Sticker Shock!

[Scanner]

Just got a painting estimate for our entire house, 2600 square feet - many of the rooms have the original white paint -

$3978.00 including materials.

I am trying to figure how much a bucket of Benjamin Moore Paint (my wife wanted this brand because they have colors that match Pottery Barn) is but jeeze louise, I can't imagine paint exceeding $500.00. I always paid around $24-30/gallon.

I know this is probably par for the course but I had no idea. Looks like I'm taken for every weekend this summer, guys

[anonymous_saver]

My partner and I recently painted our entire apartment (approx. 700-800 or so) for about $150. Granted, we did it all ourselves, and borrowed a ladder from my mom because we have high ceilings. Your house is about 3.5 times as large as our apartment, which would result in about $525 for all paint and supplies. Do you have any family or friends that could do it for you (or with you) for a small fee? Even if you gave a friend $500, it would be cheaper.

Maybe you should call the company and ask how much the painting services will cost if you buy all the paint yourselves and they just use their other supplies. Maybe it could shave off $1,000?

[Scanner]

Well, after the sticker shock wears off some more here. . .I am thinking there are many rooms I can do myself. I am a fairly methodical, but slow person, probably why my wife got a quote (to get my butt moving). I could do a wall per day, clean up, etc. and get the house done by the end of the summer.

Luckily, we put those hardwood floors off so any accidental spills onto the molding or carpet wouldn't be a disaster so I say paint first.

However, I might just suck it up for the foyer and stairs as scaffolding is going to be needed (rental: $250 + $88 delivery) and get a pro for there.

We actually had someone do our entire downstairs for $800.00 about 2 years ago - crappy job - they talked us into semi-gloss, which we totally regret not going with flat paint (the reflection drives the wife crazy).

I am not sure a pro is always worth it. I'm sure these guys are better, not sure if they are $2500 better. . .

[Homebody]

Oh my gosh, are you going to use the Navy color?? I love that room with the white and navy stripe pillows and white trim... Click pottery barn colors at the web site....

Listen scanner. My 19 year old daughter and her 20 year old husband are just finishing up painting almost their entire new home before they move in. They too used Benjamim Moore paint. My 19 year old daughter was a spoiled brat who never had any real chores at home. I am absolutely amazed at her.

So my point is yes, you can do it! My DH hates to paint, but we also do our own. On the other hand, DH painted the outside of our house a few years ago and we are probably going to have it done professionally because of the prep work. I think we can do it ourselves, but DH works really hard.... mmm maybe you do too and I am being too hard on you....

Well it would really save you some money.....

[Scanner]

No, you are not being hard on me; I don't take it that way.

The DW just knows I don't have a heck of lot of unallotted time - just bits and pieces here and there and I often have the 4 year old milling about. So. . .we just figured we would get it done quickly, in and out type of job.

Figured wrong, LOL.

The foyer I should probably just leave to a pro. If I fall off the scaffolding and break my wrist, I'm outta luck. It's going to be at least $350 anyway to rent scaffolding and have it delivered. . .so I imagine a cathedral foyer is going to be $1000.00 to be professionally done. . .I don't know. . .I could be talked into it.

Well, it's either that or pull some extra graveyard shifts at the hospital.

[tinapbeana]

FWIW, scanner, take a look at an eggshell or satin finish rather than flat: you can't wash walls or clean spots off walls that are painted in flat paint. maybe it's just me, but i'd rather be able to wipe handprints off my walls that have to break out a can of flat paint and touch up over them...

[Scanner]

I said semi-gloss but it was eggshell that we got talked into. . .the wife hated it. She hates the reflective look on the wall which shows every imperfection but you are right about the durability/resistance to dirt.

[jodi]

Is it worth getting a few more estimates? Maybe these guys were just on the high side...

[b4freedom]

It really depends on what you're getting. I painted someones living room with a lot of detailed trim all in 4 different shades of white. Took me 2 weeks to do one room. Was a pain. But it looked great! Then she wanted me to paint one bedroom all the same color including the ceiling (linen white). Everything in the room was to be that color. Even the trim work. I walked in with a spray gun and finished it in 15 minutes. She couldn't understand why one room took 2 weeks and the other took 15 minutes. It's all about the detail and quality of work. One room was bueatifully done with detail work and the other room was all the same boring color. I said that if she wanted more work in the sedond room I could do it and charge her more. We got into an arguement over the fact that one room took 2 weeks and the other took 15 minutes. She seemed to think I was ripping her off. I don't think she would have paid if I didn't know her personally. I actually cut her a huge break to begin with. She then got her son to paint another room that was just finished with a lot of really nice woodwork (the carpenters spent 3 weeks doing it). It was horrible. Ruined the woodwork. Yet, she lives with it and thinks it's just fine. Another room she pulled off the wallpaper and painted right over the glue residue. Run your hand down it and it feels like sandpaper. Looks bad too.

