Should I Hire Professional Painters or Paint My House Myself?

When your house needs a fresh coat of paint, inside or out, one question is whether you should hire professionals or attempt the project yourself. The answer is not always a no brainer, and may vary depending on whether you are doing interior or exterior work, the size of your house, whether you have difficult areas such as a wall above a hallway, etc. You should also compare the cost of hiring painters with the value of your own time.

This guide will help you compare DIY vs. hiring professional house painters near me, so you can make the best choice for your specific situation.

How Professional Painters Approach a House Painting Project

When you call professional house painters, they do a full evaluation not just before starting a project, but before offering a quote. They use their experience and skill to establish how long the project will take, how much paint it will, need, etc. Professionals typically evaluate:

• Total scope. This includes the number of rooms, the number of surfaces (an odd shaped room, for example, may cost more), and the amount of trim.
• Surface condition. Does your drywall need patching? Is there wallpaper that has to be removed? Do your walls need sanding or priming?
• Color change difficulty. Going from a dark color to a light one typically requires more coats of paint.
• Paint selection. What kind of paint works best on each surface involved. Professionals are intimately familiar with products and will choose what will look best and be easiest to apply.
• Access and equipment needs. Do you have high ceilings, are they painting a stairwell? How tall is your house if doing the exterior? With some exteriors, such as a house on a steep hill, they may need to bring in lifts.

This systematic evaluation separates a professional finish from a DIY attempt, and looking at these factors can help you determine if investing in professional labor is justified. For example, if you are painting the downhill side of your house with a raised deck, that may require professional equipment to do safely. Meanwhile, if you're painting one square room with a lower ceiling, it might not be worth it. Whether you are calling professional interior painting services or exterior painting services, they can handle the most complicated projects easily.

When Hiring a Professional is the Right Choice

There are certain situations where you absolutely should hire professionals. We recommend professionals for:

• Whole-home interior painting. If you want your entire interior done, professional interior house painters near me can handle it much more smoothly, especialy as there are typically multiple surfaces as well as special needs, such as kitchens or bathrooms.
• Exterior painting. Most homeowners should not attempt exterior painting themselves, due to the height and weather exposure, as well as surface complexities. Most exterior jobs require professional equipment.
• High ceilings or stairwells. These often require a really solid knowledge of not just ladder safety but ladder positioning for proper reach.
• Homes built before 1978. In this case, lead paint may be present, which requires certified handling and likely removal.
• Pre-sale preparation. If you're repainting the interior to improve perceived value or cover over things that might put a buyer off, both quality and speed are needed, especially if you need to sell quickly.

When DIY Painting May Be a Reasonable Option

On the other hand, it's definitely worth considering doing it yourself if:

• It's a single bedroom or accent wall with smooth surfaces. Most homeowners can handle this.
• You have prior painting experience. If you know what you're doing, particularly if you're comfortable with cut-in work around trim, you might want to do it yourself.
• The walls are in good condition. If there's no patching, priming, or prep required, especially if you're going to a darker color, you have a better chance of handling it yourself.
• Your timeline is flexible. There's no hard deadline, so you can take your time and work around other things in your life.

Key Considerations: DIY vs. Professional Painting

With professional painting averaging about $2,500 and often being more, DIY can seem like a great way to save money. It's not always that simple, though. You should consider several things, including hidden costs (what if you discover major drywall damage), long-term durability, and quality risk. The last is why pre-sale work should be done by professionals. It's likely to look better. Many DIYers also underestimate how much paint they need.

Also consider the value of your time, especially if you don't enjoy the work. Some people find painting relaxing, and may be more inclined to DIY. Others would rather be doing something else. And if you have to take time off work to paint, it can rapidly become not worth it.

Benefits of Hiring Professional Painters

There are a number of benefits of hiring professional house painters.

• Speed. Professional crews can complete a job in days, while it might take you multiple weekends, sometimes keeping parts of the house "out of order."
• Quality. With proper prep, clean cut-in lines, and consistent coverage, a professional job will often look better.
• Insurance and accountability. Professionals carry liability insurance, so if anything is damaged, its covered, while if you spill paint yourself it's out of pocket.
• No personal time lost. You can keep doing what you really want to do and keep your weekends.

