Is Square Footage the Best Way to Value a House

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Painting a house is a large job. Whether you plan to practise it yourself or rent a pro, information technology's a adept idea to estimate the costs of painting your house before you start. To calculate the toll per foursquare foot of painting a house, yous'll need to commencement by calculating the expanse of the surfaces you plan to paint. In addition to factoring in the cost of the paint you lot'll demand to cover each area, you'll besides have to consider the price of your tools. If you're bringing in a professional, they'll charge y'all for their labor as well as supplies.

1
Multiply the house perimeter by the roofline height to measure the exterior. To summate the surface area of exterior walls, measure the perimeter of the business firm, or the combined length of all exterior walls. Exclude porches or other "appendages." Multiply the perimeter by the height of the roofline, or the spot where the top of an exterior wall meets the roof. If your house has gables (peaked parts of the roof), add together one-half the height of a story to the full roofline elevation to get a ballpark approximation of the area including gables.^[1]
- Most houses take a height of 9 feet (ii.7 1000) per story. Add iv.v feet (1.four thousand) to account for any gables.
- For example, if your house is 24 feet (7.three m) by 35 feet (eleven m) and two stories tall, the area in square feet would be (24 + 24 + 35 + 35) ten (9 + nine + 4.5) = 118 x 22.v = two,655.
Tip: Don't bother subtracting the area of any doors or windows from your measurement. The extra paint you'll end up with based on this adding tin be used to comprehend things like porches, railings, and window frames.
ii
Multiply a room's perimeter by the ceiling height to notice the wall surface area. To gauge the cost of painting a room, notice the total wall area of the room. Measure the perimeter of the room (the combined lengths of all sides of the room) and multiply information technology past the height of the ceiling.^[two] ^[3]
- For example, if the perimeter of your room is 55 feet (17 m) and the ceiling is 10 anxiety (3.0 m) high, the area of the walls is 550 foursquare anxiety (51 thousand^two).
- If the room has any doors and windows, mensurate the area of each and subtract information technology from the wall area for a more accurate estimate. Multiply the length of each door or window past its width to notice the area.
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iii
Mensurate the area of the ceilings if yous plan to paint them. If you lot're going to paint your ceilings, you'll need to factor them in as well. Mensurate the length of the ceiling and multiply information technology by the width to go the total area.^[4]
- For example, if the ceiling is 12 feet (iii.7 m) past ten feet (3.0 chiliad), the area is 120 square feet (11 m²).
iv
Measure any doors, windows, and trim yous plan to pigment. In addition to the walls and ceilings, yous may wish to paint your doors and doorframes as well as other trim, such as baseboards. To save the problem of measuring each of these individually, you can utilize these tricks to go a skilful gauge:^[5]
- Most doors are 21 foursquare feet (ii.0 m²), so but multiply that area by the number of doors y'all programme to paint.
- Likewise, the boilerplate window is 15 square anxiety (1.4 m²). While you won't exist painting the windowpanes, the amount of pigment y'all'd need to cover them should also be roughly how much you'd demand to encompass the window frames and door frames in a given room.
- To approximate the area of your baseboards, calculate the perimeter of the room and decrease three feet (0.91 m) per door. Multiply that by the trim width of your baseboard (e.g., .v feet (0.15 thousand).
five
Repeat this procedure with every room to find the full area. To determine the total square footage you'd like to cover, measure all the surfaces you lot'd like to pigment throughout the entire house, including walls, ceilings, doors, and trim. Add up the results.
- For example, this might yield a total area of ii,350 foursquare anxiety (218 m²).
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i
Follow the rule of 1 gallon (iii.eight L) of paint per 400 foursquare anxiety (37 one thousandⁱⁱ). While the exact coverage you tin await volition vary depending on the kind of paint you're using and the surface y'all're painting on, this is a good rule of thumb. Dissever the total number of square anxiety you lot have to paint by 400 to make up one's mind how many gallons of paint y'all need.^[6] ^[vii]
- For instance, you tin cover 850 square anxiety (79 m^two) with 2.xiii gallons (8.one L) of paint (or 3 gallons (eleven L), rounding upward to the nearest gallon).
- For smaller areas, you can use the rule that 1 US quart (0.95 L) of paint covers 100 square anxiety (nine.iii m²).
- If y'all demand multiple coats of pigment, multiply your estimate past the number of coats you program to utilize. For example, if you demand to use 2 coats of paint in a 400 sq ft (37 g²) area, you'll demand 2 gallons (7.6 L) of paint.
2
Make a listing of the individual types and colors of paint you demand. You probably won't be painting your business firm all one color, and different surfaces require different types of paint, likewise. Earlier you beginning budgeting, determine how many different types and colors of pigment you will need.^[viii] Knowing what kinds of paints you'll exist getting will assistance you summate your costs more than accurately.^[9]
- For example, y'all might want to use matte water-based paints on almost interior walls, but use glossy, water-resistant oil-based paints in your bathroom and kitchen.
- For exterior surfaces, like your siding or your deck, you lot'll need heavy-duty latex paints that tin stand up up to the elements. Wait for a combined paint and primer that will adhere well to virtually surfaces.^[x]
- You'll likely desire at least one exterior paint color and at to the lowest degree one interior pigment color, plus at least i additional color for trim.
three

Look upwardly the price per 1 US gal (3.8 50) of the types of paint you lot desire. Most paints cost betwixt $20 and $70 per 1 US gal (3.8 50).^[11] Get through the list of paints you want and look upward the price for each 1.

