When is it Smarter to Hire Pro Painter?

⭐ Key Takeaway

DIY painting makes sense for smaller, low-risk projects, but once you factor in the true costs of Sherwin-Williams paint, tools, safety equipment, and your own time, professional painters are often the smarter investment—especially for larger or more complex jobs.

---

Introduction

Many homeowners wrestle with the question: should I paint this myself or hire professionals? On the surface, painting feels simple—you buy a few gallons of paint, pick up a roller, and dedicate a weekend to getting it done. But once you step into the process, hidden costs and challenges begin to appear. That’s when the math starts to shift in favor of hiring pros.

---

The True Cost of DIY Painting

Sherwin-Williams is one of the most trusted paint brands, but it doesn’t come cheap. A gallon of their popular SuperPaint line retails for around $80–$85, and even with sales or discounts, you’ll rarely see it drop below $50 a gallon. A standard 12×12 bedroom usually requires about two gallons, so you’re already at $160 just in paint.

Then come the supplies: rollers, brushes, tape, trays, and drop cloths. Even if you buy moderately priced gear, plan on another $60–$100. And if the room has higher ceilings or tricky corners, you may need a step ladder or an extension pole, adding another $30–$100.

By the time you’ve picked up everything, that “budget-friendly” weekend project is running $220–$260 in materials alone—and that doesn’t account for your time. If you’re painting more than one room, the costs multiply quickly.

---

Where DIY Starts to Struggle

For a single bedroom, DIY can be worthwhile if you’re patient and don’t mind a few weekends of work. But as soon as you start scaling up—to multiple rooms, tall stairwells, or the exterior of the home—the challenges mount. Ladders for two-story houses can cost $300–$500, and pressure washers or sprayers for exterior work add hundreds more. Beyond equipment, there’s the reality of climbing ladders safely and achieving clean, professional finishes in hard-to-reach areas.

I’ve seen many homeowners who saved money upfront but ended up frustrated when brush marks, roller streaks, or uneven coverage made a room look sloppy. In some cases, they had to repaint—or eventually hired pros to redo it—making the DIY route more expensive in the long run.

---

The Value of Professional Painters

Hiring professional painters changes the equation. They buy paint at contractor pricing, often well below retail. They already own the ladders, sprayers, and safety equipment you’d need to purchase or rent. And most importantly, they bring experience: they know how to prep walls so paint adheres properly, cut clean lines without tape, and apply even coats that last.

A professional crew can paint the same 12×12 bedroom for $300–$600, depending on location and complexity. Compare that to your DIY costs of $220–$260 plus an entire weekend of your labor, and the difference doesn’t feel so stark. Scale that up to multiple rooms or the exterior, and pros become the more efficient, safer, and often smarter investment.

---

Making the Choice

Here’s the way I encourage homeowners to think about it:

• If you’re painting a small bedroom, office, or accent wall, and you enjoy the process, DIY can be a satisfying project.

• If you’re looking at vaulted ceilings, whole homes, or exteriors, the costs of paint, tools, and safety gear add up so quickly that hiring pros usually saves money—and definitely saves stress.

---

Conclusion

Painting is one of those projects where the line between DIY and professional work isn’t always clear until you run the numbers. Sherwin-Williams paint is excellent, but it’s not cheap. Add in ladders, sprayers, and weekends of your time, and the value of hiring professionals becomes obvious.

If you’d like your painting done quickly, safely, and with lasting results, Colin Can Help provides professional painting services across Northeast Ohio—helping you skip the stress and enjoy a flawless finish from day one.