Potential Drawbacks of DIY Painting

And there are also some potential drawbacks of doing it yourself, which include:

• Higher time cost than expected. You might think painting a small bedroom will take a few hours, but it's likely to take all weekend.
• Equipment expense. Rollers, brushes, tape, drop cloths, primer, extension poles. All of this adds up quickly, and in some cases you may never use the equipment again.
• Quality risk. Drips, lap marks, missed spots, and uneven edges are common when inexperienced people paint a room. Some people may have the experience and skill to avoid this, many do not.
• Mid-project complications. You might find a hole in your drywall, mold under your paint or, even worse, lead paint, and not know what to do.

Understanding the True Cost of DIY

Additionally, a lot of homeowners think the cost of DIY is only the paint. But when you add in all supplies and equipment, it can cost you $190-375 for a single bedroom. The cost to hire painters for house is $400-800, and that saves you 8 to 12 hours of time as well. For whole-home or exterior projects, professional pricing is frequently worth it just for the time savings. Unless you're a DIY fanatic who enjoys it...

Paint and Material Selection

Professionals know what they are doing when choosing paint. Furthermore, they can easily access commercial-grade paints that provide better coverage and durability than what you can get at the hardware store. They also know which sheen to choose for which surface, improving appearance and longevity. For example, ceilings should have flat sheen, walls should have eggshell or satin, trim should be semi-gloss. They know what kind of paint to use in high-traffic areas like corridors or high-moisture areas like bathrooms.

Environmental and Safety Factors

One reason why it's often best to hire professionals for exteriors is conditions. Painting needs to be done when the weather, humidity, and temperature are favorable, which may not be when the homeowner is available. Professionals can flexibily schedule for the best time, as well as knowing what it is.

For older homes, lead-based paints can be an issue. EPA regulations require lead-safe practices for disturbance or removal (removing lead paint is typically better in the long term).

Long-Term Value Considerations

If painting for yourself, a professional job typically lasts longer. They use better prep, have good application technique, and know how many coats to apply. If painting for resale, homes with a recent professional paint job consistently present better in showings and photos alike, helping justify your asking price.

What to Look For When Hiring a Professional Painting Contractor

A lot of these benefits, though, vanish if you don't hire the right contractor. Not every professional interior painting company is the same, and you need to know they will deliver high levels of prep work, quality, and communication. Here are some things to look for to protect you and your home from poor results and wasted cash.

Non-Negotiable Qualifications

Any company you hire must be able to provide:

• Evidence of licensing and insurance. This includes both general liability and workers' compensation. An uninsured fly-by-night can be a financial nightmare.
• Written estimate with itemized scope. The quote should specify surfaces, coats, and materials, so there are no surprises.
• References or verifiable reviews. Look for reviews from local homeowners (you want your contractor familiar with conditions, especially for exterior work) with similar project types.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Ask your contactors the following questions:

1. What surface prep is included in the estimate? You want to make sure they will fill holes, sand surfaces, caulk gaps.
2. What paint brand and product line will be used? Discuss higher quality options if you can afford it.
3. What does cleanup include? Make sure your contractor will protect your floors and furniture throughout the project, and that you are on the same page about items that need to be moved/removed from the room.

Preparation Steps Whether You DIY or Hire a Pro

Preparation is vital for a quality paint job, whether you do it yourself or not. It separates a long-lasting paint job from one that shows wear within a year. Here are the prep steps professionals use:

Step 1 - Assess and Repair the Surface

Inspect all walls for holes, cracks, peeling paint, water stains, and mold before you start. Nail holes and minor cracks should be filled with spackling compound, allowed to dry, and sanded smooth. Water stains need to be addressed, not painted over. Painting over them will look good for a few weeks, then the stain will be back. Water damage should typically be assessed by a professional.

Step 2 - Clean and Prime

Wash your walls with a mild detergent solution to remove any surface contamination, such as grease or dust. Paint won't adhere to a dirty surface. Make sure it dries fully. If you have any bare drywall patches or stains, you need to prime. If you are changing the color a lot, especially dark to light, you need to prime. Primer should fully cure before you start to paint, or paint whill not adhere and will peel.

Step 3 - Protect and Set Up

Tape off trim, outlets, and ceiling lines. Professionals and experienced papers can do freehand cut-in, which has a cleaner result. Cover your floors with canvas drop cloths, not plastic. Plastic will shift underfoot and slip. Furniture should be covered with drop cloths or removed.

Let Ace Hardware Painting Services Help With Your Next Project

While some people can (and like to) DIY a paint job, most people should consider hiring a professional. Professionals can assess surface condition, scope the project accurately, recommend the right products, and deliver a surface that will last for years. Ace Hardware Painting can handle everything from a single room to an entire exterior, and we provide honest estimates with no pressure.

Contact your local Ace Hardware Painting office for a free estimate today!