Is one coat of paint enough exterior?
If you are simply recoating the surface of the house with the same color as was previously used, it is possible to use only one coat, as long as the paint is not peeling or severely weathered. Even if you can get away with one coat, two coats are better if you can afford it.
You'll rarely get a seamless finish from just one coat of paint, and even if you do, coverage isn't the only goal when it comes to painting a room. You also want to prepare your walls for the coming years of wear and tear, cleaning, wiping and sunlight – in short, you want the paint to be durable.
It is common advice to use two coats of paint on most projects. However, the specific number needed will often vary depending on what type of surface you are painting and how dark of paint you are using.
As a rule of thumb, the average gallon of exterior paint covers 300-400 square feet of surface area. That means you will need 8-10 gallons to paint the exterior siding of a 2,500 sqft house (one coat). We always recommend applying at least two coats for any exterior color changes.
However, 2 coats of Super Paint from Sherwin Williams will last you 14+ years with a moderate amount of weathering. This is the ideal choice for customers planning to live in their homes for a long time and customers looking for a paint job that will insure superior protection of their siding for years to come.
Using two coats of paint is our industry standard. Applying a second coat provides benefits that drastically outweigh the additional material costs (which are usually less than 20% of the total project costs).
Even if you can get away with one coat, two coats are better if you can afford it. Two coats of exterior paint will retain the color and sheen far better and longer, protecting your home more thoroughly and extending the time before the next repainting.
Your Paint Job Will Last Longer
Generally speaking, the lifespan of a one-coat paint job is as little as three years. Compare that to the same surface which has been properly prepared and given two coats of paint and, depending on external factors such as the elements, that lifespan increases dramatically to ten years!
Pro tip: Sanding between coats of paint isn't always necessary, but is highly recommended when applying polyurethane over stain or raw wood.
Cutting in and Painting on the Same Day
Doing this will yield the smoothest and most even results because the paint will blend well. On the other hand, letting the paint dry overnight and then rolling out will make the task more challenging and will most likely lead to different shades.
How much does it cost to paint the outside of a 1500 sq ft house?
Home Square Footage | Total Cost (Including Labor) |
---|---|
1,500 | $1,500–$6,000 |
1,800 | $1,800–$7,200 |
2,000 | $2,000–$8,000 |
2,500 | $2,500–$10,000 |
Painting your house is a worthwhile investment
The average cost to paint the exterior of a 2,000-square-foot home is about $5,200, but that number rises to the $5,000–$12,000 cost range for a three-story house.
Labor. The cost of labor is a huge portion of your total exterior house painting cost. Expect to spend between $1 and $2 per square foot or $25 and $100 per hour on labor alone. Your project might have higher labor costs if extra work like priming or stripping is required.
We've all heard paint manufacturers claim “one coat coverage” but is it really true? As a rule of thumb, you should always expect to apply two coats of paint regardless of what the label says.
Adding a Second Coat
After your first coat of paint is dry, it's safe to recoat typically after four to six hours. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it's water-based. Waiting 24 hours is best for oil-based paint and primer.
If you're painting over the same color, you can put one coat of paint if you know 100% that it's the same color. We do two coats of paint because the old coat may have faded over time due to the sun and other factors.
Painter and decorator day rates can range from around £150 in areas like Manchester, Liverpool, and Devon to over £200 in London. If your job is only small, you may be charged an hourly rate. Hourly rates can range from around £20 per hour to around £50 depending on the area in which you live.
One coat lasts the same amount of time as two coats of paint does, and it doesn't negatively impact the look of your home. In fact, it may even make your home look better, as adding too much paint can cause ridges and lumpiness on the finish.
Duration® exterior self-priming formula goes on thicker than ordinary house paint. So one coat does the job over previously painted surfaces and two coats on properly prepared wood, stucco, masonry and aluminum or galvanized metal surfaces.
An average-size house will take an average of three to four days to paint with a team of two to three people. In this case, average means a home with one to two stories and four or fewer bedrooms. A large house, such as a three-story or five-plus-bedroom home, will take five to six days.
What is the best temperature to paint the exterior of a house?
As a rule of thumb, the best temperature to paint outside is 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with an ideal painting temperature range of 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This translates to roughly 4 to 32 degrees Celsius as the best temperature range and 10 to 21 degrees Celsius as ideal temperatures to paint exteriors.
No. Unless the coats are applied months apart from each other. The two reasons for sanding between coats of paint are to clean off accumulated grime and give a fully hardened surface tooth to bond the next coat, or to remove brush strokes or other textures for a very smooth finish.
Patchiness usually happens if you don't use enough paint, or apply it unevenly. Using a touch more paint, and painting in small sections one at a time, usually does the trick. Also, rolling in a grid fashion will get you an even finish too. But, sometimes, changes in the gloss level leave things patchy.
Poor Adhesion. High humidity levels during rainy weather can affect how well the paint adheres to surfaces, leading to peeling or bubbling over time. Wait for a break in rainfall before applying new coats of paint on damp surfaces.
After application, it will typically take 2-4 hours until the paint is dry to the touch. However, you'll have to wait a minimum of 24 hours until you can apply a second coat.
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