Painting in Los Gatos, CA

The cost to paint a house interior varies significantly based on several factors, including the size of your home, the condition of your walls, the quality of paint selected, and the complexity of the project. For an average home, interior painting typically ranges from $3-$7 per square foot. This price includes proper preparation, premium paints, and professional application. At Steiner Remodeling, we provide detailed quotes after a thorough in-home assessment where we evaluate the specific needs of your space. We consider elements such as ceiling height, trim details, necessary repairs, and your color preferences to determine the final cost. Our quotes are comprehensive and include all labor, materials, and cleanup, with no hidden fees added later.

While it might be tempting to choose the lowest bidder, we encourage homeowners to compare the quality of materials, experience level, and warranty offerings when evaluating painting estimates. A lower price may not always translate to better value, as cheaper materials or less experienced painters can lead to subpar results that require additional work down the line. At Steiner Remodeling, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality results that stand the test of time. We're happy to provide references from previous clients in your neighborhood who can speak to the value and quality of our work. Our goal is to ensure your investment in interior painting enhances your home’s beauty and functionality for years to come.

The timeline for exterior painting depends primarily on the size and condition of your home, along with weather conditions during the project. For an average single-family home, our professional team at Steiner Remodeling typically completes exterior painting in 3-7 days. Before beginning the actual painting, we dedicate 1-2 days to thorough preparation, including pressure washing, scraping, sanding, priming, and making necessary repairs to ensure a flawless finish. The painting process itself usually takes 2-4 days, depending on the complexity of your home's architecture and any decorative elements that require special attention.

We understand that having painters around your property can be disruptive, which is why we work efficiently while never compromising on quality. Our crews are trained to maintain a clean, organized work site throughout the project, minimizing the impact on your daily routine. Weather conditions can affect our schedule, as we avoid painting in extreme temperatures, high humidity, or rainy conditions that would compromise the quality of the finish. We always provide a detailed timeline before starting your project and keep you updated on our progress throughout the painting process. Our goal is to deliver a beautiful, durable exterior finish while respecting your time and property.

The frequency of exterior painting depends on several factors, including your home's building materials, the quality of previous paint jobs, and local weather conditions. Most homes benefit from repainting every 5-10 years. Wood siding typically needs repainting every 3-7 years, while stucco can often go 5-10 years between paint jobs if properly maintained. Homes with high exposure to sunlight, wind, or moisture may require more frequent painting to maintain their appearance and protection.

At Steiner Remodeling, we recommend scheduling a professional inspection of your home's exterior paint every 2-3 years to identify any early signs of wear that could lead to more expensive repairs if left unaddressed. Signs that it's time to repaint include peeling, cracking, or bubbling paint, faded color, chalky residue, and visible wood rot or damage. Proactive painting not only enhances your home's curb appeal but also provides crucial protection against moisture intrusion, sun damage, and pest infiltration.

Investing in high-quality paint and professional application can significantly extend the life of your exterior paint job, saving you money in the long run despite the higher initial investment. Our team is here to help you protect and beautify your home for years to come.

The best paint for interior walls depends on the specific room, its usage patterns, and your aesthetic preferences. For most homes, we recommend premium acrylic latex paints in either eggshell or satin finish, which provide a good balance of durability and subtle sheen that helps hide imperfections while remaining washable. In high-moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens, we typically suggest semi-gloss or satin finishes that resist water damage and can be cleaned more easily. For bedrooms and formal living areas, many of our clients prefer flat or matte finishes for their elegant appearance, though these are less scrubbable and best used in low-traffic areas.

At Steiner Remodeling, we primarily work with premium paint lines from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, and Dunn-Edwards due to their superior coverage, durability, and color retention. These higher-quality paints often require fewer coats, contain lower VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and maintain their appearance longer than budget alternatives. We're happy to discuss the specific advantages of different paint formulations during your consultation and can provide samples to help you evaluate how different sheens and colors will look in your specific lighting conditions. Our team stays current on the latest paint technology developments to ensure we're always offering our clients the best-performing products for their homes.

Preparing your house for exterior painting involves several steps that will help ensure a successful project. First, we recommend clearing the perimeter around your home by moving outdoor furniture, grills, potted plants, and other items at least 5-7 feet away from the walls to give our painters adequate working space. Trim back any bushes, trees, or climbing plants that are touching your home's exterior to allow complete access to all surfaces. Before our team arrives, please secure any pets that might be disturbed by the painting activity or potentially escape through temporarily open gates.

If you have specific concerns about certain landscaping elements, please point these out during our initial walkthrough so we can take extra precautions to protect them. At Steiner Remodeling, our comprehensive preparation process includes pressure washing, scraping loose paint, sanding rough areas, filling cracks, replacing damaged wood, and applying primer where needed—all included in our service. We'll also protect your windows, doors, walkways, and landscaping with drop cloths and plastic sheeting. While we handle all the technical preparation, your advance communication about access issues, sprinkler systems, or sensitive plants helps us plan accordingly and ensures a smooth painting process with minimal disruption to your property.

Proper wall preparation is the foundation of a flawless, long-lasting paint job, which is why at Steiner Remodeling we dedicate significant time to this critical phase. Our comprehensive preparation process begins with removing all switch plates, outlet covers, and hardware, followed by thoroughly cleaning the walls to remove dust, dirt, and grease that could interfere with paint adhesion. We carefully inspect all surfaces for damage, filling holes and cracks with appropriate patching compounds, then sanding these repairs smooth once dry to create a seamless surface. For walls with significant texture issues or multiple layers of previous paint, we may recommend more extensive repairs or skim coating to achieve the desired finish.

We address any moisture issues or mildew problems before painting, treating affected areas with appropriate solutions to prevent recurrence. Glossy surfaces are lightly sanded or treated with a deglosser to ensure proper adhesion of the new paint. Our team protects your furniture, floors, and fixtures with premium drop cloths and plastic sheeting, securing these coverings properly to prevent slipping or paint seepage. We use specialized painter's tape to create clean lines around trim, windows, and ceilings, taking extra care with delicate surfaces like wallpaper edges or decorative moldings. This thorough preparation process typically takes 30-50% of the total project time but is essential for achieving professional results that will look beautiful and last for years. Our clients consistently tell us they appreciate the attention to detail during this phase, which distinguishes our work from less meticulous painters.

Painting over wallpaper is possible but comes with several important considerations that homeowners should understand before proceeding. At Steiner Remodeling, we generally recommend removing wallpaper before painting whenever feasible, as this provides the best long-term results and prevents potential issues like peeling, bubbling, or texture telegraphing through the new paint. However, we recognize that wallpaper removal can be time-consuming and potentially damaging to the underlying drywall, particularly with older installations or multiple layers.

In situations where removal isn't practical—such as with very old wallpaper that might damage plaster walls, or in time-sensitive projects—painting over wallpaper can be a viable alternative when done correctly. Our approach includes thoroughly cleaning the wallpaper surface, securing any loose seams or edges, applying an oil-based primer to seal the wallpaper and prevent moisture in the paint from reactivating the wallpaper adhesive, and addressing any texture issues before applying quality topcoats. We pay special attention to seams and edges, which often require special treatment to prevent them from becoming visible through the paint. It's important to note that textured or heavily patterned wallpaper will likely remain somewhat visible under paint unless extensive preparation with joint compound is undertaken to smooth the surface. During our initial consultation, we can assess your specific wallpaper situation and provide honest recommendations about whether painting over or removal would be more appropriate for your project goals and budget.