Residential Painting 101: Everything You Need to Know

Residential painting, both exterior and interior, can do so many things for your home. A fresh coat of paint or a new color can give your home a fresh, new look, increase the value and sale price of your home, improve your mood with the right colors or even make your home easier to clean. Whatever your reasons for painting your home, this article will provide some helpful tips and things to consider when taking on such an important project. 

Here are some things you will want to keep in mind when starting a residential painting project: 

Sample, sample, sample: Keep in mind that you can purchase sample pints of paints for a fraction of the cost of a full gallon. It’s a good idea to test out a few colors on the wall and do side-by-side comparisons to see which looks better in the space. Remember to test out the same number of coats of paint that you will end up doing, so the color is exactly as it will appear. 

Do the math: Determine how much paint you need for the square footage of your walls, plus any alcoves or dormers. Remember to account for the number of coats of paint you will use. Always add a little extra when you calculate, just in case you need it – you can keep any extra paint to use for touch-ups later on. 

Quality matters: The quality of the paint you select is important – if you go with a high-quality primer and paint, you won’t have to re-paint the room or wall as frequently. 

Be bold: Don’t shy away from colors, they can add so much depth and texture to your home! Color can help accent things you love and want to make stand out about your home. Consider the psychology of color and use it to find the right look and mood for each room in your home. For example, many people go with soft, soothing colors in the bedroom to help create a calming atmosphere. 

Make it shine: The sheen of the paint you choose is important to consider. There are many options available: full gloss, semi-floss, satin, eggshell, flat or matte. More glossy finishes hold up better overtime, show smudges and fingerprints less, and can be cleaned more easily – as you can imagine, they are great for families with lots of young kids or pets! Matte finishes, on the other hand, can help hide imperfections on your walls. 

Budget: Hiring a professional to paint a medium-sized room can cost anywhere between $200 and $1,000, depending on the size of the room, quality of paint and contractor you select (typically between $2 and $6 per square foot). Painting the room on your own typically costs between $200 and $300 as you will have to purchase equipment and materials yourself. 

Interior residential painting: Basic interior residential painting services include painting walls, ceilings, doors, bookshelves, panelling and wainscoting, baseboards, crown and other trip mouldings, and cabinetry. Some painting contractors also offer related services such as: staining or finishing woodwork, decorative finishes, wallpaper removal, drywall and plaster repair, baseboard or moulding installation and color consultations to help you find the perfect color. 

Exterior residential painting: Basic exterior residential painting services include painting wood, composite and vinyl siding, doors and windows, wood and vinyl shutters, fences and railings, decks and patio covers, architectural woodwork and concrete, to name a few. Related services may include: wood replacement and repairs, replacement windows, decks and patio covers, moulding installation, pressure washing and cleaning, metal finishes, and color consultations. 

Of course, it’s possible to do your own residential painting, but unless you have experience and extra time on your hands, turning to the pros is usually a good idea. Although you may save money up front, it’s important to consider how much time the project will take you, and the cost of that time. A professional will likely have multiple experienced painters working on the job to get it done quickly and efficiently. Don’t forget to think about your safety as well – if you have any back pain or are worried about spending a lot of time on a ladder, you may want to leave the work to the professionals. Most obviously, you should think about the quality of the final product; you will be looking at the paint job in your home everyday, and you won’t want any glaring imperfections distracting or annoying you.

As you can see, there are many things to consider when the time comes to paint your home exterior or interior. A fresh coat of paint or an interesting new color can go a long way in refreshing your home and helping realize its full potential. When it comes to something as important as your home, likely one of your most important investments, you want the finished product to be of the utmost quality. At Fitzpatrick Painting, you’ll find a one stop shop for all your residential painting needs, including all of the interior and exterior services listed above. Contact us today to request a free estimate!