Exterior House Painting Cost — North Shore MA (2026 Guide)
Complete guide to exterior painting costs across the North Shore of Massachusetts. Includes pricing for Lynn, Salem, Beverly, Gloucester, Newburyport, Marblehead and more — plus a live calculator.
Exterior House Painting Cost — North Shore Massachusetts
Exterior painting on the North Shore is its own animal. Between the ocean air, freeze-thaw cycles, old housing stock, and the variety of home styles from Gloucester to Marblehead to Newburyport — prices and expectations vary a lot. This guide breaks it all down.
We're Amparo Painting, based in Lynn. We've done exteriors across every town from Hampton NH down through the North Shore. Here's what you can actually expect to pay.
Exterior Painting Prices by Town (2026)
Prices vary by town because of differences in cost of living, parking and access logistics, and the average home size and age. Here's a comparison for a typical 2-story single-family home:
| Town | Small Home | Large Home |
|---|---|---|
| Lynn | $3,000 – $5,400 | $5,400 – $9,600 |
| Peabody / Danvers | $3,150 – $5,670 | $5,670 – $10,080 |
| Salem / Beverly | $3,300 – $5,940 | $5,940 – $10,560 |
| Swampscott | $3,450 – $6,210 | $6,210 – $11,040 |
| Gloucester / Rockport | $3,300 – $5,940 | $5,940 – $10,560 |
| Newburyport | $3,600 – $6,480 | $6,480 – $11,520 |
| Marblehead | $3,750 – $6,750 | $6,750 – $12,000 |
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | $3,750 – $6,750 | $6,750 – $12,000 |
What's Included in an Exterior Job
A proper North Shore exterior painting job includes all of this — not just rolling paint on the walls:
- Full surface prep — Power washing, hand scraping loose paint, sanding rough areas
- Caulking — Sealing around windows, doors, trim, and any gaps where water can get in
- Priming — Bare wood, repaired spots, and peeling areas all need primer before paint
- Painting — Body, trim, sashes, shutters, doors — all of it
- Cleanup — Drop cloths, debris, overspray
The prep is what separates a job that lasts 10 years from one that peels in 2. We do not skip it.
What Drives Exterior Painting Costs Up
1. Surface condition If the existing paint is peeling, cracking, or chalking significantly, the prep work takes much longer. Poor condition can add $500–$2,000+ to an exterior job.
2. Number of coats We typically apply 2 coats. Bare wood, major color changes, or severely faded surfaces often need 3 — that adds materials and time.
3. Stories and access A 1-story ranch is straightforward. A 2-story or 3-story home requires ladders, possibly scaffolding or a lift. Access difficulty drives cost.
4. Trim complexity Capes and ranches with simple trim paint faster. Victorian homes, colonials with elaborate cornices, homes with shutters and decorative details — these take significantly more time.
5. Lead paint Homes built before 1978 (the majority of the North Shore housing stock) likely have lead-based paint. Massachusetts law requires lead-safe work practices during any disturbance of lead paint. This adds cost, but it's not optional — and it protects you and your family.
6. Paint quality For exterior work in coastal Massachusetts, we strongly recommend premium or best-grade paint. The additional cost ($30–$60 more per gallon) easily pays back over the life of the job in added durability.
The Ocean Factor
If your home is within a mile of the ocean — and a lot of North Shore homes are — you're dealing with:
- Salt air that accelerates paint breakdown
- Higher moisture levels that promote mildew and peeling
- More frequent repainting (every 5–7 years vs. 8–12 years inland)
We factor this in and recommend appropriate paint products (mildew-resistant, alkyd primers on bare wood, etc.) when the location calls for it.
Live Calculator — Enter Your Town
Use the calculator below to estimate your exterior painting cost. Select Exterior (small) or Exterior (large) and choose your town from the dropdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to paint an exterior on the North Shore? May through September, ideally when temperatures are above 50°F and humidity is manageable. We don't paint in rain or in extreme heat (above 90°F). Most years, June–August is the sweet spot.
How long does an exterior take? A typical single-family home takes 2–5 days depending on size and prep. We always give a timeline with the estimate.
Do you power wash before painting? Yes, always. It's part of the prep — you can't paint over dirt and chalk effectively.
What if I have rotted wood? We'll identify rot during the walk-through. Minor rot can be treated with epoxy filler. Significant rot usually requires a carpenter to replace boards before we can paint. We'll tell you straight what we find.
Can you paint just the trim? Yes. Trim-only and door/window surround jobs are something we do. The cost is lower, and it can freshen up a home significantly.
What do you need painted?
Select your rooms, then adjust the options below for a precise range.
👆 Select at least one room to see your estimate
Want a real number?
The calculator gives you a ballpark. A 15-minute walk-through gives you the exact price — free, no pressure.
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