Unsurprisingly, the most common question Westchester painters hear is “How much will it cost to repaint my home’s exterior?” People would like to get a quick and fast answer; the reality is there are several factors that can affect how much a painting job will cost. That’s why most Westchester painters will typically want to schedule an appointment to personally inspect a property before committing to a cost estimate.
It’s a complicated topic, but there are some factors that heavily influence the final costs of exterior painting. In addition, there are also things you can do – or not do – which can help keep costs as low as possible.
So, these are our tips for getting the most from your home painting contractors!
Five Ways to Affordably Hire Westchester Painters
I. Area painted or square footage impacts cost
This one is pretty obvious: the more wall space you have, the more costly your paint job will be. However, there are still going to be a lot of factors that affect the final cost. An exterior residential paint job can potentially cost anywhere between $1-$5 per square foot, depending on the overall scope of the project.
II. The condition of the exterior
This is one of the biggest complications when doing a full exterior paint job. The better a home’s exterior has been maintained, the easier the paint job will be. If the exterior is dirty, it will need to be thoroughly cleaned. Very soiled surfaces may require multiple passes – before painting can proceed. This will substantially add to the overall costs, due to all the time and labor involved.
Likewise, if there are problems with the exterior – such as cracked siding or misaligned window frames – these issues will need to be addressed. Otherwise, the paint job may hide the problems. Worse still, those flaws could become a permanent part of the exterior.
III. Material quality
The overall quality of paint can vary greatly, driving how much it costs. When doing a home painting project, it can be tempting to try to save money by going cheap on the paint. This is not a good idea. Cheap paint is going to be vulnerable to the elements and will quickly fade in the sunlight. You will find yourself having to paint the house again surprisingly quickly if you go too cheap.
Good Westchester Painters will look at your home, its orientation, its sun exposure, and other factors to determine what quality of paint is needed for best results. This is one of the main reasons to hire experts: they know how to maximize value without sacrificing quality.
IV.The full scope of your desired changes
Simply put: are you only going to want to repaint your house, or are you also thinking about changing other exterior elements such as the doors, windows, or roof?
This is important because painting needs to color-coordinate with all the other exterior elements. Changing one, then changing the other, can bring mixed results.
Many home painting contractors also offer other services or have construction partners they can call on. So, for example, hiring a crew to paint your house and replace your roof tiles at the same time will ultimately save you money, compared to doing both jobs separately. Plus, that way, you’ll know for certain that your new look will be well coordinated.
V.Things you can do to save money
There are plenty of ways you can help reduce the overall costs of your project. Here are some ideas:
1 – Always get multiple estimates
Nearly all painting contractors will offer free surveys and estimates. It’s simply part of the sales process. This does not mean you’re obligated to hire them. Spend time, call a few shops, and get at least 3-4 estimates. This will give you a chance to interact with the painters, and see who you work well with, while also helping you choose a reasonable cost estimate.
Going with the lowest bidder is rarely a good idea. Look for someone in the middle, who also seems to offer good customer service, or has a lot of testimonials.
2 – Exclude the windows
Are your windows in good shape? Or are you planning on replacing them soon? In either case, you can request your painters exclude the windows from their plans. Windows and frames are difficult to repaint, so this will save you some money.
3 – Remove obstacles and debris from your lawn
Typically, labor on home painting jobs is billed by the hour. So, anything you can do which makes life easier for the painters will save you money!
The best way to do this is to clear your lawn of any debris or obstacles that will interfere with the painters. They’ll have one or more vehicles and will need easy access. Also, any lawn furniture, toys, tools, and anything else surrounding the house should be moved into storage. This keeps them out of the way, while also ensuring they don’t get stained or damaged during the job.
If you have outdoor pets, make sure to keep them away from the workers. They won’t be able to work effectively with a dog or other animal running around, even if the dog is friendly.
C.E.T. Painting Has the Expertise You Need
We are top-rated Westchester painters who have been creating amazing new looks for homes since 2004 – at reasonable prices. Contact us today to schedule your own cost estimate.