Paint is a necessary material for any home improvement project. However, not everyone knows how much paint they will need to complete the job. So, how much paint does one sq. ft need? The answer to this question is not as easy as you may think, but it can be calculated by using a few simple steps. The amount of paint needed to cover one square foot depends on the type of surface, and where you live in the world.
The type of surface you are painting will determine the amount of paint you need. For example, a painted wall in an apartment can require up to one gallon per coat because it is made from smooth plaster and drywall with no wood panels or siding. On the other hand, a brick exterior may require four gallons for every 100 square feet that need to be covered two coats since there are many crevices as well as rough surfaces within this type of structure.
In addition, where you live plays an important role when calculating how much paint your home requires because temperatures affect evaporation rates which impact drying time. In areas such as Seattle where humidity levels tend to stay high year-round, expect longer drying periods than those who reside in cities like Denver whose low humidity levels allow the paint to dry in a matter of hours. To find out how much paint you will need for your next project, take the time to calculate one square foot by using these simple steps:
- Take the width and height measurements of your surface. Example: 1 ft x 1 ft = 1 sq. ft.
- Divide this number by 100 because one gallon covers roughly 100 square feet when painting two coats with no primer needed. This gives you 0.01 of a gallon. This implies that you will need 0.01 of a gallon to paint one square foot.
Factors that Determine the amount of Paint Required
The amount required to cover one sq. foot depends on the roughness of your surface, the type of paint you choose, and the climate where you live. Rough surfaces consume more paint than smooth ones because the paint has to fill in all of the crevices and ridges.
The type of paint you choose will be determined by what surface you’re painting. For example, wooden siding consumes more paint than peeling wallpaper in the same space so keep that in mind when determining how much is needed per square foot on your project. The quality of paint also makes a difference in how much is required to cover one sq. ft.
More expensive paints are made with higher-quality ingredients that achieve better results in fewer coats than those that contain lower-quality paint. As such, you will use fewer quantities of higher-quality paints than lower-quality paints. It is always advisable to use high-quality paints for your project because they will yield better results.
Finally, your location will play an important role when determining how much you need per square foot depending on temperature and humidity levels which impact drying time as well as evaporation rates. Humidity levels determine how quickly your paint dries which impacts drying time and evaporation rates which vary from city to city depending on weather conditions.
For example, Seattle’s high amount of humidity causes different dry times compared to Denver where low temperatures mean faster drying periods due to its low humidity levels. When determining how much paint one sq ft needs, consider all of the above before making any purchases or decisions so that you know what quantities are needed for each project at hand. Do you need help to know how much paint you require? Kindly call us today at 831-269-2837.