Tip: A loftier price tag or impressive warranty claim doesn't necessarily guarantee the best quality. Consumer Reports testing found that several of the longest-lasting outside paints are in the $30-$xl range.^[12]
4
Multiply the price per 1 US gal (3.8 L) past the amount of paint you need. To figure out how much you lot'll be spending on paint, look at the amount of paint you need to comprehend each surface in your domicile. Interruption information technology downward by the kind of paint you'll need for each surface, then multiply the amount of paint needed past the price of the paint. Add all the sums together to go the full price.
- For instance, if you need 3 gallons (11 50) of satin interior pigment at $35 per 1 gallon (3.8 L), the cost volition be $105.
5
Factor in the cost of painting tools. In addition to paint, you'll as well need to pay for tools, such as brushes, rollers, pigment pans, and drop cloths. While the total cost of supplies volition vary depending on the size of your house and how elaborate your painting job is going to be, you tin can expect to pay at least $150. You volition likely need:^[13]
- Patching paste
- A 5-in-1 tool for scraping off pigment, removing nails, and taking out erstwhile caulk and putty
- Masking record for creating clean edges and protecting your trim
- At least ii paint brushes
- At to the lowest degree 1 pigment roller
- A paint roller tray
- A paint roller extension pole
- Driblet cloths
- Work gloves
- Safety glasses
- A stepladder
vi
Split the total cost by the area of your house to guess toll per square foot. One time y'all have a ballpark estimate of how much you'll be spending, divide that number by the approximate foursquare footage of your home. Use the total area that you measured while approximating how much paint you'll demand for each part of the firm.
- For example, if y'all estimated that information technology will cost almost $3,000 total to paint your business firm, and the surface area of your house is 2,315 square feet (215.1 1000²), so the cost per square pes for painting your firm is approximately $ane.30.
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1
Look up standard painting cost ranges for your house size. Use a rough estimate of your business firm size to get a ballpark idea of how much a professional person paint job will cost. Try doing a search online using terms like "painting cost judge for ii,500 square foot habitation interior." Keep in mind that interior painting is typically more expensive than exterior painting due to differences in the type of materials and labor involved.^[14]
- For example, according to the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America, it costs between $3,000 and $5,000 to paint the outside of a 2,500 sq ft (230 thou²) house, and between $iii,750 and $7,500 to paint the interior of a firm of the same size.
- These estimates typically include the costs of materials as well as labor.
Be enlightened: Getting your house professionally painted volition likely cost roughly 50-60% more than painting it yourself. However, it will as well salve you a great deal of time and labor.
2
Write down how many surfaces demand painting and what colors you desire. In addition to looking at how big your house is, consider how y'all desire information technology painted. Factor in details such as how many colors of paint you desire, how many doors, window frames, and other trim elements will demand painting, and whether you'll desire the ceilings painted also.^[15] Write down all these details and so y'all tin can get a more exact price judge from potential painters.
- If you're planning to drastically change the colors of whatever surfaces, you may demand multiple coats of paint to get the colour yous want.
three
Use a paint price calculator to get a more detailed estimate. There are a number of painting price calculators online that can give you a more precise estimate based on the foursquare footage of your domicile as well as factors like the number of colors you plan to use, the corporeality of item work that's needed, and where you live. Try a computer like the ones available at http://www.remodelingcalculator.org or on the Home Advisor website.
- You'll demand to provide information such equally the area of your dwelling house in foursquare feet, how many doors and windows need to be painted, how many floors your abode has, whether or not you want the moldings and ceilings painted, and whether information technology's a paint job for a newly constructed dwelling house or a renovation on an older one.
- These calculators include the costs of materials and labor.
four
Phone call at least 3 local painters for price estimates. Once you have an idea of the standard price ranges for house painting in your area, you lot'll have a improve sense of whether a potential painter is offer yous a good deal. Do a search for contractors in your surface area and recollect a few of them to get pricing estimates. Compare the estimates y'all receive and choose the best i.^[16]
- Ask your friends and family unit for recommendations, or use a crowd-sourced directory like Angie'southward Listing or Yelp to find reviews of painters in your area.
- Ideally, y'all should take each potential contractor come to your habitation so they tin can assess the chore and give you lot a more accurate estimate.
- Make sure y'all provide the square footage of your home besides every bit other details, like how many doors and windows need to be painted and whether they'll need to cover or remove erstwhile paint.
five
Enquire potential painters for a breakdown of their pricing. About professional painters will estimate their pricing based on a combination of factors, including the cost of paints and other materials likewise as the cost of labor.^[17] Piece of work with your painter to become an judge of how much information technology will cost to paint your house based on the amount of work they'll need to do besides as the size of the surface area they have to comprehend.
- Many painters charge almost $20 per 60 minutes in labor costs. Labor includes not simply the time spent painting, but also fourth dimension spent doing preparatory piece of work such as power washing, scraping away old paint, or taping off areas you lot desire painted in a different color.
- The total cost will likely be roughly twice the bones cost of materials and labor. This is considering your painter may as well demand to comprehend the costs of things like marketing, insurance, subcontractors, and other expenses not direct associated with your paint task. They need to gene those things into their prices to brand a profit.
6
Divide the total toll estimate by the foursquare footage of your firm. To summate the price per square foot of a professional pigment chore, look at the total cost gauge, including materials, labor, and any other fees. Carve up this number past the approximate surface area of your home.
- For instance, perhaps you've received an approximate of $vi,750 full for the interior and exterior of your ii,500 sq ft (230 thousand²) home. The approximate price per square pes would be $two.lxx.
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Question