A lot of time I pick up primer and I'll see the average painter picking up the cheapest primer possible ($25 for 5 gallons). The stuff is like water. I use Kills2. It's expensive, but you won't have to worry about mold or other things bleading thru in a year or two. A neighbor used someone cheap to do the outside of his house and two years later his house looks really bad from all the paint pealing off.

I'm not a painter by trade, but I am a handy guy that used to do a lot of side work for extra money. And I've done a lot of painting. I took pride in my work.

You're probably going to get what you pay for.

[creditcardfree]

My husband and I have done almost all of our own painting in our old house...yes, it took several weekends to paint 6 rooms, including one with high ceilings.

There is a nice sense of satisfaction in doing the work yourself and saving the money. We've always liked eggshell paint because of our children, but definitely stay away from semi-gloss.

One of the best tips, that saved us time is to wrap our rollers and brushes in saran wrap...instead of cleaning up...but only if we are going to paint again the next morning. I've read to then put them in the freezer, but we've put ours in the garage or unfinished basement...to stay cool. It really saves some cleanup time.

My mother has hired painters several times and almost always had to have them come back to fix problems. When she paints she's more forgiving of the flaws she makes. It's easier to be satisfied with your own work and generally for less.

I say paint yourself, except the high areas if you decide! You can do it!

[jIM_Ohio]

Well, after the sticker shock wears off some more here. . .I am thinking there are many rooms I can do myself. I am a fairly methodical, but slow person, probably why my wife got a quote (to get my butt moving). I could do a wall per day, clean up, etc. and get the house done by the end of the summer.

Luckily, we put those hardwood floors off so any accidental spills onto the molding or carpet wouldn't be a disaster so I say paint first.

However, I might just suck it up for the foyer and stairs as scaffolding is going to be needed (rental: $250 + $88 delivery) and get a pro for there.

We actually had someone do our entire downstairs for $800.00 about 2 years ago - crappy job - they talked us into semi-gloss, which we totally regret not going with flat paint (the reflection drives the wife crazy).

I am not sure a pro is always worth it. I'm sure these guys are better, not sure if they are $2500 better. . .

I did our 3400 sq ft in 3 days, more or less by myself. each wall twice, a few walls 3 or 4 times.

You can do a room in an hour. Once you start figuring out things, this becomes quite easy.

Here is what I learned:

cloth drop cloths with square corners work well (as opposed to newpapers or "plastic cellaphane". 5 gallon buckets of paint are cheaper (I think I paid around $500 for paint and supplies). Loews was our location of choice based on colors we wanted.

Do all of one color to minimize time cleaning. If I would have learned this earlier, I would have saved myself considerable time.

We painted 2 rooms and all hall ways the same color. I went room to room as opposed to all the places this one color got applied. Made same mistake a second time when our bedroom, living room and 2 great room walls were the same color. I was trying to avoid going up and down stairs, when in reality the paint cleaning cost me more time than the steps.

I also learned to put the second coat on once I finished the first coat. Meaning I would paint from corner 1 to corner 2, then to 3, then to 4. Then I would paint 4 again, 3, 2 ,1. Let this dry then do another coat. That third coat goes quickly because the first two coats should look quite well... especially because that second coat is thin, but clearly covers some missed spots.

This multi coat thing is important for dark/ deep colors. We have a bathroom we painted dark blue. Did 3 coats and probably could use a 4th and 5th. Dark colors need more application.

If you want more anecdotal advice, feel free to ask. I could do your 2400 sq ft house in probably two days if people stayed out of my way and I had a 12 hour window each day to do the work.

[jIM_Ohio]

My husband and I have done almost all of our own painting in our old house...yes, it took several weekends to paint 6 rooms, including one with high ceilings.

There is a nice sense of satisfaction in doing the work yourself and saving the money. We've always liked eggshell paint because of our children, but definitely stay away from semi-gloss.

One of the best tips, that saved us time is to wrap our rollers and brushes in saran wrap...instead of cleaning up...but only if we are going to paint again the next morning. I've read to then put them in the freezer, but we've put ours in the garage or unfinished basement...to stay cool. It really saves some cleanup time.

My mother has hired painters several times and almost always had to have them come back to fix problems. When she paints she's more forgiving of the flaws she makes. It's easier to be satisfied with your own work and generally for less.

I say paint yourself, except the high areas if you decide! You can do it!

There are paint extensions to use, if you have the body strength. We have a two story great room, and 2 story foyer, and I was able to paint the whole thing with two feet on the ground, edges included.