What a house painting job includes
A whole-house job usually means the exterior siding and trim, the interior walls and ceilings, or both. The painting itself is the quick part. Most of the time goes into prep, and prep decides how long the paint lasts. On the exterior that means washing, scraping loose paint, sanding edges, replacing rotted wood, caulking gaps and priming bare spots. Inside it means patching cracks and nail pops, sanding, caulking trim and protecting floors and furniture.
Many homes around Mamaroneck, Larchmont and Rye date from the early and middle 1900s, and some are much older. Wood clapboard and shingle siding, deep porches, columns and multi-pane windows take more hand work than flat vinyl or new drywall. Expect a careful painter to price that in.
- Exterior siding, trim, doors, shutters and porches
- Interior walls, ceilings, trim and doors
- Wood repair and priming before paint
- Color help and sample patches when you ask for them
Older homes and lead-safe work
Lead-based paint was banned for homes in 1978, and many houses in southern Westchester were built well before that. Under the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, a contractor paid to disturb painted surfaces in a pre-1978 home must be EPA Lead-Safe Certified. Lead-safe work includes setting up plastic containment, limiting dust, avoiding open-flame burning and high-speed sanding without proper controls, and cleaning up with HEPA vacuums. It adds time and cost, and it protects children and pets in the house. Ask every painter how they handle it.
Choosing a painter
Get at least two or three written estimates. Check each contractor's Westchester County home improvement license with the Department of Consumer Protection and ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation. Read the estimate line by line: surfaces, prep, repairs, paint brand and line, number of coats, cleanup, payment schedule and start date. A low bid that skips prep often costs more over the next few years.
When you send a request through Mamaroneck Painters, we pass it to an independent painter who serves your town. You are free to compare their estimate with others.
Timing
Exterior work here usually runs from late spring through early fall, when it is dry and nights stay mild. Interior work can happen any time of year. A typical exterior on a two-story house takes days to a couple of weeks depending on size, weather and the amount of repair.
Typical house painting costs
Published national ranges. Westchester prices often run higher.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Exterior, per square foot of home | $2.20 to $4.40 |
| Exterior, 1,500 sq ft home | $3,300 to $6,600 |
| Exterior, 2,500 sq ft home | $5,500 to $11,000 |
| Whole interior | $1,800 to $10,000 |
| Interior, per square foot of floor space | $1 to $4 |
Ranges are national averages from This Old House, not quotes. Your price depends on the size and height of the home, siding and trim condition, prep and repair, lead-safe requirements, paint choice and local labor rates.
Sources: This Old House, exterior painting cost; This Old House, interior painting cost
Questions homeowners ask
How long does it take to paint a house?
A full exterior on a two-story home often takes from several days to two weeks, depending on size, prep and weather. Interiors depend on the number of rooms and how much patching is needed. Your painter can give you a schedule with the estimate.
Should I paint the inside and outside at the same time?
You can, but it is not required. Many homeowners do the exterior in the warm months and the interior in fall or winter. Ask the painter whether doing both together changes the price.
How many coats of paint does a house need?
Two coats over a properly primed surface is common, especially for a color change. Some jobs need only one coat when the color stays the same and the old paint is sound. The estimate should say how many coats are included.
Who buys the paint?
Most painters supply the paint and include it in the price. Some homeowners prefer to choose a specific brand and line. Agree on the exact product in writing before work starts.
Other services
Exterior painting
Siding, trim, porches and doors, with the prep older homes need.
Interior painting
Walls, ceilings, trim and doors, one room or the whole house.
Cabinet painting and refinishing
A new look for kitchen and bath cabinets without replacing them.
Deck and fence staining
Cleaning, sealing and staining for wood decks and fences.
Power washing and surface prep
Cleaning and prep for siding, decks and walks before paint or stain.
Commercial painting
Storefronts, offices and multi-family buildings.