How practice I calculate how much paint I need for a wall?

Archie Guerrero is a Commercial and Residential Painting Specialist and the Operations Manager for DGP Painting in Austin, Texas. With a decade of experience, Archie specializes in interior and exterior painting and staining, chiffonier refinishing, and wallpaper and popcorn removal. DGP Painting offers clients environmentally friendly paint materials and top-of-the-line paint products. DGP Painting has an A+ rating with the BBB and has been in Austin'due south "Best of the Best."

Commercial & Residential Painting Specialist

Expert Answer

There'southward a not bad amount of variables that will influence how much paint y'all're going to use, the number one being paint quality. For example, with ameliorate pigment, you'll demand less coats. The 2d matter is the color. If you're going from a dark brown to a white, you'll need more paint than if were going from a tan to a trivial darker tan.
Question

What's the best blazon of paint for walls?

Archie Guerrero is a Commercial and Residential Painting Specialist and the Operations Manager for DGP Painting in Austin, Texas. With a decade of experience, Archie specializes in interior and exterior painting and staining, chiffonier refinishing, and wallpaper and popcorn removal. DGP Painting offers clients environmentally friendly paint materials and top-of-the-line paint products. DGP Painting has an A+ rating with the BBB and has been in Austin'south "Best of the Best."

Commercial & Residential Painting Specialist

Expert Respond

It all depends on a lot of factors. Higher-end paints are usually made of different minerals, including titanium, while cheaper paints are mostly made out of clay. For outside paints, you could also await for the time rating. Some offer lifetime coating, while others offer 25-year blanket, or 10-year coats. The college the year, the amend the pigment.
Question

How do I know how many gallons of paint I demand when painting a building?

This answer was written by one of our trained squad of researchers who validated it for accurateness and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Reply

As a general rule, 1 gallon of paint will embrace 400 square feet. Calculate the full area of all the surfaces you need to cover, then separate that by 400 to determine how many gallons of pigment y'all'll demand. For example, 6.25 gallons of paint should encompass two,500 square anxiety of wall/ceiling/trim.
Question

What cost per linear foot tin can I await to pay for painting 5.25 inch crown molding that is already primed?

This answer was written past one of our trained squad of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Respond

Summate the perimeter of the room, minus the width of any doors, and multiply the result by the top of the molding in anxiety. Separate the resulting number by 100 to find out how many quarts of paint you lot demand. For example, in a 16 x 12 human foot room with one door, you'd bee looking at about 23.nineteen square feet of molding, which would exist covered by about a quarter of a quart of paint. The cost volition vary depending on the price per quart of the paint yous choose.
Question

What is a reasonable cost for painting a fiberglass deck (roughly 2,000 square feet) that has already been painted? It probably needs primer and might need to be sanded commencement?

It's hard to answer that definitively. Calculate the cost of materials and and so add plus an hourly fee (at least minimum wage for your area).
Question

How much should I charge per square foot for an interior paint job?

Between $two.5-4 sq/ft, depending on which items are being painted. Things like trim, doors, crown molding and ceilings are more work and time intensive than flat walls.
Question

How much do I charge for business firm painting?

It depends on what you are painting. Ceilings, walls and trim should cost from $two.l per floor square foot to $4.00 per square, foot all depending on crown molding, chair runway etc, or you can figure how much to accuse per piece of trim and measure all walls and ceilings and charge from $.75 to $1.00 per wall and ceiling square foot.
Question

I have a room viii feet alpine by ten feet broad. What is the square footage?

x' × 4 (walls) = 40. twoscore × 8' (summit of walls) = 320 foursquare feet. i gallon should cover.
Question

What would it toll to merely paint the outer walls?

Measure the perimeter of the wall. Deduct the window and door expanse. What you lot have left volition be the amount to be painted. Take the square footage of the wall areas x the price per sq ft.
Question

How much would it cost to paint 1 foot on a wall?

That depends on a few factors, including the cost of pigment, how many layers you want to utilize, and whether or not you're paying someone else to do it.