Repainting your home’s exterior may seem like a small project. You may assume, “It won’t cost that much, right?”
The truth is, like any home renovation, exterior painting is an investment.
To paint your home’s exterior in 2023, it can cost you anywhere from $4,000 to $11,000 as a starting range for 2,000 square feet.
Because Southwest Exteriors has been a professional San Antonio exterior remodeling company since 1989, we understand this is a broad range, and the cost of an exterior painting project may seem much more than you expect.
We want you to understand how much exterior painting costs and what goes into the cost as well.
How Much Does It Cost To Paint My Home’s Exterior In 2023?
To paint your San Antonio home in 2023, that starting cost is around $2,000 for a DIY or handyman project.
For a high-quality, professional exterior paint project, the starting cost is around $11,000 for 2,000 square feet of painting.
This broad range in cost depends on the size of your home, the condition of the siding, and many other factors.
What Factors Affect The Cost Of An Exterior Painting Project?
Like any home improvement project, many components make up the cost.
For an exterior painting project, you must consider the square footage of your home, the type of siding you have, the condition of the siding, the degree of difficulty, and the quality of the contractor for your project.
1. Square Footage Of The Project
The square footage of your project area is the first factor that will affect the cost of your project.
For painting, the square footage and price are calculated by how many squares are a part of the project. A square refers to a 10 ft. x 10 ft. area or 100 square feet.
A project with only one square will be much less expensive than a project with eight squares, right?
When looking to get your exterior painted, you cannot calculate it based on your exterior's total square footage. The cost will be affected by the linear square footage of the project area.
A part of the project's total square footage is not just the sidewall but any other areas you want to be painted.
Painting Soffit and Fascia
Some homeowners may not know that many quality painting contractors can and will paint other exterior surfaces and siding.
Of course, this will add to the project's total cost as it adds square footage.
The most common additional surface to paint is the soffit and fascia.
- Soffit is the siding underneath the roofing that runs parallel to the ground and covers from the roof’s edge to the siding.
- Fascia is the front-facing part of the roofing trim.
A home with light tan horizontal siding and green soffit and fascia. The soffit and fascia are highlighted yellow and red to show the soffit and fascia on a home.
The yellow highlighted represents the soffit.
The red highlighted represents the fascia.
Other popular surfaces that you can paint are porch and patio ceilings and garage doors. These surfaces are calculated the same as the soffit and fascia: converted into squares.
Painting Gutters
The area around and underneath gutters is another common spot to add to the square footage of your painting project.
If your house has gutters, you can have your painters paint up to the gutters and around them or have the gutters removed and reinstalled so the entire area underneath can be painted.
However, having your gutters removed and reinstalled can add about $18-20 per linear foot because you will have to have gutter specialists remove and reattach them.
The cost to get brand-new gutters is comparable to removing and reinstalling old ones. If you have almost a decade old or more gutters, you should consider just getting new ones.
Overall, the more square footage and areas you want to have painted, the more your project will cost.
2. Type Of Siding To Be Painted
Some types of siding require special treatment for the paint to come out properly and of high quality.
For example, wood is an incredibly porous material. The older the wood is, the more it will absorb the paint and primer. This means that more coats of paint will need to be applied to get the color to the correct shade and paint to the correct mil or thickness.
Older stucco siding can also be dry and absorb more paint, requiring more coats. Brick siding can also be slightly porous and may require extra coats of paint for the result to be proper.
The more coats and paint needed to complete the project, the more it will add to your cost.
Some high-quality fiber cement siding in great condition may require less paint. If the fiber cement siding is fairly new and in good condition, a primer is sometimes unnecessary. This may bring your total cost down slightly.
Overall, the type and condition of your siding and the area to be painted can affect the cost of your total project, depending on the additional labor that may be required to repair and properly coat the area.
3. Condition Of The Project Area
The worse the siding, soffit, or fascia condition, the more it will cost to paint over or possibly repair.
What do we mean by worse? What problems can be found that will cause the cost to increase?
If rot is found in the wood siding, it must be repaired before painting. A quality contractor can repair minimal wood rot, so you do not have to deal with an additional contractor.
Stucco siding can also require minimal repairs if there is water damage that can cause cracks and crumble.
If a painting contractor can not handle repairs, you will have to hire another contractor. Dealing with another contractor leaves more room for the possibility of errors and mistakes.
