How much to paint the inside of a 2,600 sq ft house in SWFL?

We price interior painting by the home's square footage, not by wall area or by the room. For a 2,600 sq ft house, the range is $2.00 – $5.50 per home sq ft. Where you land in that range mostly depends on how much of the house you want painted.

Does interior painting include ceilings, trim and doors?

Only in the higher tiers. Walls only covers just the walls. Walls + ceilings adds the ceilings. The Full tier adds trim, baseboards and doors.

Is it different in Cape Coral or Fort Myers?

The same per square foot pricing applies across Lee, Charlotte and Sarasota counties. Within a tier, tall or vaulted ceilings, dark color changes and the number of rooms can move a job toward the high or low end.

Every tier includes light prep. That means filling minor nail holes, like the ones left after taking down pictures, and cleaning surfaces so the paint sticks. You do not pay extra for that.

Bigger damage is a separate line item. A doorknob hole, a crack along a seam or a soft, stained spot from a leak needs a real drywall repair before paint. These repairs are priced per item:

• Small patch: $200 – $500 each
• Large patch: $300 – $800 each
• Water damage: $600 – $1,500 each

Each drywall repair includes cutting out the damage, patching, taping, mudding, sanding and priming. The area is then ready for paint.

Does it cost more if the house is not empty?

Masking and covering floors and furniture is included in every tier. An empty house is still faster to work in, since there is less to move and cover. If you are living in the home, clearing small items, wall art and breakables off walls and shelves before we start helps keep the job on track.

Talk with us about large pieces like pianos, full bookcases or wall-mounted TVs ahead of time. That way everyone knows who is moving what.

Is popcorn ceiling removal included?

No. Our interior painting price covers painting, light prep, masking and cleanup. Scraping off popcorn texture is a separate job. It also usually means skim coating or retexturing the ceiling before it can be painted.

In older homes, textured ceilings can contain asbestos. Have a sample tested before anyone scrapes or sands it.

Many homes in Fort Myers, Punta Gorda and Sarasota were built before 1978. Paint from that era may contain lead. Scraping, sanding or cutting into it can release lead dust, which is especially harmful to children.

The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule covers work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes built before 1978. Firms doing that work have to be EPA certified and follow lead-safe work practices.

What this means for your project

1. Check the year your home was built. Your county property appraiser's record lists it.
2. If it is pre-1978, ask whether the crew is certified under the RRP Rule.
3. Expect extra containment and cleanup steps if the prep disturbs old paint.

Newer homes, which are common in Cape Coral and North Port, generally do not fall under this rule.

Most interior paint problems start before the first coat goes on. Here are the ones we see most in Southwest Florida homes.

• Choosing a tier that doesn't fit the house. Fresh walls next to yellowed trim and scuffed doors can make the whole room look worse. If the trim is worn, the Full tier ($3.25 – $5.50 per home sq ft) may make more sense than walls only.
• Hiding real damage under paint. Paint does not fix cracked seams or soft drywall. Repair it first.
• Ignoring humidity. Painting while the AC is off or windows are open in summer can slow drying. Keep the AC running during the job.
• Picking colors under store lights. Our bright sun changes how colors look. Test samples on your own walls at different times of day.
• Skipping ceilings in rooms with stains. A clean wall under a stained ceiling stands out. Walls + ceilings ($2.50 – $4.25 per home sq ft) fixes both at once.