Painting Questions? We Have Answers.

For most homes in Northern Virginia, interior painting ranges from $3,500 to $8,000 for a typical 3-bedroom home, depending on square footage, ceiling height, prep work needed, and paint quality. A single room averages $400 to $900. We provide free, detailed written estimates so you know exactly what to expect before we start. Factors that affect cost include the number of colors, wall condition (drywall repairs, patching), trim and ceiling work, and whether you choose premium Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams paints. See our full interior painting cost guide.

Exterior painting for a typical 2,000-2,500 sq ft home in the DC metro area runs $5,000 to $12,000. The main cost drivers are the size of your home, number of stories, siding material (wood, stucco, brick, Hardie board), condition of existing paint, and how much prep work is needed. Power washing, scraping, priming bare wood, and caulking are all included in our estimates. We use premium exterior paints rated for the Virginia climate — hot summers, cold winters, and heavy humidity.

Yes, always. We provide free in-home estimates for every project across all 32 cities we serve in Northern Virginia and Washington DC. There is no obligation and no pressure. Our estimator will walk through your home, discuss your goals, measure everything, and provide a detailed written quote — typically within 24 hours. We also offer free color consultations to help you choose the perfect colors.

We collect a 30% deposit when you sign the contract, which covers materials and scheduling. The remaining 70% is due upon completion and your final walkthrough. We accept checks, credit cards, and bank transfers. For larger commercial projects, we can work out a milestone-based payment schedule. You never pay in full until you are 100% satisfied with the finished work.

The biggest differences come down to prep work, paint quality, and insurance. A low bid often means skipping prep (no sanding, no priming, no caulking), using builder-grade paint, and hiring uninsured labor. Our quotes include full prep, premium Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams paint, certified crews, $2 million liability insurance, and a 2-year workmanship warranty. Read our guide on choosing a painting contractor to know exactly what to compare.

A single room typically takes 1 day. A full interior (3-4 bedroom home) usually takes 3 to 5 days depending on prep work, number of colors, and whether we are painting ceilings and trim. Our crew of 3-4 painters works efficiently while maintaining quality. We will give you an exact timeline in your estimate. For homes in Arlington, McLean, and Vienna where we work most often, we can usually start within 1-2 weeks of signing.

Most exterior painting projects take 4 to 7 days, weather permitting. This includes power washing (day 1), scraping, sanding, priming, and caulking (days 2-3), and painting (days 3-7). Larger homes or those with extensive wood rot or peeling paint may take longer. We always build weather buffer days into our schedule so rain does not push your project into the next month.

Prep is where most of the quality difference happens. For interior work: we patch all nail holes, fill cracks, sand rough spots, caulk gaps around trim, tape edges, protect floors and furniture with drop cloths, and prime any bare or stained surfaces. For exterior: we pressure wash the entire surface, scrape loose paint, sand rough edges, replace rotted wood, caulk all gaps, and prime bare wood and metal. Every surface is clean, smooth, and ready to hold paint for years.

No. Our crew handles all furniture moving. We will slide everything to the center of the room and cover it with clean drop cloths before we start. When we finish, we move everything back exactly where it was. We also cover your floors, light fixtures, and hardware. You do not need to lift a finger — just tell us the colors and we handle the rest.

We apply two full coats on every surface as our standard practice. If you are making a dramatic color change — like going from a dark accent wall to white, or from white to a deep navy like Hale Navy — we may apply a tinted primer plus two coats for the best coverage. Ceilings get two coats. Trim gets two coats. We never cut corners on coverage because one coat simply does not last.

Interior painting is year-round — we work every month regardless of weather. Exterior painting in Northern Virginia is best from April through November when temperatures stay above 50°F. However, we can do exterior work in winter during warm spells if temperatures remain above 45°F for 24 hours. Winter is actually the best time to book interior work since our schedule is more flexible and we can often start sooner.

We are certified applicators for both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams — the two top professional paint brands in the industry. For interiors, we typically use Benjamin Moore Regal Select or Aura, or Sherwin-Williams Emerald or Duration. For exteriors, we use Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior or Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior. These premium lines offer superior coverage, durability, and color accuracy compared to big-box store brands. We also offer free color consultations and our Paint Color Compare Tool to help you choose.

Yes. All of our standard interior paints — Benjamin Moore Regal Select and Sherwin-Williams Emerald — are low-VOC or zero-VOC, meaning they produce minimal fumes and are safe for occupied homes, nurseries, and homes with pets. If you have chemical sensitivities, we can use zero-VOC formulations exclusively. These paints are just as durable as traditional options — the technology has advanced significantly.

With proper prep and premium paint, interior paint typically lasts 7 to 10 years in normal conditions. High-traffic areas like hallways and kids’ rooms may need refreshing sooner. Exterior paint lasts 5 to 8 years in the Virginia climate, depending on sun exposure, siding material, and weather patterns. South and west-facing walls fade fastest. We use UV-resistant exterior paints specifically rated for our mid-Atlantic climate to maximize longevity.

Yes. Every project comes with our 2-year workmanship warranty covering peeling, bubbling, cracking, or any defect related to our application. This is on top of the manufacturer’s warranty on the paint itself (Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams both offer lifetime limited warranties on their premium lines). If anything does not look right within 2 years, call us and we will come fix it — no charge, no hassle.

