It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to update the look of your home. Not only will new paint look better and increase the value of your home, it will also protect you home and save you from costly repairs down the road. Here are some things to consider before you set out to paint your home.

The Best Time to Paint Outdoors

This really depends on where you live, but you’ll want to paint when temperatures are moderate and the weather isn’t too hot or cold. In some areas, fall is a great time to paint, but in other areas it might be too cold at night. The best temperatures for painting outside are typically between 50 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but many new paints will cure in temperatures as low as 35 degrees F.

DIY or Hire a Pro

Even if you’re used to tackling interior painting projects, painting the outside of your house is a big job. When you factor in your time, tools, and material, it might be worth the cost to hire a pro. Here are some things to help you decide:

• Your house type and features – A one-story ranch house is relatively easy to paint, while a two-story Victorian is a big challenge. Similarly, a house on a hill or slope will be a trickier task.
• The condition of your exterior – Is there blistering or peeling paint? Do you have siding problems like wood rot? If so, prep work can be up to half the job. Don’t like prep work and just like to paint? Consider hiring a pro to do the prep for you.
• Tools and materials – Do you need special ladders or scaffolding? A pressure washer or paint sprayer? Price out the cost of renting or purchasing what you need – including paint – and then compare this to the cost of hiring a pro.

When in doubt, get a couple of bids from different painting pros.

What Will it Cost?

Determining what painting your home will cost involves many factors: home size, number of stories, exterior condition, and more. According to homeadvisor.com, the national average cost for hiring a pro to paint a single story house is about $2,800. Angie’s List reports a higher average of $3,700. If you’re doing the job yourself, make sure you factor in the tools and equipment you’ll need to purchase (or rent) as well as the cost of the paint. Good exterior paint can cost from about $30 to $70 per gallon. It’s worth the money to buy good paint, as cheaper paints often mean you have to repaint sooner. If you’re using a painting contractor, make sure you specify the paint you want to use when you get a bid.

Choosing the Right Color

And last, but by no means least, you need to choose the right color for your home. First, consider the style of your home and the character of your neighborhood. You don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb, but you don’t want to look just like every house on the street either. As you’re thinking of possible colors, don’t forget to consider existing colors on or around your home, like the roof, stone, or brick, and landscaping. Also make sure you paint a swatch on the front of your home and look at the color at different times of day. Finally, many paint manufactures have online tools and apps to help you visualize and explore different paint options for your home.