Get matched with top painters in Berwick, LA

Whether it’s better to roll or spray exterior house paint depends on your skill level, budget, and time constraints. Spraying produces even coverage quickly and efficiently, but mastering the technique can be challenging, and you might have to do a lot of splatter cleanup. Plus, renting or buying a sprayer costs more than budget-friendly rollers. Professional painters typically opt for spraying as it takes them less time and effort to get a flawless finish than rolling.

The two most common paint types are latex-based paint and oil-based paint. Here are some of the most significant differences between the two:

Latex-based paint:

• $15–$60 per gallon on average

• Best for living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways

• Dries more quickly than oil-based paints

• More difficult to clean compared to oil-based paint

Oil-based paint

• $20–$70 per gallon on average

• Good for bathrooms, kitchens, doors, and trim

• Easy to clean and holds up well against moisture

• More likely to chip than latex-based paint

• Requires good ventilation while drying

In most cases, paint primer is necessary before painting over wood paneling. A hardy primer formula covers up stains and leaves a grippy surface for the new paint to hold onto. If you don’t use a primer first, you risk poor adhesion, visible blemishes, and a paint top coat that could flake away later. 

There are two primer choices: oil-based or latex-based. Choose an oil-based primer for durability and adhesion, but prepare for extra dry time and more VOC (volatile organic compounds) fumes. Or, pick a stain-blocking latex primer. They’re easy to apply, clean up, and affordable.

Paint costs anywhere from $10 to $100 per gallon on average, depending on the type of paint, brand, quality, and more. Primer costs the least, while exterior paint tends to cost the most. Premium brands like Sherwin-Williams®, Benjamin Moore®, and Rust-Oleum® come in as the priciest paint brands, while Diamond Brite®, PPG-owned Glidden®, and Sherwin-Williams-owned Valspar® are some of the lowest-costing paints.