A lick of paint can help transform the appearance of your home and potentially increase its value. But are the expense, effort, and possibly the mess, worth it? We take a look at the costs and some other factors involved.
If you’re preparing to sell or just want to freshen up the look of your home, here’s how much a professional paint job could set you back, depending on whether you’re painting the outside or inside of your home, or both.
How much does it cost to paint the exterior of a house?
Professional painters typically charge by the square metre. As an example, according to tradie listing website Hipages, it usually costs between $15 to $45 per square metre to paint the exterior of a brick house and between $12 to $60 per square metre to paint a timber house.
To paint a whole house, Hipages says you can expect to pay between $4,000 to $7,000 for a small one-storey brick veneer or rendered house, between $7,000 to $12,000 for a small one-storey weatherboard house, and between $10,000 to $20,000 for a two-storey weatherboard house.
The cost will differ depending on whether you are painting the outside or inside of your house.
In addition, other factors that may impact the price include:
– How much preparation is involved for the painters
– The number of storeys and the total height of the building
– Any detailing that might complicate the job (such as fascias under the roof and window trims)
– How easy the site is to access
– Whether the house is on flat or sloping ground
– The type and quality of the paint
For example, if some walls need to be cleaned or old paint needs to be removed before painting, this can add to the preparation time and can make a paint job more expensive. Additionally, if your home is more than one storey, additional equipment like scaffolding and extra safety precautions may be needed.
How much does it cost to paint the interior of a house?
The average cost of interior house painting is $10 to $30 per square metre including ceilings, tradie directory service.com.au says. This estimate is based on one undercoat and two finishing coats.
Painting two bedrooms and a kitchen/living area will cost about $800 to $1,500, service.com.au says, and a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms, a kitchen and a laundry will likely cost between $4,500 and $6,000.
On top of the size of the area to be painted, other factors that may affect the price include:
– How much preparation is involved
– The height of ceiling
– The type and colour of the paint to be used
– The number of windows and doors
– The number of architraves and amount of trim work
– If there are any decorative features
For example, your painter may need scaffolding if you have high ceilings. It may also take more time if you have decorative features to be painted on the walls or ceiling.
The previous colour of the walls can also impact costs as it can take more preparation work and extra coats of paint when transitioning a room from dark or strong paint colours to light or neutral tones, to ensure that the original colour doesn’t show through and impact on the desired decorative effect.
Extra costs to keep in mind
It’s a good idea to remember that if, during their work, a painter discovers any serious building defects or dangers, this could prolong the project and add to the cost. For example, if you live in an older house and lead-based paint is discovered, this can present a serious health hazard. The Australian Government says homes containing lead should ideally be assessed and dealt with by trained professionals.
It’s a good idea, too, to check with a painter during the quoting process if they can fill any holes that may be visible on the painting surface. The painter may request that a specialist plasterer fix certain sized holes or damage to certain materials, before painting can commence.
