Your home’s exterior plays an instrumental role in enhancing your curb appeal and your property’s value. As the first thing, bystanders and passers-by will see, your home’s facade can leave them with either a good or bad impression. 

When you notice that your home’s exterior has imperfections — whether there are cracks on the wall, an uneven paint job, or an outdated color scheme — getting professional painters to repaint your walls is the perfect pick-me-up to get it looking its best again. 

A simple fresh coat of paint is just what your house needs to look brand new. But when you decide to take this next step, there’s one thing you need to ask: how long does it take to paint the exterior of a house?

How Long Does It Take for a Professional To Paint the Exterior of a House?

A professional can finish the job in around three to four days. However, the duration of the project can vary from one house to another.

Professional painting is not one-size-fits-all. The final amount of time a painter can finish the job will depend on the factors below:

1. Square Footage / Size of the House

While professionals start with the general size of your house based on first impressions alone, they need to dig deeper and find out the actual square footage of your walls to determine paint time. 

An average-sized house with one to two stories and less than four bedrooms will take around two to three painters to finish in three to four days. 

A larger-sized house with three stories and more than five bedrooms, on the other hand, may take the same number of painters five to six days.

For example:

• You have a two-story house. One of the sides has four windows and one door. To calculate, the professional painter will measure the entire wall and subtract the doors and windows from the total to get an estimate of the area that needs to be painted. 
• The same process continues all around the house. At the end of it, the painter will total the square footage of the walls, estimate the time needed to paint them and calculate the number of coats required. 

2. Condition of the Surface

Another factor to consider is the condition of your home’s surface. For example:

• If your home’s exterior walls are covered with dust or dirt and show signs of damage like apparent cracks or holes, your walls may need to be cleaned and fixed during prep before a painter can start painting. 

With all this prep work in the way, you can expect a professional to take much longer to finish the paint job. But if your home’s exteriors are relatively new and well-maintained, you can cut down on prep work and benefit from a shorter paint time.

3. Type of Paint Used

The type of paint used can determine how long a paint job will take. Some projects may call for a smooth, glossy finish of oil-based paint while others may require the low-VOC and crack-resistant qualities of latex paint. 

Either way, different types of paint have different drying times which can impact the duration of the project. Take a look at the different dry times of each kind of paint below:

• Oil-based paints: This type of pain usually requires around six to eight hours to dry, and 24 hours before a new coat can be applied. With its time requirement, you can expect the project to take much longer to finish than latex paints. 
• Latex paints: On the other hand, latex paints dry more quickly. The average drying time is about one hour. The paint requires four hours before a new coat can be applied. If you choose this option, you can expect the paint job to be done much more quickly.

4. Weather Conditions

The type of paint is not the only component affecting dry time. Weather conditions also impact the time it takes for the paint to dry. 

Ideally, you should schedule a paint job when the weather is between around 60°F and 85°F with little to no wind. Too much wind can cause dust and dirt to stick to the surface, creating uneven coats. 

Aside from the temperature, you should also be particular with humidity. The perfect humidity range is between 40% to 70% to ensure the paint dries properly. 

Scheduling painting services outside of the recommended temperature and humidity range may affect the paint finish.

During colder months, moisture may collect on your home’s walls which can result in mildew or staining. But during extremely hot weather, the paint may not adhere to the surface completely, leaving you with a peeled or cracked exterior.

Because of these possibilities, we may need added time to control the situation and ensure that the paint job is high-quality.

5. Number of Coats Required

The number of coats will also impact the time it takes a professional painter to finish the job. 

As mentioned earlier, different types of paint have different drying times. That being said, if you want oil-based paint and your house needs two to three layers of paint to cover the old paint job, then the project will take three to four days due to waiting for the paint to dry between coats. 

Generally speaking, a house will only need around two or three coats of paint. This should suffice to cover up the old paint and enhance its appearance. 

Adding too many layers of paint will only add unnecessary time and money without truly improving the appearance or adding any more protection. 

 

6. Number of Painters Working on the Project

The final factor to consider is the number of painters working on the project. Naturally, the more people on the job, the faster it will be done. 

• Just take note that the number of people working on a specific project will depend on the size and complexity of the situation. If you have a much larger house and a tight deadline, you will need more manpower to complete the task as fast as possible. 
• On the other hand, if you’re on a flexible schedule and have an average-sized house, two to three painters should suffice.

Ultimately, the number of painters working on a particular project will depend on the firm. Based on your case (considering the size of your house, the complexity of the project, the timeline, and your budget), the firm will decide how many painters to assign.

