From Farrow & Ball’s Dead Salmon (a pinky beige) to Sherwin Williams’ Sun Salutation (a mellow yellow), there are so many shades of house paint that it could take you weeks to choose your favorite. You’ll also have to decide whether to hire a contractor or arm yourself with rollers, brushes, and a ladder to DIY the transformation. Whichever way you roll, here’s how to make your next paint job a masterpiece.
When selecting paint, remember that most will resist cracking, peeling, mold, and mildew. Who does the painting—and how well they do it—is more important than what’s in the bucket. To help you find a pro who will do the job right, we report customer reviews from consumers on painting businesses they’ve used.
Many people do their own painting, but you’ll probably want to hire an expert if you’re putting a few coats on every room or the exterior of a house two stories or higher. If your home was built before the 1978 lead paint ban, a pro should deal with that.
When selecting paint or working with a contractor to choose it, first check Consumer Reports’ paint ratings. In its tests, some paints that cost $35 to $40 per gallon performed better than expensive ones.
To choose a contractor, have several candidates inspect the job and provide proposals. You’ll likely receive huge price differences for the same job. Have your contractor draw up a contract detailing prep work; specifics on paint brand and color; number of coats; and a full description of the work, including frequently omitted items such as cabinet interiors and shutters.
No matter who does the job, expect a lot of prep work before the actual brushing and rolling begin. We provide tips for painting inside and outside.
