Top 10 House Painters in Upper St. Clair, PA
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 Upper St. Clair Painters
Very professional they did an outstanding job on my home
Bill and his team were professional, and the quality of the work was top-notch. Fast and reliable, I highly recommend them for any painting projects.
We had a very good experience with painting of our house. Good communication and friendly people. Excellent work ethic and attention to details. We will definitely use them again in the future.
Tom has painted several rooms in my home. He built a cabinet for me in my kitchen and moved cabinets to make room for my appliances. I was very pleased with all of his work. He is neat and meticulous. He also has a good sense of color and has helped me ch...
We were extremely pleased with Tom & Deb's workmanship and would gladly hire them again for any future projects. Both were professional as well as sweet to work with and very thorough in their work. Thank you Tom & Deb!!! Looking forward to working wit...
The quality of Tom and Deb's work has been outstanding . Our kitchen looks fabulous thanks to their painting job. I would highly recommend them and will be using them for all my future painting requirements.
Tom was prompt and polite during the 5 days he spent repairing our bathroom drywall and then painting. He made helpful suggestions on paint color. His work was neat and clean, we had no spills on baseboards or messes to clean upon completion. The best ...
Chris was very professional. He arrived on time, cleaned up after himself but most importantly he did a great job. I was very happy with his work and do plan to use him again in the future
Projects were broken up but ended up being whole interior painting, wash down panel walls in 1 room with staining scratches and paint drop down ceiling, and garage. He even accepted $60 from carpet installers to fix the wood baseboards along my steps tha...
We recently hired Cm Custom Painting for a home improvement project. Chris was prompt, respectful and his work was great. He went about his work with little disruption of our household. His quality was excellent. Just amazing. We will definitely hire...
I found Chris to be an extremely dedicated individual. He was always prompt and worked tirelessly. He gave his input on color schemes when asked. I will be rehiring Chris to do more projects in the very near future. I am sure whoever hires CM Custom ...
Everything You Need to Know About Upper St. Clair House Painters
Painting Services isn’t exactly what I’m looking for. Are there more specific services similar to painters available in Upper St. Clair?
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 Upper St. Clair.
Upper St. Clair has 50 painter professionals that can help you with your painting services job. Head to our Pros Page to find specific painters-pros in Upper St. Clair.
I have Painting Services work that I need done in Upper St. Clair. What should my budget be?
Our data on recent painter projects in Upper St. Clair shows that larger painting services projects in city are often upwards of $0.00. However, this price depends on a number of factors. Cost can increase or decrease based on any/all of the following:
- Location: painters travel time may factor into the budget.
- Cost of materials. This is an important factor of your painting services project budget. You can purchase materials yourself, but remember that your painter professional maybe be able to leverage relationships with other companies to save on material costs.
- Company ratings: Highly-rated painters tend to be more expensive. Decide what balance between ratings and cost is right for you.
As always, every project is different and you should contact multiple painters throughout Upper St. Clair to ensure your project is done right.
How do I know I am getting a fair price for Painting Services work in Upper St. Clair?
Every Painting Services job has different requirements. Remember that the price will differ depending on the scope of your project. However, that doesn't mean you have to go in blind. Check out our tips for getting a fair price for Upper St. Clair work from Paintersbelow:
- Talk to a few different Painters and ask for quotes to compare. We have around 50 professionals and companies in Upper St. Clair for you to compare.
- Before contacting a company, check out the ratings and reviews from previous customers to learn what others have paid, how long the Painters took on the job, and how satisfied they were.
All House Painters in Upper St. Clair, PA
Latest projects near Upper St. Clair
Within a month
Refinish deck
Wood
Painted
Painted
Yes, I will clean and prepare the deck
Larger than 1000 square feet
No, pro will need to provide materials
Within a week
One or more minor repairs
Ceilings
Yes
Customer did not provide additional comments. Please contact the customer to discuss the details of this project.
Customer did not provide additional comments. Please contact the customer to discuss the details of this project.
small leak in ceiling of garage
Within a month
Install drywall where none exists
Bathroom, Living room, family room, or entertainment room
Walls
The contractor will need to purchase materials for the project
Ceiling had water damage... need to repair ceiling
Within a month
Bedroom
Both walls and ceilings
Smooth finish (prep for wall paper)
No
I will provide materials, just need installation
Customer did not provide additional comments. Please contact the customer to discuss the details of this project.