Should You Hire a Pro to Paint Your Home’s Exterior, or DIY?

Barring unusual circumstances, your home is the biggest thing you own. Painting the entire structure all the way around could be a bigger project to take on than you may realize. Many people have defiantly attempted the project, only to discover about a fifth of the way through that the time, effort, money or level of risk involved was biting off more than they could chew. Others find out that they simply did not have the equipment they needed to realistically get the job done, and that renting it was almost as expensive as hiring a professional.

To avoid this conflict and decide if DIY painting your Philadelphia home’s exterior is truly right for you, here are some factors to consider:

Size and Shape of the Home

A one-story ranch home, rambler or shotgun shack may not be too much to tackle, even for the casual DIYer. They could likely get most of the work done in a weekend or two, assuming nothing about the project was out-of-the-ordinary.

For those with two story homes, homes with unusual shapes like tall townhomes or a home that simply has a massive amount of exterior surface area, the project can easily balloon out of control. Having a professional home painter do the work instead means that they will have several crew members and the right type of equipment to get it done well and in a reasonable time frame no matter how big of a project it is.

Special Circumstances That Can Complicate the Job

If you happen to own a Queen Anne mansion or a Victorian-style “gingerbread” home, then you certainly have your work cut out for you. Even medium-sized, contemporary homes can become complex painting projects if there are lots of dormers or odd angles to grapple with.

Painting pros can breeze through these difficult segments almost as quickly as they can a flat wall. More importantly, they can get it done properly so that the trim and surfaces in the area will be well-protected by the paint.

Landscaping

Another consideration is whether your home’s lawn and landscaping might interfere with the job. A couple of flower beds will not stand in your way, but if you have a large number of trees or shrubs flanking the house, your consumer-oriented equipment may not be able to handle getting around the plants. Likewise, if the ground around your house is quite sloped or uneven, then you would need a scaffold or other special equipment to accommodate the inconsistent grading.

Age of the Home

Older homes require special care, especially if there needs to be an element of historic preservation. Legacy building materials may not be able to handle all types of paint, so adequate prep work and research must be done to prevent your gorgeous, century-old home from getting ruined by a DIY project. This concern is particularly relevant around Philadelphia, where areas like the Main Line often have pre-World War II homes.

Some older homes built before 1978 may also have lead paint, which can be incredibly dangerous to remove without the proper equipment and expertise. You can test your home’s paint for lead, and if the results are positive you are obligated to have a professional handle the task.

The Amount of Prep Work

Even if you think you are up to painting the home, you may feel differently when you realize how much work it will take to actually get to the painting part. Sanding, scraping, caulking and repairing trim pieces must all be handled before the first roller gets dipped. Many homeowners simply do not have that much time to invest in this much work, and the project ends up delayed by months or even years as a result.

So unless you have painting experience, access to professional-grade equipment or a home that is compact enough to make the job simple, save yourself the trouble and let a pro handle the job. They are bonded and insured to cover you in the event of mistakes that happen to cause damage to the home, and they have their own medical costs covered if they happen to get injured on the job. Rather than having to risk your homeowner’s or health insurance premiums increasing from you making a blunder, strongly consider letting a pro stand in your place.

ServiceWhale can make it easy to locate a home exterior painter with the right skill, reputation and price to take on your job. Our service allows you to see real, personalized quotes from local contractors without them having to visit your house first. Click here to get started, and spend your weekends relaxing rather than cursing every paint drip you find.