You want to start house painting in Pleasanton but don’t know how much paint you will actually need? The best way to find out how much you need is to specifically estimate the amount of paint you will use, whether you’re painting the interior or exterior, or both. You can use the examples below to help you determine how much paint is needed, and then be able to estimate the cost.

Exterior painting:

Let’s say your house measures 2,100 square feet, which is an average size for a house, given that the exterior has a flat surface. Good quality paint will generally cover 350 square feet, using two coats. So, for this size home, you will need to do a little bit of math:

2,100/350 = 6 gallons of good quality paint.

However, it is wise to double the amount you will need because it typically takes two coats for exterior house painting, so you will need 12 gallons of paint. You are expected to pay $30 to $70 per gallon of high-quality paint. If your house is larger than average size, of course you will need more gallons. However, if your exterior has a textured surface such as stucco, you will definitely need more paint to cover it.

Interior painting

Estimating paint for the interiors will take measuring and more math. Here’s how to determine the estimated cost for paint:

1. Walls

Measure the length of all four walls (this is in average measurements)

14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet

Next, measure the height of your room, from floor to ceiling. Let’s say your room is 8 feet high. Then, multiply that to the total measurement of your walls.

8 x 68 = 544 square feet, that’s your room’s total size.

However, if your room has doors and/or windows, subtract them from your square feet total of your room. Let’s say the average window measures 15 square feet and the average measurement of the door measures 20 square feet.

For example, if you have two doors, multiply them by 20 square feet:

2 x 20 = 40 square feet

If you have two windows, multiply them by 15 square feet:

2 x 15 = 30 square feet

Add the total square feet of the doors and windows together:

40 + 30 = 70 square feet

Subtract the result from the room total computed earlier:

544 – 70 = 474 square feet

Divide that result by 350, which is the average square feet covered per gallon.

474/350 = 1.4

The result means you will need about a gallon and 2 quarts of paint for the walls, if they are smooth and flat. Most likely you’ll only need to apply one coat of pain. However, if your walls are textured or porous, you will need to apply two coats, and will require at least a gallon more of the paint.

2. Trim

Measure all the trim in your space, including baseboards, door trim, window trim, molding, and any built-in furniture. Let’s say you have a ceiling molding measuring 14 feet wide and 20 feet long. Add together the length of all the walls that have the molding:

14 + 20 + 14 + 20 = 68 feet

Multiply the result by .5 or 1/2 foot, which is the estimated size of the trim width:

68 x .5 = 34 square feet

Then divide the result by 350:

34/350 = .09

It means that you may need less than a quart of paint for the trim for that one room. However, you may need extra paint for other woodwork as well as to do touchups or corrections, provided that you are going to paint them with the same color. So in that case, it’s better to buy a full quart of paint.

3. Ceilings:

Measure the ceiling first. Assume that it measures 14 feet long and 20 feet wide.

14 x 20 = 280 square feet, this is the ceiling’s area.

Divide the result by 350:

280/350 =.8

It means you will have to buy a gallon of paint, given that you are going to paint it with a single coat.

4. Doors and windows

As stated before, the average door is 20 square feet and the average window is 15 square feet.

So let’s say you have two doors. Multiply them by 20 square feet:

20 x 2 = 40 square feet

If you have two windows, multiply them by 7.5, which is half of the 15 square feet of an average window:

2 x 7.5 = 15 square feet

Add the two totals together:

40 + 15 = 55

Divide them by 350:

55/350 = .16

It means you have to buy a full quart of paint to cover the doors and windows.

If money is tight and you’re on a tight budget, you will need those calculations to avoid buying unnecessary paint. If you want more information about estimating paint coverage for house painting in Pleasanton, contact professional paint contractors and they will be glad to help you on this matter.