Services Offered by Professional Painters
Many professional painters provide interior and exterior painting, plus supplementary services.
Interior Painting
Professional interior painting companies can advise you when deciding on interior paint types, textures, and finishes, and can educate you on care requirements to determine what works best where. They'll prep, prime, and paint windows, cabinets, door frames, trim, and moldings. Some professionals offer wallpaper or textured finish stripping for an added fee.Exterior Painting
Professional painters start exterior jobs by fixing weather damage, stripping old paint, sealing leaks with caulk, and washing walls. They then paint fences, siding, trim, decks, window frames, doors, and other outdoor surfaces.Additional Services
Painting companies may also offer the following extra services, depending on their qualifications and experience:- Concrete staining
- Crown molding installation and repair
- Drywall and plaster repair
- Popcorn ceiling removal
- Pressure washing
- Wallpaper hanging or removal
How To Choose a Painter in Charleston
When selecting a residential painting contractor, consider these key factors.
- Cost: Talk to a few companies to get price estimates. Be wary of exceptionally cheap prices compared to the average.
- Guarantees: Ask for guarantees in writing and ensure you know which items are covered and for how long.
- Paint types: Ask your paint pro to walk through paint selections in detail, covering the benefits and downsides of each. This will help you select the best option for your project. Some paints have better weather resistance or use more eco-friendly formulas.
- Qualifications: Painters in South Carolina must be registered as specialty contractors by the Residential Builders Commission. Painters must be bonded for projects valued at more than $5,000, but you should always hire a painter who's fully bonded and insured, particularly if they'll be working with power equipment or on ladders. If your home was built before 1978, and you're concerned about the presence of lead, you may want to look for a contractor who is licensed by the EPA to work with lead-based paint.
- Reputation and reviews: Get friends and neighbors to provide references, or use the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website to review painters you’re considering. You can also read customer feedback on sites such as Google Reviews or Trustpilot.
How Much Does Painting Cost in Charleston?
The cost of professional painting work depends on the dimensions of your home, the paint types chosen, and the time of year. Most painters increase their rates during the summer due to increased demand. Both interior and exterior painting jobs typically cost between $0.92 and $3.69 per square foot. Most homes have more interior surface area than exterior, which means the cost to paint inside will be more expensive than the cost to paint outside. The average price to paint a 2,000-square-foot home in Charleston is $4,616 for exterior work and $1,846 to $7,385 for interior work. Alternatively, painters in Charleston may charge you an hourly rate between $20.43 and $34.05. It normally costs less in total to schedule exterior and interior painting at the same time rather than as separate services.
