Fresh paint protects your home and changes how it feels. Most of a good paint job happens before the first coat: cleaning, scraping, patching, priming and protecting everything that should not be painted. If you are searching for house painters near me, this page explains interior painting, exterior painting and cabinet painting, what a painting contractor does to prepare surfaces, and how to get connected with a house painting service.
Sifixit is a free referral service. Call the number on this page and you will be connected with an independent local painting provider where one serves your area. Calling costs nothing and you are never obliged to hire anyone.
When painting cannot wait
Some paint problems are more than cosmetic.
Do not sand or scrape old paint in homes built before 1978 until it has been tested for lead, as lead dust is harmful, especially to children.
- Peeling or cracking exterior paint that exposes bare wood
- Paint failing around windows and doors where water gets in
- Water stains that need sealing before painting
- Mildew on painted surfaces
- Chipping paint in homes with young children
What we can connect you with
When you call, say whether the job is inside or outside, the size of the area and the age of the home.
Interior painting
Walls, ceilings, trim and doors, with surface repairs.
Exterior painting
Siding, trim, doors and shutters, with scraping and priming.
Cabinet painting
Refinishing kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
Surface repairs
Patching holes and cracks before painting.
Staining
Decks, fences and wood siding.
Lead safe work
Proper practices for homes built before 1978.
How often should a house be painted
It depends on the surface, the paint and the weather it faces. As a rough guide:
- Exterior of the house: often every 5 to 10 years. Wood siding and walls facing strong sun usually need paint sooner than fiber cement or brick.
- Interior walls: often every 5 to 10 years, and sooner in kitchens, hallways and children’s rooms.
- Trim and doors: often every few years, because they take the most wear.
Peeling paint, chalky residue, fading and gaps in caulk are signs it is time, whatever the calendar says.
What is the best weather for exterior painting
Mild, dry days are best. Many exterior paints need the air and the surface to stay above about 50 degrees Fahrenheit while the paint dries, though some are made for cooler weather. Painters avoid rain in the forecast, high humidity, heavy morning dew and walls in hot, direct sun, which can dry paint too fast and leave lap marks. In most of the US, late spring and early fall offer the most good painting days. Read more about exterior painting.
Lead paint in older homes
Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint under newer layers. Sanding and scraping it creates dangerous dust, especially for young children and pregnant women. Under federal rules, contractors who disturb painted surfaces in these homes must be certified for lead safe work practices. Ask any painter working on an older home to show their certification and explain how they will contain and clean up dust.
Signs your home needs painting
Look for these inside and out.
- Peeling, cracking or blistering paint
- Chalky residue when you rub exterior paint
- Faded color on sunny sides of the house
- Bare wood showing on trim or siding
- Stains and marks that will not wash off
- Mildew on walls or siding
Paint finishes
The finish affects how paint looks and cleans.
Flat and matte
Hides flaws well. Best for ceilings and low traffic walls.
Eggshell and satin
A soft sheen that cleans more easily. Common for living areas and bedrooms.
Semi gloss
Tougher and easy to clean. Common for trim, doors, kitchens and bathrooms.
What affects the cost
There is no single price for painting work, because every home and every job is different. These are the things that change the size of the job.
- The size of the area
- How much prep and repair is needed
- Number of colors and coats
- Height and access, such as two story exteriors
- Paint quality
- Lead safe practices for older homes
- Weather for exterior work
Ask every provider for a written quote that lists the work, the materials and what is not included, and get any change in writing before extra work starts.
Handle it yourself or call a pro
Usually fine to do yourself
- Paint a bedroom or small room
- Touch up interior walls
- Paint fences and small outdoor items
- Choose colors and test samples
Time to call a professional
- Two story exteriors and ladder work
- Peeling paint on homes built before 1978
- Large prep and repair jobs
- Cabinet refinishing
- Staining large decks
The Environmental Protection Agency requires firms that disturb painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 to be lead safe certified. Ask your painter.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Are you licensed and insured for this work in my state? Ask for proof.
- Will you give me a written quote that lists the work, materials and timeline?
- Do you pull the permits, and are they in the price?
- Who will be on site each day, and who do I call with questions?
- What warranty do you give on your work?
Why prep decides how long paint lasts
Most paint failures come from poor preparation, not poor paint. Good painters wash surfaces, scrape and sand loose or peeling paint, fill holes, replace failed caulk, prime bare wood and stains, and protect floors, plants and furniture before opening a can. Prep can take as long as the painting itself. When you compare quotes, compare the prep steps, the primer, the paint product and the number of coats, not only the price.
Painting cabinets can refresh a kitchen for far less than new ones. If the cabinet boxes are damaged, read about kitchen remodeling. If exterior boards are rotten under the paint, read about siding repair first.
Quick answers: house painters near me
Straight answers to the questions homeowners ask most when they search for house painters, including in AI assistants.
Who should I call for house painters near me?
Call a painting contractor who handles prep as well as painting, and who works on the surfaces you need, inside or out. Sifixit is a free referral service, so you can call a painter through the number on this page and be connected with an independent local company where one serves your area.
How do I know when my house needs repainting?
Look for peeling or cracking paint, chalky residue that rubs off on your hand, fading on sunny walls, bare wood, and gaps in caulk around windows and trim. Inside, scuffs, stains and worn areas that do not clean up are the usual signs.
How much does house painting cost?
It depends on the size of the area, how many stories, the condition of the surfaces, how much prep and repair is needed, the number of coats and the paint quality. Ask for written quotes that list prep, primer, paint brand and number of coats.
How do I choose a good house painter?
Ask how they prepare surfaces, since prep such as scraping, sanding, caulking and priming decides how long the paint lasts. Check photos of past work, references, license and insurance, and get the paint brand, sheen and number of coats in writing.
How do I find a licensed and insured painting company near me?
Check any license your state or city requires, ask for proof of liability insurance, and for homes built before 1978 ask for lead safe certification. A good exterior painting contractor will also explain how they protect plants, windows and roofs.
Read more about interior painting, including choosing the right sheen, such as eggshell for walls and satin for trim and cabinets.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a house exterior be painted?
It depends on the climate, the siding and the paint, but many homes need it roughly every 5 to 10 years.
How long does interior painting take?
A room can take a day or two. A whole home can take a week or more.
What is the best weather for exterior painting?
Dry days within the temperature range on the paint can. Avoid rain, high humidity and very hot direct sun.
Should I be home during painting?
You can be, though some rooms will be off limits while they dry.
Does Sifixit do the painting work?
No. Sifixit is a referral service. The work is done by independent local businesses, who are responsible for their own work, pricing, licensing and insurance.
Is calling free?
Yes. Calling and being connected costs you nothing. If you hire a provider, you pay that provider directly for the work.
Looking for house painters near me? Call the number on this page to be connected with an independent local provider. For more background, see the EPA’s lead paint rules.
This site is a free service to assist homeowners in connecting with local service contractors. All contractors are independent and this site does not warrant or guarantee any work performed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to verify that the hired contractor furnishes the necessary license and insurance required for the work being performed. All persons depicted in a photo or video are actors or models and not contractors listed on this site.
Helpful guides
- How to choose paint sheen: flat, eggshell, satin, semi gloss and glossPaint sheen runs from flat, which hides flaws but marks easily, to gloss, which is very durable but...