Keep in mind that if you want more painters to accomplish the task, you may need to spend more on labor costs but you’ll cut down on time. If you have a specific request, be sure to coordinate with your painters.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Method

Measuring the time it takes to paint the exterior of the house based on the square footage, number of coats, or the number of painters has pros and cons.

• For example, although measuring the time based on square footage alone can give the painter the most accurate estimate, it will take a lot of time to calculate, especially if the house has an unconventional shape and orientation. 

• On the other hand, if a painter decides to measure the time based on the number of coats required, they can estimate based on drying time. The more coats required, the longer it will take and the higher the labor costs will be. However, this may not be accurate since they may come across issues that take more paint to cover.

In regard to estimating time based on the number of painters, the more painters there are to work on one project, the more you — as a homeowner — need to pay for labor costs and materials.

Examples of Painting Times for Different Houses

To answer your question, “How long does it take to paint the exterior of a house?” and to give you a more concrete picture, let’s take a look at the estimated timelines for three different types of houses. 

1. Small One-story House

A one-story house, which is any home under 2,500 square feet, can take two to three professionals one to two days to complete. This estimate includes prepping, priming, and painting.

2. Average Two-story House

While painting a two-story house is no different than painting a single-story house, it usually requires more work. Hence, it will require more time. 

That said, painting a two-story house that’s around 3,000 to 4,000 square feet will take two to three painters three to four days. This timeline takes into account the preliminary work of inspecting the property, doing the prep work, and painting.

3. Complex House Architecture With Three or More Levels

Now, if you have a house with unique architecture or large square footage (more than 5,000 square feet), you can expect the professional paint job to take five to six days. In some cases, it may take a week or a little more to finish. 

Unlike average houses with flat, even sides, complex houses with unconventional shapes require more careful planning, attention to detail, and precision. For this reason, more time is needed to complete the project.

Why Hire a Professional for Exterior Painting?

You may think that painting the exterior of your house can be DIY-ed, but if you have no prior experience, this approach is not recommended. 

Not only will you be more likely to make costly mistakes, but you will also put yourself in danger. It’s best to leave the exterior paint job to the professionals.

Professional Painters Have the Tools, Expertise, and Equipment to Complete the Job Effectively and Efficiently

Painting your house requires a lot more than a set of rollers and paintbrushes. To do the job effectively, you’ll need complete safety gear, spraying tools, painting applicators, patching tools, and caulk. 

As a homeowner, you may not have this equipment on hand, but professional painters do. Instead of buying your own materials, let professional painters who have everything they need paint your house for you.

Access to High-quality Paints and Coatings

As trained professionals, painters also have in-depth knowledge of the different qualities of paints available on the market today. With their knowledge, they can give you access to the highest quality paints that ensure longevity and an impeccable appearance. 

They understand what paint components can give you optimal results and which ones to avoid. With this professional insight, you can rest assured that you’re getting the best assistance possible.

Help You Choose the Right Paint Colors and Finishes To Enhance Your Property’s Value and Curb Appeal

On top of giving you access to high-quality paints, professional painters can guide you in choosing the best color and finishes for your home. They can recognize what paint colors complement the rest of your property and understand how you can increase your property’s value and curb appeal.

Professional Painters Are Trained To Work Safely, Thereby Minimizing Risks and Safety Hazards

Being a professional painter requires years of training and experience. After training, they need to be licensed and insured to provide their painting services. 

Because of their field expertise, professional painters know how to operate certain tools and equipment, as well as navigate from one point to another without causing harm to themselves or the house they’re working on. As such, they can work safely, minimize risks, and avoid hazardous situations with ease.

Professional Painters Can Help You Save Time and Effort

Painting — much like any profession — requires practice and experience. If you’re not familiar with the ins and outs of the job, you may end up doing trial and error just to get the task right.

Doing so will require a lot of time and effort on your part. What’s more, it will end up costing you a lot of money. 

To avoid these inconveniences, the best course of action is to hire professional painters who have the necessary training to execute the job seamlessly and effectively.

Contact Peach Painting

Hire professional painters from Peach Painting. As the #1 painting contractor in Tampa, Brandon, Plant City, and surrounding areas in Florida, we can give you top-notch exterior painting services to freshen up your home. 

Our experts are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and equipment to get the job done as efficiently and seamlessly as possible.

If you want to take this next step in improving your home’s facade, get a quote from our specialists today by calling (813) 945-8680.