Cost to Paint A House Exterior In Los Angeles

Painting a house exterior is much more than grabbing a 5-gallon container of paint, a roller, a radio and a six pack of beer to make the job more enjoyable. It requires some planning, the proper tools, the dreaded job of cleaning the exterior wall or siding and hoping that good weather is in the forecast. If you are painting an older house, you will need to shell out $40 to $50 for a lead testing kit to see if the old remaining paint on the house contains lead. If so, it must be removed and properly disposed of prior to any new painting. This alone will cost around $10,000 for a professional to remove lead tainted paint from an average two or three-bedroom house.

For this article we will assume that there are no issues with lead that would triple the cost of an average house painting.

Also, a two-story house will cost approximately twice as much to paint, a three-story house will cost up to three times compared to a single-story house. For this article any cost estimates will be for a single-story house.

If you have the time to invest and are willing to do some physical work, the prep work on the house exterior can be a DIY task to minimize payments to a professional painter. The use of a pressure washer is advised to remove dirt and grime and there are detergents specifically designed for exterior house cleaning. Using a dish or laundry soap is not advised. A high-pressure spray can cause damage to fragile siding so always keep the spray under control. Any repairs to damage caused or uncovered by the pressure washer will add to the cost of the paint job.

The next step is the arduous task of removing the old paint with a wire brush, a scraper or a chemical paint remover. Be sure to use a method that does not damage the surface. A wire brush can scratch metal and a putty knife or chisel used as a scraper can gouge wood that must be repaired before any painting.

The final steps for preparation is to smooth the surface using sandpaper or an electronic sander. Any holes can be filled with caulking or putty and this is the time to replace any damaged siding panels or do any stucco repair. The house is now ready for the first coat of primer or paint.

The type of siding on the exterior of the house will affect the cost of painting it. Siding comes in four basic types in addition to stucco:

• Vinyl – This is the easiest and least expensive siding to paint and will cost about $2 per square foot based on a 2000 sq. ft house.
• Metal – a clean wall of metal siding can be painted for around $1.50 per sq. ft but the effort to obtain that clean surface will drive the price up. If the metal panels are rusted or damage they will need to be replaced.
• Concrete Siding – The painting itself will cost the same as vinyl siding but the concrete siding may require the use of sealants and costlier special primers and paints.
• Wood – the option to stain the wood instead of painting exists at about the same cost as stucco. Preparation and repair are once again the cost drivers with wood siding, but rot and decay are an added concern with any wood.
• Stucco – Depending on the climate, special paint that won’t peel or chip may be needed and the stucco prep work is much more involved to preserve the unique stucco texture. A roller with a 1-inch nap will work to cover the stucco flat areas and characteristic raised areas equally. This will make the cost of painting exceed the $2 per sq. ft of vinyl siding.

If you hire a professional painter, make sure that the contract includes the painting of any porches, exterior window treatments like shutters, doors, gutters and other items that are attached to the house. But the main benefit of hiring a professional is that you can enjoy that 6 pack of beer in the comfort of you living room while watching a ballgame and let the professional do the hard work of house painting.

We, Los Angeles Home Remodelers, pride ourselves on being professional, reliable, and affordable. We can help you build or convert your garage. We are fully licensed and fully insured. Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-818-532-0482