Cost to Paint a House (Exterior)

Want to discover how much painting the outside of your house will cost?

You can expect to pay exterior painters between £500 to £1,500 to paint the outside of your house, depending on the size of your home, the type of outdoor house paint you choose, and other factors.

This guide discusses everything you need to know about painting the exterior of your home. Including outdoor painters fees, exterior paint prices, things to consider and our frequently asked questions.

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How Much to Paint a House Exterior?

Looking for the price to paint your house exterior?

On average, the price of painting a two-storey, three-bedroom house in the UK is estimated at around £850.

However, always keep in mind that this price is an estimate, and many cost-varying factors will affect the actual expense of your project.

These factors include things such as the:

• Size of your home
• Design of your home
• Materials used
• Tradesperson's daily or hourly rates

When hiring a professional painter and decorator to paint the exterior of your house, you will usually be covering the cost of all materials, supplies, and their labour.

Some smaller companies will likely charge a lower rate to paint the outside of your home, in comparison to a larger painting organisation.

Will you need scaffolding?

In most cases, you may need to erect scaffolding before having the exterior of your home painted.

Another overlooked cost-varying factor when hiring a tradesperson is the area in which you live.

For example, if you live in an expensive city such as London, you will likely pay higher rates for the work. Companies that supply the use of their own tools and equipment may work out more affordable as they do not have to include their hire costs in the quote.

So, how can a professional painter help?

A professional external painter and decorator will likely suggest the best quality paints and materials used for your project. However, you should consider shopping around if you have to source the paint yourself to find the best value for your budget.

Exterior House Painting Prices

As we mentioned previously, the average cost of painting a house exterior in the UK varies on many factors. A significant cost-varying factor would be the size and style of your home.

Below is a table in which we have demonstrated an example of how much the cost may vary when hiring a tradesperson to carry out the work on your property.

Please keep in mind that these costs are estimates and should only be used as a rough guide when budgeting for your project.

How Much Does Exterior Paint Cost? (Supply Only)

If you want to combat painting exterior walls yourself, you may need to know the supply-only costs.

This means without any labour cost, and including only the cost for materials needed to complete the job:

To paint an average-sized house, it will take approximately 30 to 50 litres of paint to cover the exterior of a house fully.

Labour Cost to Paint Exterior of House

Labour costs can vary depending on location, experience and how long the job takes. On average, most exterior painters will charge £100 to £200 per day for labour alone.

Check out the table below to find out the time scales of different-sized houses:

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What Impacts Exterior Painting Costs in the UK?

There are a number of factors that can influence the price of painting a house exterior.

Firstly, size. Depending on the type and style of house, it can drastically increase the cost of getting the exterior of a house professionally painted. A terraced house costs can start from £550, whereas a large detached house can cost as much as £1,500.

The state of the exterior of the house will also play a big part in the cost, as if the exterior needs fixing - such as filling cracks and replacing render - it will bump up the cost even more. Typically repointing costs between £600 to £1,500 for a 30m2 brick wall.

If you have to hire scaffolding, this can add more to your project's fee. The cost of scaffolding hire ranges from £400 to £600, but if you live in a bungalow, you won’t be expected to pay for this fee, as scaffolding won’t be needed.

If you have any garden maintenance that you want to complete to finish off the exterior, you should also budget for this. Garden maintenance fees depend on the extent of work needed, but range from £14 to £25 per hour.

Additional House Exterior Painting Costs

Once your house exterior has been painted, you may be left looking at the interior of your property and wanting to spruce that up, too. Let's look at some other costs you can budget for when having this project done.

Additional External Painting Jobs

With your walls done, your home's exterior doors may look worse for wear if they've not been updated in a few years. The cost of external door painting is around £200, taking between 2 to 4 hours to complete.

This can be a great way to utilise your external painter while they're at your property.

You can also take a look at your external garden fences. The cost to stain garden fences is around £400, and while this might primarily look like an aesthetic improvement, re-staining your wooden fence can help to prolong its lifespan by ensuring moisture isn't getting into the timber, preventing untimely deterioration.

While that's happening, it can be wise to have your garden shed re-varnished too, if it needs it. Garden shed re-varnishing costs £70 to £100, making it a worthwhile investment in the longevity of your external features.

Other Painting Jobs

Painting doesn't just need to happen outside of the house - your home's interior might need some TLC, too.

The cost of painting a bedroom is typically £400, but can vary depending on the actual room size and ease of access.

If your room's skirting boards also need some attention, the price of re-painting skirting boards usually comes to £200, again dependant upon the room size and the condition of the existing fixtures.

