The estimate for painting your home's interiors depends on factors such as the area of the walls and ceilings, number of coats and more

A fresh coat of paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to enhance the overall look of your home. This article will tell you how to make an accurate estimate for painting your home, either by commissioning the complete job to a paint contractor, or by purchasing the paint directly and completing the paint work with the help of painters on labour rates.

Please note, the costs are approximate (as in the year 2019) and differ for various paint brands in different regions.

1. What are the factors that affect the cost of painting a home?

• Paint is quoted by the paint contractor on a cost-per-square-foot basis, which is inclusive of labour and material costs. To find out the cost of paint accurately, the area of the walls and ceiling should be calculated in square feet and multiplied by the cost of paint per square foot.
• Also, the number of coats of paint required to achieve a perfect finish determines the cost of paint. For example, a dark colour will require at least three coats of paint in comparison to light colours, which require two coats of paint.
• Additionally. The cost of painting the home also depends on the type, finish and brand of paint.
• It is important to check the condition of the walls. In case there is dampness, wall cracks or uneven surface, then the repair work, re-plastering and surface preparation of the damaged surfaces will be at an additional cost.

1. How to calculate the ceiling and wall area of the home?

The ceiling and wall area can be easily calculated.

Ceiling
The area of the ceiling is equal to the carpet area of the home.

• Calculate the area of the ceiling room-wise. For example, If your bedroom is 12 feet long and 15 feet wide, then the ceiling area of the bedroom is 12x15, which is 180 square feet.
• In the open areas of the home such as the living-cum-dining room and the passages, divide the space into different rectangular sections and calculate the area of each section. Add all the areas together to find out the area of the ceiling.
• Measure the width and height of each wall, multiply these figures together to calculate the area of each wall. If the wall is 18 feet long and 10 feet high, then the area of the wall is 180 square feet. Add the areas of all the walls together.
• Now, calculate the total area of the wall openings, which include the doors and windows, and subtract this from the overall area of the walls.

1. What is the per-square-foot cost of different types of paint jobs?

• If you want to go for a complete paint job, then it requires an elaborate surface preparation with two coats of putty, one coat of primer and two or three coats of paint. Premium quality emulsion paint will cost approximately ₹35 or more per square foot.
• If the walls are in good condition, then the contractor can paint the home with a touch-up of putty, one coat of primer and twocoats of paint. Good-quality emulsion paint costs around ₹25 per square foot onwards.
• A rental home can be upgraded with one or two coats of emulsion paint at a nominal rate of ₹8–10 per square foot.
• An express painting service can be availed from reputed paint companies; it includes the use of vacuum-suction-enabled sanding machines and mechanised tools that finish the painting work in much less time. You can get a quotation directly from these companies after they survey your home.

The paint contractor will give you the final bill with the exact measurements.

Tip: If you are looking for a long-lasting wall paint, then go for premium-quality emulsion paint, as it can last for 5–7 years.

1. What is the cost of painting if you purchase the paint material?

In this situation, the paints are purchased by the homeowner and the painters are paid labour charges. The total cost of painting will be the total of labour and material costs.
 

• The material cost includes the number of litres of paint you plan to use multiplied by the per-litre cost of paint. One can try using the paint calculator option, which is available on websites of premium paint manufacturers, such as Asian paints, to get an approximate estimate of the quantity of paint that you require per room.
• The labour cost of the painters and helpers can be finalised on a lumpsum basis (if the scope of work is small) or can range from ₹600 to ₹1000 per day for each painter, depending on their skill, efficiency and the number of hours they work per day.
• The additional costs include the cost of painting supplies such as brushes, scaffolding, the cost of putty, primer, and cleaning.