Paint Trim Costs

Homes have both interior and exterior trim, and quite often it is necessary to paint them to give the home an aesthetically pleasing look, and to offer exterior trim an added measure of protection. Paint trim costs and difficulties vary widely depending upon its location, how complex it might be (such as vintage homes with ornate architectural molding), and even how much prep work needs doing before painting can begin.

Also, moldings may need to be sanded or cleaned before they can be painted or repainted. And all of these factors end up impacting the overall cost of the work. Paint professionals look at paint trim projects in terms of the rate of speed that it will require.

Slow rates often apply to paint trim jobs that require a lot of prep work; medium rates are given to jobs that professional painters view as average and easily done at a good pace, while the fast work typically demands little in the way of prep, but may include a lot of volume. As someone considering a paint trim project, it pays to understand how your painter contractor views and evaluates the work.

Trim painting: 1,500 sq.ft. house, materials (primer, paint), prep work, supplies, and labor.

Other considerations and costs

• Keep in mind that any trim painting will increase in cost if multiple colors are used, and this typically amounts to at least $1 more per foot but can be substantially higher depending on prep work required.
• Prep work might also increase the cost of the job when areas of trim need to be replaced or repaired. It is something that may not be viewable when the painter is providing an estimate, but which can emerge as prep work begins. For example, rotted wood, rusted nails that require filling, sheetrock in need of replacement, and other such issues can arise.
• Doors and shutters are not typically viewed as “trim” and will need to be bid out as separate line items. They can increase total costs by roughly $200 to $500, or more. The trim around them may not be part of the initial bid, too.
• If the trim must be washed before painting, it will have to be done a day ahead and may add around $100 to $200 to the job.

DIY considerations

• It is entirely possible to tackle trim painting as a DIY project. If you have the time and tools to make it happen, the average price is less than $500, but it also can take a lot of time (typically two days or more) to do the taping or cutting in, prep, painting and clean up. If you are not an avid DIY enthusiast, it makes sense to hire pros.

References

• Craftsman Estimator Costbook, complete series year 2019.
• Latest prices found on Home Depot and other vendor Web sites.
• Literature review of DIY Web sites.