Top 10 House Painters in Hercules, CA
Frequently asked questions about house painters
There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint in a new home. You can transform rooms with a change of color, and fresh paint breathes new life into an older home. Costs for painting homes vary. It depends on the rate of labor and on the type of paint you use. Most of the cost comes from the size of the home. The more square footage you need painted, the more expensive the job will be.
The average cost for painter services in a home is estimated at $3,500. On the low side, you can expect to pay $1,200 and $6,500 on the high side. These estimates assume you have a one-story home with around 1,000 square feet of wall to paint. More stories will mean higher costs.
The price is usually divided up into materials and labor. Labor tends to make up 85% of a job, but this can vary depending on the contractor. Most contractors charge between $2 - $6 / square foot. This calculates interior painting jobs with two coats of paint. For more specific paint jobs, such as doors or cabinets, you can expect to be charged $50 - $100 / door or drawer face.
Some contractors have different models of payment, which you may discover when looking up “painting companies near me” or “house painters near me.” You can be charged per room, which averages around $800 - $1,200 for a bedroom, and as high as $3,000 for a living room or similar large space. Some painters may choose to bill hourly, which can range from $20 - $50 / hour for basic painting, and $100 / hour or higher for specialty painting. A skilled painter should be able to cover between 150 – 350 square feet/hour but don’t forget to factor in prep time, clean up, and both coats of paint needed.
The cost of painting a home's exterior is far more variable, depending on your siding. Some sidings (like stucco) can cost up to $3,000 / 1,000 square feet, and that cost can rise if there are multiple stories. Weather can also play a major factor, which is why local painters are in high demand during the summer months. Vinyl siding expands and contracts depending on weather, so you’ll want a latex-based paint that is durable to these changes. For wood siding, latex is always a good option for allowing wood to breathe. Beware acrylic or oil-based paints, as these can create moisture stains. If you have stucco siding, you can go with latex, but it’s not your best option if the walls are damaged. Elastomeric paint will cover those imperfections while still being breathable. This paint is thick and time-consuming to apply. If you have brick siding, you’ll want a porous stain or paint so water doesn’t get trapped inside.
Siding is the biggest factor to cost, as prep and materials needed to do the job correctly can raise the price. Brick and stucco are the most expensive, while metal, wood, vinyl, and concrete tend to be on the lower end. Extra stories mean extra work for the painter, as safety measures and ladders need to be implemented. Painting a second or third story of a home takes longer than painting a single story based on logistics. It’s not just the walls, either. You may want to paint the garage, the shutters, the eaves and downspouts, and the siding and trim.
Your brand of paint can alter costs, as well as the cost of your finish. Flat paint tends to be the cheapest, but is also the least durable. Mid-range finishes, including eggshell and satin, can be good choices, depending on what you’re looking for. Semi-gloss finish will showcase imperfections and dents but is also resistant to cleaning. High-gloss is the most expensive type of finish and is recommended for small areas, such as trim, windows, and doors. While it is possible to DIY your home’s exterior, a professional comes with all the needed materials and is knowledgeable about what will work best and how to stay safe on the job. They are worth serious consideration.
Yes, you can paint vinyl siding. Years ago, this answer was no because paint continued to slide off the siding. We’ve come a long way since then. The best paint for vinyl is latex urethane paint, as it can cope with the constant contracting and expanding of the siding. Many paint companies create paint specifically designed for siding.
Painting vinyl is similar to painting other exteriors. You’ll want to coat it with primer (something designed for vinyl) and use a brush for the tricky spots. Otherwise, you can use a roller and cover a lot of ground. Once you have the primer, add the topcoat. Vinyl has one more caveat that you should be aware of. Dark colors tend to trap a lot of heat. Most vinyl paints will be light colors as a result, so it reflects heat rather than absorbs it. Weather can be a factor in painting vinyl, and the best weather is overcast, comfortable conditions. Sun, humidity, direct heat, and wind are not your friends when it comes to painting vinyl. You’ll want to ensure that painting your siding doesn’t void its warranty before you begin.
As with any painting, you’ll want to ensure you clean the area thoroughly first. For vinyl, a pressure washer is the best choice. You’ll want to find a recipe that tackles mold and mildew or buy a TSP solution. Mold and mildew tend to get between the paint and the siding, so it’s imperative you deal with them before you paint.
