Determine the Exact Amount of Exterior Paint for Your Project
Painting the exterior of your house is an excellent way to improve curb appeal and protect your property from the elements. However, before you start, it’s ideal to determine how much paint you’ll need to avoid extra trips to the store and ensure a smooth finish. In Atkinson, where seasonal changes bring varying weather conditions, it’s especially important to assess your paint accurately to provide optimal coverage and durability.
If you are wondering how much paint do I need for exterior painting, this guide will help you calculate the required amount to complete your project.
The Amount Of Exterior Paint
- Estimating the amount of paint for your house’s exterior can be challenging, particularly for most homeowners. Running out of paint midway through the job can disrupt your entire project, leading to an uneven finish due to inconsistent drying times and forcing you to wait for another suitable day to resume painting after getting more supplies.
Therefore, it’s important to accurately calculate the required amount of paint before starting the painting process. Three factors influence this amount:
- Your house’s size
- Coverage of the paint being used
- The number of coats needed
Calculating Your Property’s Size for Paint Estimates
- The first and most critical step in determining the amount of paint needed is estimating the size of your property. This measurement is typically done in square meters by calculating the length and height of the house while also subtracting the areas occupied by doors and windows that won’t be painted.
On average, a mid-terraced house measures around 40m², a three-bedroom semi-detached house about 90m², and a four-bedroom detached house roughly 120m². Keep in mind that every house is unique, so these are just rough estimates to help guide you.
Measure the Length
- To determine the exterior size of your home, start by measuring the length of the property with a tape measure. If you’re only painting a section of the house, measure the length of that specific part.
If you’re painting the entire property, measure the full perimeter. For instance, if each of the four walls of a detached house is 5 meters long, the total circumference would be 20 meters.
Measure the Height
- Determine the height of your house, either using a ladder and a tape measure or by estimation. For instance, if your house is 5 meters high, multiply this height by the total circumference of the property. This calculation gives you a rough total area of the property, which would be 100m².
Exclude Areas Not Needing Paint
- Identify the parts of the property you don’t plan to paint, such as windows and doors. An average window and door each measure about one m². By subtracting the total area of these features from the overall size of the house, you can accurately determine the size of the area you plan to paint.
Coat Requirements for
- The number of coats needed for masonry paint can vary, particularly when using standard retail paints. Generally, two coats help ensure proper coverage. For instance, while some users have found that exterior paint provides substantial coverage in just one coat, the manufacturer advises applying two coats for complete waterproofing.
This allows the paint to build up a sufficient film, which is crucial for achieving waterproof, self-cleaning, and superior adhesion. When painting a home in Atkinson, where weather conditions can be harsh, ensuring that the paint is applied in two coats is particularly important to protect against moisture and temperature fluctuations.
Give your home the professional treatment it deserves with our exterior painting services. Experience Neat, Efficient, and Professional service with Miles Makarowski Painting. Call us today at (603) 489-8802 for a complimentary estimate. We are located in Atkinson, NH.