Simply put, if your siding is in great condition and does not need repairs, it will cost less than siding that needs patchwork or repairing.
4. Degree of difficulty of the area
While the square footage of the project will influence the cost the most, the difficulty of the area to be painted will also add to the total.
Difficult areas can be defined as anywhere where extra labor is required. For example, extremely high areas or small nooks and crannies that are hard to reach will add to the degree of difficulty.
This adds to the cost because the labor required to paint these areas puts the painters in situations of greater danger or takes an extra amount of time and effort to paint.
5. Color of Paint
Choosing your paint color may not have been a factor you would think could impact the cost of your painting project.
However, darker paint colors like blacks and blues will cost more than lighter paint colors. This is because they absorb light rather than reflect it. The more light exposure and absorption the paint takes on, the quicker it will fade in the long run.
Darker paint colors require more coats in order to get them to their true color. Sometimes, the primer will also have to be tinted to aid the coloration of the paint.
All this means extra labor is required, which means extra costs to your project.
6. Quality Of The Contractor
While the above factors deal directly with either the paint or the area to be painted, the quality of the contractor will greatly affect the total cost of your painting project.
A low-quality, less expensive painter will cost significantly less than a high-quality, higher-dollar contractor. However, what you pay for your project is typically what you get.
You cannot expect to get the highest quality paint job when you pay for the least expensive option out there.
The type of paint a contractor uses will also affect the price. If a painter uses low-quality, watered-down paint, your project will cost less, but it is not going to last.
The application of the paint also helps define a quality painting contractor. Using a sprayer helps to evenly distribute the paints as opposed to a roller. This is because a roller will disperse and pick up paint as it rolls back and forth, possibly causing uneven application.
A paint must also be applied to the proper mil or thickness. If the painter does not apply the proper amount of coats, then your project will not come out the way it should.
The warranty a contractor offers also affects the cost of your project. If a painter only offers a two-year labor warranty, or sometimes no warranty at all, your project is not going to cost as much as a contractor that offers a lifetime labor and product warranty.
Having Realistic Expectations For The Cost Of Your Exterior Painting Project
Now that you know the six major factors that affect the cost of painting your home’s exterior, you can have a better idea of how much painting your San Antonio home will cost and why.
Although painting your home’s exterior may seem like a small project, it is still a large investment in your home.
Whether you plan to paint your home’s exterior yourself, hire a neighborhood handyman, or work with a professional contractor, remember these six things affect the total cost of your project.
- Square footage of the project
- Type of siding
- Condition of your siding
- Degree of difficulty of the project area
- Paint color
- Quality of the contractor or company you work with
To ensure you outline the right budget for your project, you must consider each of these six factors so your new exterior paint will meet all your needs.
We understand creating a budget for any home remodeling project can be difficult. Where do you start? How can you create the right budget for yourself?
This article will outline five steps to outline the right budget for any home improvement project so you can create the right budget for your exterior paint project.
Is Painting The Exterior Of Your House Worth It?
Painting the exterior of your house can be worth it for several reasons, but whether it is worth it for you depends on your individual circumstances.
Firstly, painting the exterior of your house can improve its appearance and increase its curb appeal. This is especially important if you plan to sell your house soon, as a well-maintained exterior can attract potential buyers and increase the value of your property.
Secondly, painting the exterior of your house can protect it from the elements, such as rain, wind, and sun. This can help prevent damage to the underlying materials of your house, such as wood or stucco. This can save you money in the long run by preventing the need for costly repairs.
Finally, painting the exterior of your house can also be a way to express your personal style and make your house feel more like a home. You can choose colors and finishes that reflect your personality and taste and create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere for yourself and your guests.
However, painting the exterior of your house can be costly and time-consuming, especially if you hire professionals to do the job. Before deciding, weigh the potential benefits against the costs and determine whether it makes sense for your budget and timeline. Additionally, if your house needs other major repairs, such as a new roof or foundation work, you may want to prioritize those repairs before painting the exterior.
Paint Your San Antonio Home With A Contractor You Can Trust
Southwest Exteriors offers high-quality exterior painting with the highest quality products from Sherwin Williams.
Our expert application, paired with our lifetime warranty, guarantees your new paint will last in your home. When you work with Southwest Exteriors, you build a lifelong relationship.
Ready to upgrade your home and work with a trustworthy company? Schedule your commitment-free consultation with Southwest Exteriors today, and get the look you love coming home to!