Top 3 House Painters in Wilmington, NC
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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 Wilmington Painters
Thanks, Scott has been very helpful from the quick response initially, meet w me to see the project. Gave me a profesional estimate. Followed through w detailed and quality work Left a clean freshly painted house when they were finished. We will use Sco...
The Nandos painting team showed up exactly on time. They spent as much time prepping as they did painting and it showed by the beautiful result. They were so courteous and professional. The price was more than fair for the quality of their work! We co...
Nando and his team painted the entire exterior of our large house with lots of trim work. They always arrived on time, worked very hard all day and cleaned up each day before they left. I felt the price was reasonable. I highly recommend them for any pain...
this guy was supposed to paint my floor and one outside wall at my business. He want a 50% deposit which I gave him the last week in Dec. he did a half {blank} on the floor and didn't complete the wall. Its been over 4 months he has one excuse after the ...
Joe is an excellent painter. Very neat and careful in his work. After he completes the job , he leaves everything in neat clean order. Don’t hesitate to hire him, you won’t be disappointed!!!
Cape Fear handyman did a fantastic job with the gutter issues at my folks house, thank you David!
Excellent work quality. Excellent to keep appointment. Excellent responsiveness in communication.
Quick, excellent service installing our bathroom shower door. Answered all my questions timely. Will for sure hire again and recommend to others.
Did a great job on installing a sliding glass door. Would definitely recommend.
Did a great job on complete kitchen and bath remodels. Removed old and installed new kitchen cabinets, countertops, sink, faucet, range vent hood, lighting (in cabinet, under cabinet and over sink). Replaced tub, sink, toilet, fixtures and lighting. Remov...
Everything You Need to Know About Wilmington House Painters
How do I know I am getting a fair price for Painting Services work in Wilmington?
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 Wilmington work from Paintersbelow:
- Talk to a few different Painters and ask for quotes to compare. We have around 50 professionals and companies in Wilmington 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.
Will Painting Services work in Wilmington require permits, inspections, special licenses, etc.?
Whether you’re painter job is in Wilmington 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.
What Wilmington zip codes are served by Painters?
Wilmington has 50 total Painter companies that service multiple zip codes. We've put together a list of areas in and around Wilmington with the most Painters:
- 4 Painters in 28405.
- 4 Painters in 28412.
- 2 Painters in 28411.
All House Painters in Wilmington, NC
Latest projects near Wilmington
Stucco
Within a month
I'm flexible
Drywall repair
Extensive repairs throughout the whole home
Walls
Yes
I'm flexible
Repair existing drywall
One or more minor repairs
Walls
Yes
Within 48 hours
10*4 ft cathedral dome , 2 other small spots for popcorn ceiling repair.
Ceilings
Popcorn texture.
No
I will provide materials, just need installation
Within a year
Fence
Less than 50 feet
Under 4 feet
Wood
No
No, but I know what I want
Stucco
Within a week
Within 48 hours
Repair
Window, Crown molding
I'm not sure
No, I would like the professional to assist in purchasing the materials
I'm flexible
Repair existing drywall
Extensive repairs throughout the whole home
Ceilings
Yes
Within 48 hours
Whole homes, remodels, and repairs. Regular work for the right installer.
Walls and ceilings
I will provide materials, just need installation