How much does it cost to paint a house exterior in Florida?

Reviewed by Cristina Miguelez remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

One of the best ways to improve your home’s curb appeal is with a new paint job. When painting your Florida home, many things factor into the overall cost of the project. You have to consider the best paints to use, how much you will need, when you want to paint, and what colors to use.

Painting a house in Florida costs between $4,000 and $10,000, with most homeowners paying $5,750 to paint a 1,500 sq.ft. home with moderate prep work. Prices can be as low as $2,800 to paint a smaller 800 sq.ft. ranch home with minimal prep work, or as high as $13,000 to paint a 2,500 sq.ft. home with multiple stories and a lot of prep work.

Average Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House in Florida

Average Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House in Florida by Number of Stories

It should come as no surprise that the size of your home affects how much it costs to paint it. More specifically, the number of stories makes a big difference. Homes with multiple stories have more square footage to paint and involve more challenges, such as climbing up on ladders or scaffolds and working around low-hanging branches and other obstructions. Most Florida homes will be from one to three stories. Depending on what type you have, you can expect to pay between $1,200 and $10,300.

Exterior House Painting Cost in Florida by Size

One of the easiest ways to price out your upcoming home painting project is to figure out the square footage of your home’s siding. It is important to note that this will not be the same as the square footage of your entire home. Since you are only painting the exterior, you want to measure each exterior surface and add them together. You want to measure any trim, gables, window sills, and other additions separately. The average cost to paint a home’s exterior in Florida ranges from $2 to $4.50 per sq.ft. If you plan to paint a home between 800 sq.ft. and 2,500 sq.ft., you can expect to pay between $1,600 and $11,250.

Exterior House Painting Cost in Florida per Hour

One of the most common ways painters charge for their services is by the hour. Most Florida painters charge from $25 to $125 per hour to paint a home exterior. Bigger paint jobs may require more than one painter, so expect to pay that rate per painter needed on the project. Typically, priming and painting a 1,500 sq.ft. home can take 16 to 32 hours with two painters on the job. That said, you can expect to pay between $800 and $8,000 for labor alone.

Best Exterior Paint for Florida

Any type of exterior paint is acceptable to use on Florida homes as long as you wait to paint when there is no chance of rain in the forecast. You should select acrylic latex paint over water-based latex or oil-based paints since the state sees so many storms. Oil-based paints are more likely to trap water underneath the surface, causing unsightly bubbles over time. On the other hand, latex paints are much more breathable and allow the water to escape. The cost of paint in Florida does not change significantly compared to the national average.

Best Exterior Paint for Stucco in Florida

Many homes in Florida are made from stucco. The best paints for stucco are acrylic, masonry, and elastomeric paints. Acrylic paints have the highest permeability, allowing moisture to seep out instead of bubble underneath the surface. On top of being durable, acrylic paint is highly affordable and customizable, making it a great choice for homeowners. Masonry paint is another great option for stucco because it resists moisture, mold, and mildew growth. On the downside, you will not have as many options. Elastomeric paint goes on as a liquid and dries as a rubber layer that provides a completely waterproof barrier. It is great for covering cracks and other imperfections on your home’s exterior, but it will not provide as vibrant of a sheen.

Best Exterior Colors for Florida Homes

The most popular colors to use on Florida homes are light taupe, tan, and gray. In general, lighter colors are best. Not only do these look nice and clean with the surrounding landscape, but they are also the most ideal colors if you are trying to sell your home. Before you begin painting, take a look around your neighborhood to see how your home looks against your neighbors. This will be a great way to make sure your home blends in with the rest. If you are a part of a homeowner’s association (HOA), you also need to check with them to make sure the color you choose is acceptable.

Best Time of the Year to Paint a House Exterior in Florida

If you are planning to paint the exterior of your Florida home, your best bet is to wait for either winter or spring. Winter is the best time to paint outside because humidity levels are low, there are fewer storms, and wind speeds are lower. If you cannot get the job done in the fall, your next best bet is springtime. Before the summer heat creeps back in, you will still see lower humidity levels and more manageable weather. The same thing can be said for fall time once the weather starts cooling off a bit. In many parts of the country, painting in the early fall or early summer is acceptable, but this time in Florida also brings hurricane season, so that is something to pay attention to when you start planning.

The only time you should ever avoid painting your home exterior is during the summer. Professional painters in Florida will do everything they can to avoid high humidity levels and temperatures over 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Not only can this damage the paint and leave spots, but it also makes the surface of your home hotter, affecting how it adheres to the surface. For this reason, many painters begin working in the morning and move along the house as the sun moves to avoid painting in direct sunlight.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Lead paint removal. Removing lead paint in Florida or any state should always be done by a professional. In April 2010, the EPA issued the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, which requires training and certification in lead-safe work practices for painters and contractors. If you think you have lead-based paint in your home, get in touch with an EPA-certified firm to perform a risk assessment.
• Painting preparations. Before you begin painting, you need to prepare your work space. This includes washing the exterior, scraping loose paint, sanding rough spots, filling and repairing damages, applying the primer, caulking the joints, and choosing the right paint.
• Painting in the shade. Painting in direct sunlight makes the coating on your home’s exterior evaporate faster, impacting the lifespan of your paint overall. For this reason, Florida painters work with the rising and setting sun to paint in the shaded areas as it moves from east to west.
• Time of day. When painting your home’s exterior, you want the temperature to be between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Since you live in Florida, you also have to consider the humidity levels and impending storms. You should begin painting when humidity is relatively low and stop a couple of hours before the sun goes down to prevent the effects of condensation.
• Maintenance and cleaning. It is important to wash your home’s exterior throughout the year to keep it clear of dirt, pests, mildew, bird droppings, and more. The best way to maintain your house paint is to clean it with soapy water and a sponge. You can also use a pressure washer. You may also want to touch up the paint every now and then if parts begin to wear down.