Painting the exterior of a house improves its appearance, provides weather protection for rendered or timber surfaces, and can meaningfully improve kerb appeal and sale prospects. The cost depends primarily on the size of the house, the material being painted, the condition of the surface, and the access equipment needed.

What Can Be Painted

The most common exterior painting projects involve masonry paint on render, sand and cement-rendered or pebble-dashed walls, painting of timber fascias, soffits, barge boards, and window frames, and repainting of external doors. Brick is not normally painted unless it has been previously painted or there is a specific reason to coat it. UPVC windows and fascias require specialist UPVC paint rather than standard masonry or gloss, and the preparation is more critical for adhesion.

Masonry and Render Painting

Painting the rendered walls of a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house involves around 100 to 150 square metres of wall area. Professional masonry painters typically charge two hundred and fifty to five hundred pounds per day for their labour, and the job takes one to two days for a competent painter working alone, or faster with a team. Labour cost for the main walls is therefore five hundred to one thousand pounds. Masonry paint costs forty to eighty pounds for a fifteen-litre container covering around 25 to 30 square metres at two coats, so material costs for the walls are typically two hundred to four hundred pounds.

Fascias, Soffits, and Woodwork

Painting timber fascias, soffits, and window frames adds to the scope and cost. These surfaces require preparation including sanding and priming, and take time to paint neatly around edges. Adding timber woodwork to an exterior painting project typically adds three hundred to seven hundred pounds to the total.

Scaffolding and Access

Painting above ground floor level safely requires scaffolding or a mobile elevated work platform. A standard scaffold for a three-bedroom semi typically costs five hundred to one thousand pounds to erect, use, and dismantle. This cost is usually included in the total contract price by exterior painting contractors who arrange their own access equipment. Clarifying whether access equipment is included in the quote is important when comparing prices.

Summary

Painting the exterior of a three-bedroom semi-detached house costs eight hundred to two thousand five hundred pounds including scaffolding for walls, fascias, and timber elements. Labour is the largest component. Surface preparation before painting determines how long the finish lasts. When comparing quotes, confirm whether scaffolding and preparation are included in the price.