Premium paints like Benjamin Moore Aura and Sherwin-Williams Emerald have higher resin content, better pigment load, and superior additives. In practice, this means: better coverage in fewer coats, richer and more accurate color, easier to clean (washable even in flat sheen), better resistance to fading and yellowing, and longer lifespan on your walls. The cost difference per gallon is $15 to $25 more, but over a full room it translates to a $50-150 increase for years of better performance. We strongly recommend premium paint for every project.

During our busy season (April through October), we recommend booking 2 to 4 weeks in advance. During winter months, we can often start within 1 week. For large exterior projects, booking 3 to 4 weeks ahead gives us time to order materials, plan weather windows, and coordinate our crew schedule. That said, we always keep capacity for urgent projects — if you need a room painted before a holiday or event, call us and we will do our best to accommodate. We offer same-week scheduling when available.

Absolutely. We understand that having painters in your home can disrupt your routine. We can work while you are at the office, schedule around your kids’ nap times, avoid certain rooms on certain days, or split the project across multiple visits. For commercial projects, we routinely work evenings, weekends, and after hours to avoid disrupting your business. Just tell us your constraints and we will build the schedule around you.

You do not need to be home. Most of our clients in Reston, Ashburn, and Great Falls provide a key or garage code and go about their day. Our crew is fully insured, background-checked, and trusted inside hundreds of homes every year. We will text you updates and photos throughout the day so you can see progress from wherever you are.

We monitor weather forecasts closely and build buffer days into every exterior schedule. If rain is expected, we will notify you in advance and reschedule the affected day — there is no cost or penalty. Paint needs at least 4 hours of dry conditions to cure properly. We never paint over wet or damp surfaces. If an unexpected storm hits mid-project, we cover all surfaces and resume as soon as conditions allow. Your project timeline may shift a day or two, but the quality is never compromised.

Yes, completely. We treat your home like our own. At the end of every day, we clean brushes, seal paint cans, remove drop cloths, vacuum or sweep debris, and leave your space usable. At the end of the project, we do a full cleanup: remove all tape, reattach hardware, move furniture back, touch up any spots, clean windows and trim of any paint drips, and haul away all waste. You will come home to a finished space that is ready to enjoy immediately.

Yes. Northern Star Painters holds a Virginia Class A Contractor’s License and is fully licensed in Washington DC. We carry $2 million in general liability insurance and full workers’ compensation coverage for every crew member. This means if anything happens on your property — an accident, damage, or injury — you are completely protected. Always ask any contractor for proof of insurance before they start work. We provide certificates of insurance to any client or HOA upon request.

Yes, and we do this regularly across Northern Virginia — especially in Arlington, Alexandria, Ashburn, and Loudoun County communities. We know the process: submit your color selections, provide contractor license and insurance documentation, get written approval before starting, and follow all community guidelines. We can help you select colors that meet your HOA’s standards while still reflecting your personal style. Our HOA-approved exterior painting service handles the entire approval process for you.

Our $2 million liability insurance covers any accidental damage to your property. In over 500 completed projects, damage claims have been extremely rare because we take extensive precautions — drop cloths everywhere, tape on every edge, careful furniture handling. But if something does happen, we fix it or replace it at our expense, no questions asked. You will never be stuck paying for a contractor’s mistake.

Yes. Every member of our team is background-checked and vetted before they enter any home. We employ our own W-2 painters — we do not use subcontractors or day labor. Our lead painters have 5 or more years of experience, and every crew includes a certified carpenter for any wood repair or trim work needed. We take the trust our clients place in us very seriously.

Yes. We are EPA Lead-Safe Certified (RRP Rule compliant). This matters if your home was built before 1978 and may contain lead-based paint — which is common in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Washington DC. We follow all EPA protocols for lead-safe work practices including containment, HEPA vacuuming, wet methods, and proper waste disposal. This protects your family’s health and keeps your project in full compliance with federal law.

Yes. We serve offices, retail spaces, restaurants, medical offices, warehouses, HOA common areas, and property management companies across Northern Virginia and Washington DC. We offer after-hours and weekend scheduling so your business is never disrupted. Learn more about our commercial painting services.

Yes, cabinet refinishing is one of our most popular services. We can transform dated oak or cherry cabinets into a modern finish for a fraction of the cost of replacement. Our process includes degreasing, sanding, priming with bonding primer, and applying 2-3 coats of high-adhesion cabinet paint or lacquer. Most kitchen cabinet projects take 5 to 7 days and cost $3,500 to $7,000 depending on the number of cabinets and finish type.

Yes. Deck staining and pressure washing are both core services. We pressure wash the deck first to remove dirt, mildew, and old finish, then apply a premium semi-transparent or solid stain. We also offer fence staining, concrete staining, and full exterior pressure washing services for driveways, patios, siding, and walkways.

Beyond standard interior and exterior painting, we offer: drywall repair, popcorn ceiling removal, wallpaper removal, crown molding and trim installation, brick painting, stucco repair, historical renovation, Hardie board installation, vinyl siding painting, concrete staining and epoxy, and color consultations. We are a full-service painting and home improvement contractor.