This page covers doing it yourself, and what to do when a paint job goes wrong. For prices, prep, colors and timing, see our other guide pages.
Any price on this page is a national figure published by HomeGuide for 2026, not our quote.
Should I paint myself or hire a painter?
Paint it yourself if the job is small, low and simple, and hire a painter when it involves height, heavy prep, cabinets, spraying or old paint that may contain lead.
A bedroom with sound walls is a fair weekend job. A whole interior, a two-story entry or an exterior is weeks of evenings for one person, and the finish usually shows it.
How much would I save painting myself?
You save the labor, which is 70% to 85% of an interior painting price by the national figures. You still buy the paint, at $20 to $80 per gallon, plus primer, rollers, brushes, tape, drop cloths, filler and caulk.
Count your time too. A pro paints a bedroom in 4 to 5 hours by the national figures. A first-timer takes far longer, mostly on prep and cutting in.
Is a two-story exterior too dangerous to DIY?
For most people, yes. Working from an extension ladder at second-floor height while scraping or painting is where serious falls happen.
Sloped bench lots make ladder footing worse, and dry gravel shifts. If you do it, use a ladder rated for the height, set it on firm level ground, keep three points of contact and never work near overhead power lines. A single-story rambler is a different matter.
Is renting a sprayer worth it?
Renting a sprayer is worth it for large, plain surfaces such as a long fence, a big stucco wall or empty rooms. It is not worth it for one room or for trim.
Spraying takes practice. Masking takes longer than the spraying, and overspray drifts onto cars, windows and the neighbor's house in the afternoon wind we get here. Cleaning the machine takes time as well.
My DIY paint job looks bad. Can a pro fix it?
Yes. A pro can fix a bad paint job in nearly every case. Drips and ridges are sanded flat, thin patches are primed and the wall gets two proper coats.
Paint that is peeling, or latex put over glossy oil-based paint, has to come off or be sanded and primed first, which costs more. Tell the painter what products were used.
When is a job too big to do myself?
A job is too big when it needs equipment, skills or time you do not have. Common limits are ceilings over about 10 feet, stairwells, second-floor exteriors, cabinets, wallpaper removal, popcorn ceilings and any home built before 1978 where paint will be sanded or scraped.
Be honest about time. An exterior left half prepped when the first snow comes is worse off than before.
Why is new paint peeling after a few months?
New paint that peels within a few months did not bond. The cause is nearly always the surface: dirt, grease, chalk, gloss, moisture, or latex over old oil-based paint with no primer.
Outside, paint put on in cold or damp weather, or onto wood that was still wet, fails the same way. More paint on top does not fix it. The loose coat comes off and the surface is prepared again.
Why does new paint look streaky or show roller marks?
Streaks and roller marks come from paint drying before the next pass blends into it, from too little paint on the roller, or from one thin coat.
Our dry air makes this worse, because paint sets fast. Painters keep a wet edge, work one full wall at a time and avoid heating vents blowing on the wall. A second full coat usually cures it.
Why can I still see the old color, and why does the wall look splotchy in side light?
You can still see the old color because the new paint is too thin to hide it. That means one coat where two were needed, or a strong color with no primer under it.
A wall that looks splotchy or uneven in side light has flashing: patches of different sheen where filler was not primed, or where touch-ups were added later. Low sun through a west window shows it at its worst. Priming the repairs and repainting the whole wall evens it out.
Why do touch-ups not match?
Touch-ups do not match because the wall has aged and the new paint has not. Sun fades color, and washing changes sheen. Even paint from the same can dries a slightly different shade when it is brushed on a spot instead of rolled.
South and west rooms fade fastest here. For the best match use the original can, stir it well, apply it with a small roller and feather the edges. When that fails, repaint the wall corner to corner.
Why did paint peel off with the painter's tape?
Paint comes off with the tape when the paint under it was poorly bonded, when the tape was too strong for the surface, or when it stayed on too long.
Pull tape slowly at a low angle, soon after the paint is dry to the touch. Score the edge with a blade if the paint has bridged onto the tape. Use a low-tack tape on fresh paint and on old flat paint.
Should a painter come back to fix missed spots, and what if the painter will not come back?
Yes. A painter should come back to fix missed spots, thin areas and drips. That is part of finishing the job. Walk the work with the painter in good light before the final payment and mark anything you see.
If the painter will not come back or answer, write to them with photos, the date and a deadline, and keep a copy. Hold any unpaid balance that fairly matches the unfinished work. If that gets nowhere, a complaint to the Utah Division of Professional Licensing is the next step for a licensed contractor, and small claims court is there for money disputes.
The painter left drips on my floors and windows. What now?
Ask the painter to remove them before you make the final payment. Fresh latex drips on hard floors, glass and patio concrete come off far more easily in the first days than later.
Dried paint on glass is taken off with a razor scraper on wet glass. On wood floors and carpet it needs more care, and the wrong solvent harms the finish, so let the painter deal with it. Take photos first.
The final invoice is higher than the written estimate. What now?
Ask for a written list of what changed. A final invoice should match the written estimate unless you agreed to extra work.
Extras are fair when they were found during the job, explained and approved by you before they were done. Extras that appear only on the invoice are open to dispute. This is why change orders should be in writing.
Who pays to fix paint that failed early?
It depends on why it failed. If the cause was the painter's prep or method, the painter should put it right, and a written warranty makes that plain. If the paint itself was faulty, the maker's warranty usually covers the product only.
If the cause was a leak, sprinklers on the wall, rot or movement in the house, the owner pays. Keep your quote, the product names and photos. They show what was promised.
Do you give free estimates?
Yes. We give a free estimate with a written quote. We walk the job, measure and tell you what prep it needs. Call, text or use the form on this site.
We serve Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Sandy, West Jordan, South Jordan, Murray, Millcreek, Holladay, Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Bountiful, Taylorsville and Midvale. The number is (801) 618-4881.