What drives exterior painting cost
The main factors are:
- Home size and number of stories
- Siding type and condition (prep is most of the labor)
- Amount of trim, detail, and accent colors
- Paint quality and number of coats
Prep is the real cost
Scraping, sanding, power washing, caulking, and priming take more time than the painting itself. A home with peeling paint or damaged siding costs more to prep than one in good shape.