Painting a house takes a lot of planning and logistics. Fortunately, you can hire residential painting pros to get the job done at an affordable rate. However, if you choose to do it yourself, how do you correctly gauge how much paint you’ll need? Keep reading to find out how many square feet a gallon of paint covers and how to use this knowledge to gauge how much equipment you’ll need.
How Many Square Feet Does One Gallon Of Paint Covers?
Before buying paint, you’ll have to estimate how much paint you’ll need. To do this, calculate the total square footage involved. First, measure the length of all the walls, then multiply them by the exact height (ceiling to floor). The number you get is the total area of the room in square feet.Once you’ve established the total area, next, you need to calculate how much of the actual surface will be covered in paint. Since you’ll be using a different paint on the doors and windows, subtract them from the total. That’s roughly 20 square feet for every door and about 15 square feet for the windows, assuming they’re averagely sized. The final number is the area you’ll be painting—a gallon of paint on average covers 350 to 400 square feet.
When calculating how much paint a ceiling will take, measure its length and width and multiply them. To get how much paint, divide the total area; a gallon will cover (350 - 400 square feet) by the total area of the ceiling.
Since the trim usually gets a different finish, you’ll need to calculate its paint estimate separately. Measure its total length and width, then multiply the values to get the total square footage. Then divide it by 350 or 400, depending on how big your room is, to get how many gallons of paint you’ll need.
How To Make Paint Last Longer When You’re Running Low?
Using a roller or paintbrush while painting will increase the coverage much better than a regular paint sprayer. Unfortunately, a sprayer doesn’t give even coverage. An additional alternative is painting by hand. It’s great for smaller amounts of paint and gives you more control. Another way to make the paint last longer is by painting on a smooth surface.Textured walls consume more paint, so to avoid this dilemma, sand down all the surfaces before applying the paint. The last alternative is to dilute the paint. Usually reserved for desperate times, diluting paint means you’ll get more paint to work with. However, keep in mind that experts advise against it since it affects paint coverage.
Factors Influencing How Much Paint You Use
The factors that influence how much paint you use include the colour variations, plain drywall, textured surfaces, and the number of painting coats you need, all of which will be discussed below.Colour Variations
Switching from a light colour to a darker shade or vice versa will necessitate extra paint to cover up the difference. Fortunately, a primer will reduce the amount of paint and make the process more seamless.Plain Drywall
Fresh drywall soaks up more paint than a regular wall, so you’ll need an extra coat. Even though you’ll be using a primer, an extra coat is necessary due to the material’s porous nature.Textured Surfaces
These include brick, stucco, and pebbledash - they need an extra coat or two because of their vast surface area.
Coats Needed
If you’re planning to make a major colour change, you’ll need extra coats of paint to cover up the change in colour gradient. That means you’ll need to factor in the cost of extra paint.Size Of The Room
A large room will require more paint than an average-sized one.Paint Varieties
You can use different types of paints in and around your house. If you choose the wrong paint variety, it might turn out to be more costly. Different paint varieties include emulsion, oil-based, enamel, and latex.Emulsion Paint
It’s made of two liquids, water and a mix of pigments and binders. It’s a flexible option because it dries quickly and is excellent for both internal and external surfaces.Oil-based Paints
These paints have a lovely glossy finish and a smooth application. They are also durable. On the other hand, oil paints produce toxic fumes, harmful to human health. In addition, it’s not suited for exterior surfaces.Enamel Paint
Enamel paint gives a sleek, glossy finish and is easy to apply. It lasts longer and can dry at different speeds depending on the amount of thinner used.Latex-based Paint
It’s perfect for all types of building materials - just make sure you’ve primed the surfaces before painting over them. It’s perfect for external application because it dries fast and doesn’t react to the sun’s rays.The most crucial factor to consider when painting any room or surface is the size or total area you plan to paint. This information will determine how much paint you use and the type of paint that you will need.
