Scope of a whole-house job
A house painting project can cover the exterior, the interior or both. Outside, the painter works on siding, trim, windows, doors, porches and railings. Inside, the scope usually includes walls, ceilings, trim and doors in the rooms you choose. Planning both at once lets you pick colors that work together, and it gives the painter indoor work for rainy days.
In Harrison, the house itself shapes the job. A downtown two-family near Halstead Avenue, a Tudor in Sunny Ridge and a large colonial in Purchase each call for different ladders, products and amounts of hand work.
Surfaces you will find in Harrison
Most houses here mix materials. A single home may have wood clapboard on one wing, stucco on another and stone at the base, with wood trim around windows and doors. Each surface needs its own prep and coating, and the painter should say how they will treat each one.
- Wood clapboard and cedar shingles
- Stucco and masonry walls
- Half-timbering and dark-stained trim
- Aluminum and vinyl siding
- Porches, railings, doors and shutters
Prep is most of the job
Paint lasts only as long as the surface beneath it. A careful painter washes the house and lets it dry, scrapes loose paint, sands edges smooth, repairs soft wood, fills stucco cracks, primes bare spots and caulks open joints before any finish coat. On shaded lots in Purchase and West Harrison, mildew removal is often part of the wash.
Older homes and lead
If your home was built before 1978, the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting rule requires paid contractors who disturb old paint to be Lead-Safe Certified firms. That means plastic sheeting under the work area, limits on dry sanding and thorough cleanup. Ask how the painter will handle it before you sign.
Reading the estimate
Look for the list of surfaces, the prep steps, how repairs are priced, the paint brand and line, the number of coats and the payment schedule. When two prices are far apart, the difference is usually in prep, repairs or coats, not in the paint itself.
House painting cost ranges
Published ranges from This Old House.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Exterior, 1,800 sq ft home | $4,000 to $7,900 |
| Exterior, 3,000 sq ft home | $6,600 to $13,200 |
| Interior, 1,800 sq ft home | $1,800 to $7,200 |
| Interior, 3,000 sq ft home | $3,000 to $12,000 |
| Hourly rate per painter | $40 to $100 |
These are published national figures, not quotes. Expect Harrison and southern Westchester prices to sit toward the upper end or above.
Sources: This Old House, cost to paint a house exterior; This Old House, interior painting cost guide
Questions homeowners ask
Should I paint inside and out in the same year?
You can, and it simplifies color choices and scheduling. Many homeowners split the work across two seasons to spread the cost.
How long does a full exterior repaint take?
It depends on size, prep and weather. A typical house may take one to a few weeks. Ask the painter for an estimated schedule in writing.
Can I choose the paint brand?
Yes. Many painters have favorite lines but will price the product you prefer. Make sure the estimate names the brand and line.
Do painters move furniture?
Most will move and cover furniture within a room. Ask whether they expect you to clear small items, artwork and fragile pieces before they arrive.
Other services
Exterior painting
Siding, stucco, trim and doors, with proper prep.
Interior painting
Rooms, ceilings, trim and doors, start to finish.
Cabinet painting
Kitchen and bath cabinets painted instead of replaced.
Deck and fence staining
Clean, stain and seal decks, rails and fences.
Wallpaper removal
Remove old wallpaper and get walls ready for paint.
Trim and siding painting
Window trim, fascia, soffits and siding sections.