House painting questions and answers for Pennsylvania homeowners
Updated · KeystoneProGuide editorial team
How much does it cost to paint a house?
Angi reports national averages of $2,022 for a whole interior and $3,178 for a whole exterior, with typical ranges of $965 to $3,089 and $1,819 to $4,551. Other surveys run higher. The cost guide sets the surveys side by side.
Does a painter need a license in Pennsylvania?
There is no state painting license. Painting is, though, named in the state's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, so a painter who does $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must register with the Attorney General. In older homes, federal lead certification also applies. What Pennsylvania requires explains both.
How do I check a painter?
Look up the registration number with the Attorney General, ask for proof of insurance, and for a pre-1978 house ask to see the firm's EPA lead-safe certification and the renovator's course certificate. How to choose a painter gives the checks in order.
Does my house have lead paint?
If it was built before 1978, it may. The Pennsylvania Department of Health says homes built before 1950 are more likely to have it, and that the only way to know for sure is to hire a Pennsylvania-certified inspector.
Is lead paint dangerous if I leave it alone?
The EPA says lead paint in good condition is generally not a hazard. Peeling, chipping, chalking or cracking paint is different: the EPA says a deteriorating surface may need immediate attention from a certified lead professional.
Will painting over lead paint fix it?
No. The EPA says just painting over lead paint hazards with regular paint will not permanently address them. Permanent methods, such as removing, sealing or enclosing the paint with special materials, count as abatement, which is a separate certified trade.
Does the lead rule apply to every job in an old house?
Not every one. The EPA's rule does not cover minor work that disturbs six square feet or less of paint per room inside, or 20 square feet or less outside. It also does not usually apply when you work on your own home. It does cover painting preparation done for pay above those sizes.
Do I need a permit to paint?
Usually not. Pennsylvania's building code regulation says an ordinary repair needs no permit. Philadelphia says painting and papering often need no building permit unless the property is on the city's historic register; for registered properties, painting masonry needs Historical Commission review.
How much of a deposit can a painter ask for?
Nothing before the contract is signed. On a contract of more than $5,000, the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act caps the deposit at one-third of the price, or one-third plus the cost of special order materials named in the contract.
Can I cancel a painting contract?
Yes, within three business days of signing, without penalty. The Attorney General reports that the state Supreme Court has ruled a cancellation counts by any means, including a phone call, once the contractor actually knows of it.
Are paint fumes harmful?
Paint contains organic solvents that give off gases called volatile organic compounds. The EPA says some of them may have short- and long-term health effects, and also that not much is known about effects at the levels usually found in homes. Its advice is to increase ventilation and follow the label.
Can I still buy a methylene chloride paint stripper?
Not as a consumer. The EPA banned the sale of methylene chloride paint and coating removers for consumer use after November 22, 2019, because of deaths linked to it, and it asks anyone who still has some to stop using it.
Can I paint over mold?
No. The EPA says not to paint or caulk moldy surfaces: clean up the mold and dry the surface first, because paint applied over mold is likely to peel. Fix the water problem too, or the mold will most likely come back.
What do I do with leftover paint?
Take it to a household hazardous waste collection if you can. The Department of Environmental Protection says that if there is no program, or you cannot wait for the next one, you may put it in the trash once water-based paint has been allowed to evaporate, or non-water-based paint absorbed in something like cat litter or sawdust, so no liquid remains. Package it against leaks and put it out a little at a time.
How often should a house be repainted?
The government and extension sources behind these guides give no fixed schedule. NC State Extension's maintenance checklist says to check painted surfaces for paint failure, meaning peeling, chipping, blistering or chalking, and for water damage or mildew. Those signs, rather than a date, are the cue.
Where do I find a painter?
Painters who serve the five counties are listed on the painters directory page.
Sources
- How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Interior of a House? [2026 Data], Angi
- How Much Does It Cost to Paint the Exterior of a House? [2026 Data], Angi
- 2008 Act 132 (Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act), Pennsylvania General Assembly
- Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Lead Abatement, Inspection and Risk Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Lead Poisoning Frequently Asked Questions, Pennsylvania Department of Health
- Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Household Hazardous Waste, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Final Rule on Regulation of Methylene Chloride in Paint and Coating Removal for Consumer Use, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Get a Building Permit, City of Philadelphia
- Preventative Home Maintenance, NC State Extension