Our exterior painting prices start at around $1,500 for a small one-story house. That is a starting price, not a quote for every house of a particular size. We need to see the surfaces and agree on what's included before giving you a written estimate.
Two homes with the same indoor square footage can involve quite different amounts of painting. One may have sound walls and little trim. Another may need loose paint removed, stucco repaired, and several doors and shutters painted separately.
Wall area and access
Indoor square footage is only a rough starting point. We look at the outside walls: their length and height, the gables, and the areas that won't be painted.
Height also changes how the work is done. Tall walls require different access arrangements from walls that can be reached from the ground. A screened pool enclosure, narrow side yard, or shrubs close to the house can affect where equipment fits and how much protection is needed.
That's why a floor plan or a listing's square footage can't answer every pricing question.
What the existing finish needs
A sound, previously painted wall may need cleaning, localized repairs, and primer in selected areas. Peeling paint, heavy chalking, damaged wood, or deteriorated stucco create a different scope of work.
These should be identifiable items in the estimate. Which cracks will be repaired? Where does loose paint need removing? Is damaged trim being replaced, or is that work excluded?
Stucco texture also affects material use. Rough, porous surfaces can require more coating than smooth, sealed ones, so the calculation should reflect both the wall and the product's coverage instructions. Bare stucco and previously painted stucco shouldn't simply be treated as identical surfaces.
If you're comparing quotes, pay close attention to this section. A difference in preparation can explain part of a price gap, but ask rather than assuming that the lower-priced painter has left it out.
Trim, doors, and color changes
Fascia, soffits, shutters, columns, and doors add their own preparation and painting work. They may also need a different sheen or product from the walls. Make sure the estimate names the pieces you want included.
A large color change can affect coverage and the need for primer or additional coats. Keeping the existing color may simplify that part of the job, but it doesn't remove the need for prep or override the coating's application requirements.
If the budget is tight, it helps to separate the areas you need painted now from those you can leave for later. A wall-only estimate and an estimate that includes all the trim should show that difference clearly.
The specified paint
We mostly use Sherwin-Williams and Behr. The brand alone isn't enough to compare prices, because each offers several product lines for different surfaces and conditions.
Ask which product is being proposed, why it suits the wall, and how it will be applied. A more expensive can doesn't fix an unsuitable surface or a moisture problem. For stucco, repairs, primer requirements, and the finish coating need to be considered together.
Choosing a smaller scope
You can ask for a separate price for trim and doors, or for a wall that needs attention before the rest of the house. If we split the project, we'll also need to discuss where the new finish will meet the old one and how noticeable the difference may be.
For your estimate, we inspect the house and list the agreed areas, preparation, products, and coats. That gives you something concrete to compare with another proposal. Request a free written estimate, or read more about our exterior painting service.