- Ask for the square footage. A 2,000 sq ft house typically presents 1,700-2,200 sq ft of exterior wall. Any quote that uses floor area as the measurement is either low or does not include gables and returns.
- Get prep listed line by line. Pressure washing, scraping, sanding, caulking, rot repair, and masking should each appear. If they are lumped into a single preparation line, ask what is included.
- Name the paint. The brand, line, and number of coats. A quote specifying a good exterior acrylic by name is a stronger quote than one saying premium-quality paint.
- Confirm primer scope. Full prime, spot prime, or prime only on repairs. These are three different prices and three different outcomes.
- Ask about the ladder and access. A two-storey job where the crew cannot reach the eave from the ground needs scaffolding or a lift, which is $300-$900 on the quote.
- Confirm permits and disposal. Some jurisdictions require a lead-safe certificate for homes built before 1978, and paint disposal has become a real line item.
The DIY version, honestly assessed
Doing it yourself means saving 55-70% on a single-storey home with vinyl or wood siding and no rot. The saving is real because you absorb the labour, which is 65-75% of a professional quote. The cost is a long ladder, a sprayer, and a lot of scraping.
| Item | Buy | Rent | DIY note |
|---|
| Exterior acrylic, per gallon | $45-$70 | — | 350-450 sq ft coverage; buy 10% extra |
| Primer, per gallon | $40-$65 | — | Only for bare wood, metal, stucco, patches |
| Roller covers and sleeves | $18-$40 | — | Buy quality; cheap covers shed into the finish |
| HSS or HVLP sprayer | $130-$260 | $45-$70 per day | Spraying is 3-4x faster but needs windless conditions |
| Extension ladder, 24-28 ft | $180-$320 | $25-$45 per day | Buy if you will ever use it again; never work alone at height |
| Pressure washer | $180-$400 | $40-$70 per day | Rent is usually correct for one job |
| Caulk, scrapers, sandpaper, masks, tarps | $90-$180 | — | Buy once, use for years |
When not to DIY, and when the cheap quote is a trap
Do not DIY a two-storey home with stucco, a steep roof pitch, or tall second-storey trim. The setup and fall risk are not manageable with consumer equipment, and the failure is expensive. Hire out anything above the reach of a 28-foot ladder set on level ground.
The cheap-quote trap looks like this: a bid around 40% below the others, one that does not mention prep tasks. That painter is buying the job with the estimate you approve and then either skips the prep or asks for more money mid-job. A legitimate way to spend less is to reduce scope — paint the main elevations and leave the garage and returns for next year — rather than to accept a quote that omits work.
| Signal | What it means | Action |
|---|
| Quote 30-40% below every other bid | Prep omitted, or the work is not actually happening | Ask for a line-by-line scope in writing |
| Cash-only, no contract, no insurance | No liability coverage for damage to your home | Decline |
| No mention of caulking or rot repair | Water will get behind the paint | Require both, itemised |
| Paint brand not named | May be a cheap mislabel | Require the product line by name |
| Deposit over 30% upfront | Cash-flow risk | Pay in stages tied to completed days |
| Home built before 1978, no lead mention | Federal RRP rules require safe work practices | Require a certified firm number |
The short version
Budget $3.50-$8.00 per square foot for a 2,000 sq ft home, which lands at $7,000-$16,000. Get three written quotes with prep itemised and the paint named, remember that materials are only about a third of the price so you can genuinely save 55-70% on a single-storey home, and never accept a quote that saves money by skipping the caulking.
Fazlur Rahman