The quick answer is 350 – 400 square feet. This is generally true of wall, ceiling, and trim paint. Primer tends to go less, giving you 250 square feet on average. If you’re painting a dark room with a light color, you may need more primer coats, so keep that in mind. Be aware that fresh drywall is extremely porous and may absorb more paint than expected. Most drywall tends to arrive pre-primed, but be ready if it isn’t. If you have a textured wall (think popcorn ceilings, for example), you should use 20% more paint. If you need to paint 100 square feet of ceiling, it’s recommended you buy enough paint to cover 120 square feet to make up for the texture. You can stretch your paint with the correct tools. A nine-inch roller usually gives the best results for a coat of paint. For textured walls, consider a 1/2-inch nap over a 3/8-inch nap.
Let’s dive into the math. You know how much paint you need per square foot, but how do you calculate that square footage? First, measure the height of every wall, and add it together. Then, do the same for the length of each wall. Multiply those two numbers together, and you have the square footage. If you divide that number by 400 (how much a gallon of paint should cover), you know how many gallons you need to buy. This works for trim and doors as well. Multiply the total lengths and widths together, and divide it by 400. It’s never a bad idea to round up or ensure you have extra paint left over. You may need it for touch-ups or if a specific section requires more paint than you anticipated. It’s better to have too much than too little and have the hardware store mix you more paint. What if the color is off by even a slight bit? That’s a frustration you can easily avoid.
No, you can’t use exterior paint inside. Exterior paint is designed to hold up against weather extremes and, as such, contains more VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). These compounds were not designed for enclosed spaces; they can smell funky and release toxins that might make you or your pets sick. Exterior paint doesn’t settle in a short amount of time. In cold weather, exterior paint could continually release those toxins for a month or more. In warmer weather, this timeframe may be reduced to weeks. The process of releasing these toxins is called curing. Most professionals will wear masks when painting outside for this reason.
Exterior paint is softer by nature. It needs to be able to breathe and contract or expand with the home. It doesn’t stand up as well to the wear and tear that interior paint deals with on a daily basis. While all paint contains mildewcides and fungicides, the ingredients in exterior and interior paint are very different. The VOCs are needed in both paints to hold the pigment in. If you use exterior paint on indoor surfaces, ventilation is your first concern. This becomes a greater concern when spraying paint instead of rolling it, as spraying it makes it airborne that much quicker.
VOCs can cause lightheadedness, headaches, nausea, irritated eyes and throat, and respiratory issues. This can be an even greater hazard for those with compromised immune systems. Exterior and interior paints are vastly different, so you shouldn’t combine them. It compromises the quality of both paints. Plus, exterior paint isn’t designed to look good inside. Both varieties of paint are highly specialized, and you’ll likely regret using them where they are not intended.
The average cost to paint a 12x12 room is $650, with $400 being on the low end and $900 on the high end. Several factors can change these costs or cause them to rise. If you need drywall or plaster repaired before the job, that will cost time and effort. The higher your walls rise, the more time or paint it might take to finish the job. If you want to use designer paints, you may spend more on the materials. Your cost will also change based on the finish you choose.
Square footage is the most important consideration when factoring the price of a room. A large room, such as a living room, will cost more than a small bedroom or bathroom. Kitchens tend to cost the most since the painting is specific. They require far more attention to detail when you consider backsplashes, cabinets, and trims. Textured walls can add to that cost since it eats up more materials. Different types of paint can change the cost as well. On average, eggshell, satin, and flat are the cheapest paints. Matte, semi-gloss, latex, and oil are mid-range and all competitively priced. High-gloss paint is expensive and best used on small surfaces like trims.
You have the option to do the work yourself, of course. Be aware that it’s never as simple as splashing paint on the walls. You’ll need to purchase all the required materials, such as brushes, painter’s tape, rollers, trays, and plastic to prevent spillage. You’ll need to clean the walls and remove outlet covers and switch plates. Once that’s done, you can use painter’s tape on all the edges and then start. The big question you will need to ask yourself is whether you have the time. Painters are efficient, have all the tools, and do the job constantly. They will know immediately the best way to handle it.
Now that you know the scope of your project in terms of cost and effort, you can start dreaming in color.
Recent reviews for Hercules Painters
Jose was extremely rude and unprofessional! DO NOT USE THEM! The job was horrible we have bubbles all over our house.
Great team. I hire Jose and his company to paint only two bedrooms, and my kitchen cabinets. I love the there work so much. That I decided to paint the full interior. His team was amazing, they are very punctual. Which was critical since I leave to work i...
