House painting is not something that everybody can do – it is labor-intensive, physically challenging, time-consuming and messy. On the other hand, hiring a professional to do the task may seem to be a costlier option. It is also a challenge trying to locate a reliable house painter.

The physically challenging part of DIY house painting involves scraping off the old paint before putting primer or new paint on the walls. Scraping involves reaching out to the most obscure and remote areas. This part of the painting process can be done quite well if the size of the house is small or average. A large house will surely require the expertise of a professional house painter and a seasoned crew.

There is far more to surface preparation, color selection, paint application and clean up than meets the eye. Without the proven skills and the right equipment, taking on home painting as a DIY job can turn out to be a nightmarish experience — homeowners might underestimate the rigors of the job involved and end up breaking a few cardinal rules of home painting:

Applying water based paint over oil based paint which results in peeling and blistering.

Not using special primer when applying dark colors.

Painting over bare wood.

Painting over stains and water leaks.

Failing to remove old failing paint properly.

This leads to a situation where a professional has to be called in anyway to repair the damages done. A long lasting, quality paint job requires specialized tools and equipment and above all the necessary skills that come only with years of hands-on experience.

The cost factor

The most obvious advantage of DIY house painting is the money saved with costs of paint and equipment being the only expense to the home owner.

But remember that while the paint itself is not too costly, the other equipment like sprayers, tools, brushes and ladders do not come cheap. An alternative is to hire a professional paint sprayer from a rental agency at a daily rate.

It is tempting to consider the savings that can be achieved while comparing the hourly rate of a professional house painter and the expense and time requirements of a do-it-yourself project. If the house painter can complete the job within a few hours or days instead of weeks, then the cost savings may be justified.

Labor costs tend to be substantial while taking on the services of a paint contractor. However, a homeowner may not be covered by insurance if something were to happen. Conversely all reliable contractors carry their own insurance.

Other Pro-professional factors

A professional house painter and crew bring with them years of expertise that homeowners do not possess. They are therefore able to complete the job much faster. They also take the requisite care to mask off gardens, windows and other areas prone to be stained by spray. Erecting scaffolding (while painting exteriors) and operating professional paint spraying equipment is not as easy as it seems and requires some amount of practice to get it right.

If you enjoy painting and are good at it, you can convert house painting into a family project and end up with a lot of fun and a satisfying experience that provides a sense of ownership and responsibility. However, if you are one of the many that is unable to paint decently then opt for a professional painter for a clean and lasting result.

When it comes to home painting it pays to be realistic and the task is best left to professionals in the field. From exteriors to interiors, Custom Painting is experienced in all facets of house painting including maintenance jobs. As a full service painting company in the Greater Bay Area, Custom Painting is fully licensed, bonded and carry 2,000,000.00 dollars in liability insurance.