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Being one of the best home remodeling companies in town, we have often been asked this question. A lot of homeowners choose to handle some parts of their house exterior project to keep the budget in check. One such important project is painting.

If you have ever painted a wall in your life, you must know that interior painting is very different than exterior painting. The scope of the project differs greatly as well as its challenges. The time required to paint a house exterior also varies and depends on several different factors such as the size of the house, your experience, and the equipment you are using.

Many leave the idea of painting the entire exterior of their home on their own. That’s because it’s too much work and any mistakes will directly impact the curb appeal of your home. Some are too busy to complete the entire project so they prefer hiring a team of experienced professionals. If you are up for doing it on your own, you deserve appreciation for your spirit and passion!

A DIY painter must have a roadmap of the entire project long before he/she picks up the painting brush. You should know how long it will take and what are the challenges in your area. Adequate planning and preparation are pivotal for the success of your project. This allows you to keep working along with decided timelines and you are more likely to finish off the project in a good time.

How Long Does It Take For Pros?

Painting pros typically take 3-5 complete days to finish painting an average house exterior. Whereas DIY painters will require at least 2-3 weeks to paint the same house.

Factors Affecting The Time Required For Painting

If you want to ensure that the prized amount of exterior paint you just bought should last for its warrantied years, you must follow all the steps carefully.

Preparation Phase

The first and the most critical step of painting the exterior is to prepare the walls. When you are planning a painting project, you must factor in the time required for painting otherwise you will lose countless hours. Adequate preparation may increase the time required for painting but it helps you save money in the long run.

The preparatory phase generally includes scraping off the peeling paint, fixing the minor cracks and replacing damaged siding, and sanding the walls to obtain an even surface. The time depends on

  • The condition of the house walls. If the exterior walls are too dirty or rotting, add a few more days in your timeline to fix the walls and prepare them for a fresh coat of paint. Power washing the walls can reduce the time greatly but not all of the house walls can endure the high-pressure water. Make sure to consult a professional before power washing your house exterior.
  • Your experience. If you have handled an exterior painting project in your life previously, you can finish off the work sooner as compared to a novice. The more experienced you are; the less time it will take.
  • The equipment. Other than the expertise, size, and condition of your house, the equipment you are using also impacts the time required for painting the entire exterior. The more sophisticated and professional tools you have, the fewer days you will spend painting the walls. Don’t forget to arrange for safety equipment for yourself as the very nature of the exterior painting project is risky.
  • Weather. You cannot choose just any day of the year for exterior painting. If the weather is dry and sunny, you can complete the project in a matter of few days. But if it is rainy season or snowing outside, you will have to wait for the weather to be dry again before you can resume and finish the work.

The Painting Phase

About 60% of the total time required for house painting is spent preparing the walls whereas painting takes about 40% of it. When 3-4 professionals are painting, it may take 2-3 days to finish a two-story, 2500 square feet home. 

Your painting phase can last for days or weeks, depending on your experience and the number of people participating in the project. About half of the time is spent on painting walls while the other half is spent on painting trim by hand.

paint a house exterior

A thunderstorm, snow, or drastic temperature change can halt your progress in the painting phase. Too hot or too cold days also add up the number of days.

Painting Efforts

Another important factor is the effort or labor you put in. It can directly impact the quality, the outcome, and total time required for the completion of your painting project.

Some of the painting efforts that can greatly influence are

  • Cleaning or power washing.
  • Masking the windows and doors to minimize the paint splashes. If you are putting in the effort at this stage, you will be saving a lot of days otherwise spent on cleaning after the paint dries.
  • Filling and caulking of uneven surfaces of exterior walls also add up a few days but the painting phase gets a lot easier and efficient.
  • Priming and sealing increase the time required but it can significantly lengthen the gap between two consecutive exterior painting jobs for your home!

If you need a quote for your home specifically, call us now to discuss the project details. When it comes to flawless painting, we are ready to help you in every possible manner.