
When a professional painter provides you a quotation, typically, the labor is around 80% of the overall project cost. The remaining 20% is for the materials and other factors listed below.
- Paint and Materials – Interior paint costs anywhere from $25 to $50 per gallon depending on the brand, while exterior paint costs a bit higher. Your advantage, however, when you hire a painting contractor is that they can purchase the paint at a wholesale price, which can save you money.
- Lead Paint Testing – If you live in an older home (built before the late 1979s), you will be required to have lead paint testing that will cost around $300. If a contractor detects lead on your walls, they will need to encapsulate or remove the paint.For lead paint removal, it will cost you $13 per square foot. Important note: Lead-based paint, especially the ones that are already peeling, chalking, or cracking is highly dangerous. When lead is absorbed into the body, it could result in organ or brain damage; and in some extreme cases, even death. If you need to have lead paint removed, it’s best that you hire a professional to do this so that the job is done safely.
- Additional Repairs or Prep Work – Most painting contractors will include basic prep work in their quotation. However, there may be some repairs and cleaning that need to be done, which will add to the cost.To save time and money, it is a good idea to have the area cleared for any furniture and other obstructions before the painters arrive on your property.
What should I do when hiring a painting contractor?
If you’re not used to hiring contractors, you may find it confusing when it’s time to choose the right professional painting service for the job. To give you some tips, here are some things to remember when finding a reputable contractor.
- Hire a licensed painting contractor – A good way to start is to consider only hiring licensed professionals who also have current insurance coverage. This will straight away lead you to companies that have extensive experience with painting projects.
- Look at the reviews – While you can ask for referrals from trusted family or friends, it’s also helpful to double-check and see what other previous clients say about the contractor.
- Interview the contractor – Once you have your list narrowed down, choose at least three contractors to call and interview over the phone. Before you do this, make sure that you already have a plan in place and have determined what type and how extensive the painting job would be.Some questions you can ask the painter are:
- Can you provide some references to recent projects that you completed that are similar to mine?
- Do you have a license and are you insured?
- Who will be working on the project? Are they direct employees or subcontractors?
- What are the inclusions of the estimate? How many coats of paint are included in the quotation?
- What type of paint do you use?
- What is the payment arrangement?
- Get the estimate in writing – Make sure to have everything in black and white. Ask for your top three contractors to send you their estimates in writing. Their quotation should have the overall cost, plus taxes, the scope of the project, specifications of what paint and materials will be used, timeline (start and completion dates), terms and conditions, and the company’s contact information.
Hiring painting contractors is more costly than doing it yourself. However, the high-quality results that you get when you hire a professional will give you a sure ROI, which makes every penny you spend worth it.
We can help you find trusted painting contractors from your neighborhood! Click on the links below.