What's Involved in Painting a House Exterior?

You may be wondering what is involved in the process of painting a house exterior. Generally, the process is relatively straightforward if carried out by a professional painting and decorating company.

Here are the steps you can expect:

• When you hire a professional to paint the exterior of your home, they will initially pay you a visit to assess the scale and complexity of the job. They should discuss with you what results you are aiming to achieve, such as the colour and finish of your exterior. They will determine a timeframe of how long they anticipate the job to take. Your tradesperson will discuss the options and recommend whether your property requires the use of scaffolding.
• The exterior needs to be prepped by removing any existing flaking paint and washing down all of the walls to remove dirt and debris. Consider making any necessary repairs to the walls during the preparation stages, as they will be much more difficult to repair once they have been painted.
• If the mortar between your bricks has started to deteriorate, you may need to repair or renew it, re-pointing your brickwork may be included in your quote if you ask your tradesman.
• After all the preparation and repair work is done, your walls should then be primed with a specially formulated exterior undercoat, which will prepare the surface for painting.
• The painters will then seal and mask any doors and windows, along with vents, outdoor lights and other openings with the appropriate materials for protection. Once the walls are prepped and ready, the painting can begin. Trims, doors and sills should be painted last if you have chosen to do so.

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DIY House Exterior Painting

While painting the outside of your home may seem like a relatively simple job, there are a few things you should consider before attempting to do it yourself. As with any home improvement project, for best results, you should always seek the assistance of a professional.

Attempting to paint the exterior of your home yourself can not only be dangerous but may leave you with a patchy, uneven finish. We always recommend contacting a qualified professional decorator or wall coating specialist to assess the scale and complexity of your home.

Painting and decorating are skilled qualifications, and painting the outside of your house can be much more challenging than merely painting the inside.

Not only should you have experience with working at heights, with ladders or scaffolding, but you will also need to understand the handling of chemicals and specialised exterior paints. Achieving a professional result is a lot harder than it may seem, and if you are unsuccessful, you may end up with a terrible-looking finish.

The most significant step in any painting project is preparation. This plays an essential role in determining the end result, and if done incorrectly, could result in a poor-quality finish. A professional decorator knows exactly how to prepare the exterior of your home correctly, resolving any issues along the way.

Attempting to carry out the painting of your house exterior yourself may cost you more money than it would to hire a professional in the first place. If you make a mistake or the final result looks terrible, you could end up having to re-purchase more paint to correct your mistakes. Our advice will always be to contact a qualified expert to complete the work for you effectively.

Different Types of Exterior Paint

Choosing the style and finish of your exterior paint can seem somewhat overwhelming. With so many colours, textures and finishes to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start.

Exterior paint can come in a range of different finishes, such as:

• Flat (Matt)
• Gloss
• Semi-Gloss
• Satin (Eggshell)

Flat exterior paint, or matt as it is commonly referred to, has a non-reflective finish, which makes it appear slightly chalky when dry. Thanks to its non-reflective surface, matt paint tends to disguise uneven surfaces and bumps in walls.

Gloss and semi-gloss exterior paints are typically used only for trims, sills and doors, and other areas which may be susceptible to high levels of wear and tear. The glossier the paint, the more durable it tends to be, and it is a perfect option for areas that may need to be washed or scrubbed frequently.

Satin or eggshell exterior paints are somewhere in between matt and semi-gloss. They have a slightly higher reflective finish than Matt paints. However, they are nowhere near as glossy as a semi-gloss or gloss paint.

Satin exterior colours are also a great washable option, with their shiny finish lasting longer than Matt paints. However, if the paint is mixed incorrectly, the finish tends to appear patchy and uneven.

Flat or matt exterior paints are expected to last between 5 to 7 years before they start to deteriorate. Satin exterior paint offers more durability than flat paint and is estimated to last between 7 to 10 years before declining.

Gloss exterior paint is the most durable when compared to alternative finishes and is anticipated to continue upwards of 10 years, if applied correctly, before needing re-touching.

Checklist: Hiring a Professional Exterior House Painter in the UK

Before hiring a professional painter for your exterior painting there are some things you should consider. Below is a checklist for you to follow before committing to a painter:

• Conduct a search of local tradespeople in your area.
• Compare prices between at least 3 contractors to achieve the best price.
• Never pay the quoted price in full upfront.
• Always ask for a written copy of your quote with a breakdown of costs.
• Ensure that the tradesperson has insurance in the event of any damages.

FAQs

Sources

https://www.brookspainting.com/blog/2012/12/07/how-long-does-an-exterior-paint-job-last