Things to know before you hire a painter

Talk to several prospective painters to discuss not only the cost of the project but how each painter plans to tackle the tasks at hand.

1. How Will You Protect the Area?

Will you be scraping, removing chipped paint, patching holes, or even using drop cloths to protect the floor and furniture for an interior paint project?

2. What Prep Work Should I Do?

Ask if they'll clean the walls first or if they expect you to do it. For an exterior paint job, this information can be even more important if your home is from the 1970s or earlier, as there's a good chance that lead paint covers at least one of the layers. Lead paint requires extra care to prevent dust and paint chips, and some communities have specific regulations regarding lead paint removal or encapsulation.

3. What Tools Will You Be Using?

Ask which paints, primers, and tools they'll use to do the job, as the quality of the paints and the methods used to apply it can mean the difference between an acceptable job and an excellent one. Exterior finishes applied with a sprayer could result in overspray getting onto surfaces nearby, such as vehicles, other parts of the house, or even the neighbor's home, so it's good to know the painters' prevention plan if they choose this method. Reputable painters should have proof of liability insurance as well as a warranty for their work. This information should be clearly detailed in writing. Painters should also explain the project timeline, including which days the crew shows up and what time of day.

4. Do You Do Minor Repairs or Caulking?

Find out if the painters fill holes and replace crumbling caulk. Caulk needs to be repaired and replaced around windows from time to time anyway, so doing this while the house is painted saves you time or the expense of hiring someone else to do the job. Also ask for a breakdown of costs on the estimate showing materials and labor. Materials should be about 15 percent of the cost.

The Cost of Hiring a Painter

The cost of hiring a painter depends on the paint job itself and the local market. Even so, the quotes from several painters on a large job, such as painting an entire home exterior, may vary by thousands of dollars. Many painters charge based on estimated square footage of the project surfaces. Expect to pay $2 to $6 per square foot for typical paint projects, such as painting a room or a home exterior. Simple projects, such as interior walls, are at the low end of the price range at $2 to $4 per square foot. If the job requires painting difficult areas, such as a third floor exterior wall portion only accessible by standing on a steeply sloped roof, the price goes up.

Painting projects requiring multiple accent colors may also cost more, especially if that extra work involves scraping and repainting spindles or similar nonflat surfaces on porch railings, for instance. This is due to the difficulty and extra time needed to paint around curves and within narrow gaps between spindles compared to simply painting walls or window and door trim. Paint averages $25 to $50 per gallon, so compare the painters' material cost estimates with your own based on retail paint pricing for the same brand and type. Professional painters generally get a better price on paints than you could at a store.

Some painters charge by the hour or by the day, though this is less common than a square-footage price quote. Per-hour pricing ranges from $25 to $75 on average, while a per-day cost averages $200 to $500. For indoor wall murals and specialty paint finishes, expect to pay $50 to $100 per hour on average, or $25 to $35 per square foot. This price does not include cleaning and prepping the wall with a suitable base coat first, so ask the artist if he does this work. Otherwise, you may have to hire another to do so or simply do it yourself. Ask a specialty painter to break down his total costs. Make sure this includes his design fee for a mock-up if the project calls for him creating the design for the wall art.