What affects the cost of painting the outside of a house

Access is usually the biggest single factor

A two-storey semi that can be reached from ladders and a tower is straightforward. A three-storey townhouse, a rear elevation over a conservatory, or a property on a slope may need scaffolding — and scaffold hire is a real line item that an honest quote will show separately.

The condition of what is already there

Sound, previously painted render just needs washing and coating. Flaking, chalky or blown render needs stabilising, hacking off and repairing. Cracks need raking out and filling properly rather than being bridged with thick paint.

• Fungicidal wash to kill algae and spores
• Cracks raked out, filled and reinforced where needed
• Chalky surfaces sealed with a stabilising primer
• Bare timber knotted, primed and undercoated
• Rusted metalwork wire-brushed and treated

The coating system matters more than the brand

Older solid-wall property generally wants a breathable mineral or silicone masonry coating so moisture can escape. Trapping damp behind a plastic-feel film is what causes blown render and peeling a couple of years later. Modern render is more forgiving, but still benefits from the right primer.

How much timber and metalwork is included

Fascias, soffits, bargeboards, guttering, window frames, sills, doors, garage doors, railings and gates all take hand time. Two quotes for 'the outside of the house' can mean very different scopes — check what is listed.

When to book

Exterior coatings need dry surfaces and temperatures above roughly 8°C. In the North West that realistically means April to September, with a spell of dry weather either side of the work. Booking early in the season gets you the better slots.

Common questions