Average cost of paint

Summary: How much does paint cost, factors to consider when buying paint and average price for paint.

Painting the home can take its toll financially and with so many products to choose from its no wonder the idea is often put on the back shelf for another day. However, with the right information, a beautifully, fresh painted home is achievable without suffering from the empty-pocket blues.

Average Cost

Factors to consider

There are some important factors to consider when tackling a painting job, whether interior or exterior. Always accurately calculate how much paint is required by measuring and multiplying the height and width of each surface. This will give the area to be covered. It is always better to have a little extra paint at the end, than to run out before finishing, as it creates a better overall finish and allows for any mistakes. Buying the larger cans of paint rather than the smaller ones is more cost effective and means there is always some paint leftover for any touch ups. If working on the exterior, to get the best results check the weather forecast as rain can have a terrible impact on the paint job and ruin the results. It is also worth considering whether to have a professional painter to complete the task in hand. Average prices for a three bed semi- painted internally are £2500.00 and externally around £1500.00.

The four main ingredients that are found in paint are pigments, resins, solvents and additives. The cheaper the paint the higher proportion of solvents per volume which will result in less pigment and resins in the paint. This means that the paint on the wall is mostly water and solvents instead of pigment which gives the colour. Therefore re-coating the walls is necessary in order for enough pigment to be left behind to give the colour to the surface. This of course adds extra time to the job and is not cost effective; sometimes a cheaper paint may need to be re-coated up to four times before the results look acceptable. Better quality paint will consist of 50% more pigment and resins, so the best quality affordable should be purchased to avoid having to keep re-coating the area. It should not be necessary to re-coat more than twice.

Costs to consider

Bearing in mind that there are different types of paints for different jobs, here is a guide to help choose the right type for the job. When painting woodwork it is always advisable to prepare any surface before applying the paint product; it will produce much better results. Traditionally, an undercoat will then be applied, for example £17.98 for Crown Undercoat Pure Brilliant White for 2.5L. Then a top coat paint is required such as Dulux Gloss Paint White 750ml for £11.93 or Crown eggshell, giving a flatter finish, for £14.98. A good alternative to traditional standard gloss paint is non-drip paint which many people find easier to work with. It can be applied without an undercoat so overall the final result should require fewer coats – Crown solo gloss paint in white costs around £16.00 for 2.5 litres.

For painting interior walls and ceilings emulsion paint is required. This is water based with varying levels of sheen from matt to high sheen; it dries relatively quickly with very little smell. Vinyl matt emulsion will usually cost around £14.98 for a stores own brand in White for 10L, or £17.47 for a Dulux Rich Matt Paint Pure Brilliant White 10L. Vinyl silk gives a shinier finish and costs around £23.00 for 10L in Crown Pure White. There are specific kitchen and bathroom paints around the £24.00 mark for 2.5L which provide more durable results for high humidity areas.

For painting outside surfaces exterior paint will be required. Masonry paint is used for walls and pebbledash, for example Dulux Weather Shield Paint, Exterior Satin Pure Brilliant White 2.5L is priced around £28.98, or stores own brands usually cost around £12.98 for 2.5L. For wooden or metal windows, normal undercoat and gloss is required as with interior surfaces, although a pre-coating with a primer is often advisable to give added protection and adhesion. Good quality wood primers cost around £12 per litre, metal primers are more expensive at around £41.38 for 2.5L for Dulux Trade Metal Primer. If there are any damaged areas, such as cracks, they will need to be repaired using a sealant or filler and mouldy areas will need to be treated with a fungicidal product.

A final piece of advice; allow enough time to complete the job, then sit back and be proud of the results.