Painting a house seems simple on the surface. Many homeowners think they can save a significant amount of cash by taking on the project themselves.
However, people often do not realize how many distinct steps are needed to properly prep a space and apply paint so that it actually holds up. Columbus Painting often jokes that anyone with a brush and a bucket can call themselves a painter.

Having the ability to purchase a premium gallon of paint does not mean you have the skill to apply it appropriately. Here is a look at the true costs and drawbacks of a DIY house painting project.

Account for Every Hidden Supply Cost

Homeowners usually calculate the upfront cost of the paint and a few cheap brushes. They completely forget the hidden receipts of a massive DIY project.

A proper exterior job requires heavy-duty repair materials, spackle, specialized painting trays, high-quality masking tape, and durable drop cloths.

Columbus Painting also reminds homeowners to factor in the hidden cost of constant driving. Multiple unexpected trips back and forth to the paint store or Home Depot will quickly eat up hours of your weekend.

Do the Job Right the First Time

Columbus Painting knows that improper preparation is the downfall of most DIY projects. Paint applied by an inexperienced homeowner might look fantastic on day one.

However, that exact same paint risks peeling off entirely just a few seasons later because the surface was not prepped well. Another incredibly common DIY mistake is applying the wrong type of paint for a specific exterior substrate.

Columbus Painting lives by a simple slogan: “Do it right the first time.” Thorough scraping and aggressive power washing are mandatory steps. If these are not done correctly, your home’s exterior will suffer the consequences.

Calculate the Real Time Tax of Painting

When choosing to take on a massive project, you make a conscious decision to not do something else. The ultimate question to ask yourself is this: “Is there a better or higher use of my time than spending endless hours painting my home?”

People severely underestimate the sheer physical labor of painting an exterior. It realistically takes a novice up to ten times as long to finish a standard two-story home compared to Columbus Painting.

Columbus Painting arrives on-site with the exact prep materials and commercial expertise that a normal homeowner simply does not have. You have to weigh that massive time tax against your weekends and personal life.

Stay Safely on the Ground

In addition to the massive time commitment, homeowners must ask themselves if they truly “can” and “should” be tackling high-altitude work.

Climbing a 40-foot ladder to paint a soffit at the very peak of a home is genuinely dangerous. Walking on slippery roofs while carrying wet paint is a massive, unnecessary liability.

Columbus Painting knows that climbing high ladders and navigating tricky rooflines should always be left to those who know exactly what they are doing. If you want a safe, professional-looking paint job, hire professional painters.