Pros and Cons of DIY Interior Painting | Tips from a Local Painter

Now more than ever, DIY painting has become one of the most popular ways to apply paint to your home. When money is tight but walls still need to be painted it's understandable to want to take matters into your own hands. But before you run out the door to get swatches and rollers it might be helpful to get an idea of what you're getting into.

Pros

Let's start with the good part because there are a lot of great advantages that come with doing it yourself.

Saves Money on Labor

It's no secret that hiring someone to do a job for you will cost more than doing it yourself. While painting is a fundamentally simple task the skill and tools a professional painter offers is worth a lot. By picking up your own paintbrush you can save yourself hundreds to thousands of dollars, if you're willing to put in an equivalent amount if not more in sweat-equity.

Full Creative Control

Were you recently inspired by something you saw on Pinterest? Have a color combo that you want to try? Do you want to try your hand at texturing? When it's your home you can do whatever you want with it, and if you're ok with making a few mistakes it might be worth it to try something more out there!

Satisfaction and Pride

While you could pay someone to paint your living room for you, and come back home from a vacation to a completely new house, nothing quite beats the satisfaction of seeing the last bit of old color fade away. If you enjoy seeing projects progress one brushstroke at a time DIY may be right for you.

Cons

As fun as it is to fantasize about the process of seeing your home transform the reality is that it requires hard work.

It Will Take Longer Than You Think

Professional painters can tackle a bedroom within 4-6 hours because they have the tools and experience to do it as quickly as possible. When you're just starting out it's important to go slower to make sure you aren't getting paint where you don't want it. And when you get home from a hard day of work and put off painting for one more day, that project may never get finished.

Painting is a Skill

Painting seems simple until you’re halfway through and notice visible roller marks, missed edges, or paint splatters on the ceiling. When you paint rooms for your professional life for years you learn a lot about how to paint quickly and efficiently. Not to mention the added difficulty involved with painting high walls, detailed trims, and textured surfaces.

Do You Have the Supplies?

Hiring a professional painter isn't just paying someone to put paint on your walls. You can give your cousin 20 bucks and some pizza if that's what you want. Professional painters come equipped with the best tools and will already have all of the painters tape, ladders, sprayers, and paintbrushes for the job and can get started as soon as you have the color picked out.

Painting Sucks to Do

If you're painting you can skip going to the gym that day. It's a physically demanding activity that requires you to be moving and holding things above your head for hours at a time. And at the end of the day when you're covered in paint and sweat you'll realized you missed a spot after you washed your brushes. Professionals don't miss a spot.

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When Should You Hire a Painter

Not every project that needs painting needs a professional. If it's a small bedroom and it isn't urgent to get it done soon you can consider that your next hobby! But if you need it painted fast, your walls need repairs, or you want flawless results consider going with the experts.

• You need the project done soon

• Your walls need repairs

• You want your house to look exceptional

• Provide advice on color and finish choices

• Handle all the cleanup

• You need multiple rooms painted at once

Final Thoughts: Should You DIY or Hire a Pro?

While there is potentially a lot of money to be saved in doing it yourself there are many benefits that come with hiring a professional that are often overlooked. If the project is small enough that you have the time, energy, and skill for the job than absolutely take it on as your next home renovation project. But it's ok to not have the time or energy to take on painting, especially when there are professionals who have the tools and expertise to do it better for you.

If you're doing any painting in Layton, Utah or somewhere nearby consider reaching out to Elevate Paint Pros to schedule a free estimate. We'll send a member of our team to your home to assess your painting project and needs and we'll try to find a solution to your problems.