Under general guidelines, to paint a 1300 square foot home, you will generally need approximately 8 to 9 gallons or 30 to 34 liters of exterior paint and 2 gallons of exterior trim paint for approximately two coats. The typical rule of thumb is one gallon per three hundred to four hundred square feet. However, some paint formulas and wall textures may require more specific quantities. Find a paint store near you.
One gallon of any BEHR paint is enough to cover 250 to 400 square feet of surface with a single coat. Spraying doesn't push the paint into every crack like the roller does, but it will save a lot of money on labor, as rolling up can take twice as long. You can always go back and get a couple extra gallons if needed, but you can't return paint that's already tinted. They have a tester to see if it's a lead-based paint, but chances are it won't be unless it's an extremely old house.
While all paint jobs are different, there are some variables that are sure to affect the cost of your project. Once you have measured each wall and subtracted the area of the windows and doors, you will know the total surface of the wall to be painted. The same advice applies to moldings assuming you are going to paint them a color other than the color you have chosen for the walls, measure the molding separately from the rest of the room. The paint is expensive and you don't want to overbuy (paint stores will not refund a gallon of already tinted paint).
It's a complicated calculation with a series of variables, ranging from your painting technique to the composition and condition of your walls. The main thing to worry about is painting when it's too cold (I think they say never paint below 38 degrees farenheit). However, if you use a high-quality paint, you can sometimes get by with just one coat, which really saves the total amount of paint needed. Now that you're ready to get started, use the links below to find a Glidden dealer near you or to calculate the amount of paint needed for a different project.
For a more accurate color representation, view a color swatch or paint color swatch in the space you want to paint.