Where do I begin?! These group of guys are outstanding! My wife and I recently bought our first house and we wanted to change the color of the house, it looked like whoever painted the house was rushed the job. Luckily a buddy of mines suggested I call th...
I spoke to Jose about an exterior painting project that I wanted done. He stopped by for an estimate and gave me a quote that I felt was reasonable. Jose and his team of workers were professional and their quality of work is beyond excellent. I would high...
I hire Jose and his company to plaster 3 bedrooms to a smooth finish. I was amazed by how fast they work. They are very efficient. The price was very reasonable. I end up hiring them to paint all rooms. I Highly recommend Jose and his crew. High quality ...
I am very very HAPPY with the work these guys did. Jose is an amazing guys and has some great ideas. His recommendations are top of the line. His QUALITY of work stands out. Jose's guys did excellent prep work i was amazed of how much work and how fast th...
I Hire Eduardo & Jose Paz Garcia painting to paint two rooms, and my living room. Along the way i was interested in making a change so i asked if they did carpentry work which they do. I decided to hire them to install baseboards, which came out fantastic...
WARNING!!! DO NOY USE THIS COMPANY!!!! Not only did they do a horrible job they still owe me almost $6000!! They painted a house for me and I didn't realize they had been paid the deposit already so I paid them the full amount upon completion. I contac...
I was looking for a local painting company, to paint the full interior of my house in Berkeley. I google Jose and gave him a call. He answer my call the first time i called. He was very nice and professional. We schedule an appointment for the next day. H...
I called Eduardo & Jose’s painting company to come and paint my living room and hallway in my home in Oakland. I was very pleased with their service and professionalism. I would work with Jose again in the future if I needed any more work done. When I me...
I'm a very pleased customer. My name is Kathy. Had some damaged done to bathroom after one of the storms. Skylight blew out and walls got wet. Was told to check out Porch Team. I liked the information I seen for this company and I'm very glad I called. ...
These guys were outstanding. We are very picky and detail-oriented, and they met and exceeded our standards. They were incredibly easy to work with. Honest, polite, on time, flexible. The quality of the work was impeccable, and the price was very fair...
Everything You Need to Know About Hercules House Painters
I’m searching for Painters servicing my zip code in Hercules.
Many painters provide service to multiple zip codes in and around Hercules. Browse through a sample of the Painters in Hercules below to find the right professional in your area for your project. Remember to contact each of these professionals individually to ask about their prices, recent successful painting services jobs, how they bill, and what licenses or permits they have or will have to get for your job:
- CAL-VALLEY PAINTING:
- Service Area Zip Code: 94543
- A.D.S PAINTING:
- Service Area Zip Code: 94820
- Affordable Fresh Coats Paint:
- Service Area Zip Code: 94102 and 94107
If you weren't able to find the right painter company that services your Hercules zip code, don't worry. Try contacting the company directly to ask them what surrounding areas they also service near Hercules.
Painting Services isn’t exactly what I’m looking for. Are there more specific services similar to painters available in Hercules?
If you’ve determined that painting services are not quite what you were looking for, or if you had a specific project in mind that is similar to painting services, we can still help you find the right professional in Hercules.
Hercules has 50 painter professionals that can help you with your painting services job. Head to our Pros Page to find specific painters-pros in Hercules.
Will Painting Services work in Hercules require permits, inspections, special licenses, etc.?
Whether you’re painter job is in Hercules or any other city, you're going to want to do a bit of research before hiring painters. Even small jobs may have certain regulations around them. Often, the painter performing the work will have any required permits, inspections, etc. under control, but not always. Short answer: Research yourself and double check with the painting services folks that everything is in order.
All House Painters in Hercules, CA
Latest projects near Hercules
Within a month
One or more minor repairs
Ceilings
Yes
Stucco
Within 48 hours
I'm flexible
Install drywall where none exists
dropped ceiling
Ceilings
The contractor will need to purchase materials for the project
I'm flexible
More than one area the size of a quarter or larger
Walls
Yes
Within 48 hours
Texture or finish drywall
Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom, Entry or hallway, Living room, family room, or entertainment room
Both walls and ceilings
Smooth finish (prep for wall paper)
No
The contractor will need to purchase materials for the project
I'm flexible
Bathroom
Walls
Light texture (orange peel)
No
The contractor will need to purchase materials for the project
Within 48 hours
One area the size of a quarter or larger
Ceilings
Yes