Calculate the Cost of Painting

It’s that time of the year when you walk into your place and realize that the colors surrounding you are no longer desirable. Or perhaps the walls need a new coat of paint. It is time to roll up your sleeves and take action. Or is it?

Painting can indeed be a do-it-yourself project, and many people enjoy dealing with the task, as well as feel proud after completing it. That we understand. We experience it ourselves. However, busy schedules or little patience can get in the way of the long hours of working with brushes. You might consider hiring a contractor.

The cost for painting in New York varies, and so does the quality of a professional service. Before you can get a $ number, make sure you know the total square footage of the apartment to be painted, and decide on the quality of paint you want to be used.

Most apartments are painted with water based paint, with sheen varying from flat (matte) to eggshell, satin, semi gloss, and high gloss. The homes that are empty of furnishing are much easier to paint, resulting in a 5 to 10 percent cost reduction from your contractor.

Consider a typical 800 square foot apartment. How much will it cost to paint it? Well, it depends. If you just want to paint the walls, the cost can be from $1 to $2 per square foot. Measure the height of one wall times the width to get the square feet. Say a room has ceilings of 8 feet tall, with walls 12 feet wide. Painting of two such walls (8′ by 12′) will cost you around $200.

Paint is included if you choose a simple latex flat finish, which costs around $30. What would make the 800 square foot apartment cost upwards of 3 thousand for painting is the extra work: ceilings, trims, doors. These items add to the square footage and, more importantly, to the time required for completing the job.

The cost for door painting (including frames) starts at $60 each, depending on its design. If you want to avoid high costs when renovating your apartment, look at the condition of the apartment as a whole and ask yourself these questions: Do the ceilings really need repainting? Unlike walls, they are better maintained and can hold many more years without being repainted. Can the doors and trims be washed? If they are painted with semi gloss paint, the answer is yes: They can be washed with soap and may look just fine after being thoroughly cleaned.

Then ask the contractor these questions: Can you get a discount on the paint cost by buying a commercial quality paint? Can you reduce the total cost if the apartment is empty of furnishings?

Once you decide how much you want to paint, you put this in writing and let the contractor know. Share maximum of information to avoid being charged extra for unnecessary painting.

Even the simplest wall painting should be approached as a piece of art. We work with passion, and a need to feel pride after completing the job.

What does your dream home look like? Let us know.