Dunn Edwards Evershield price typically runs about $55-$85 per gallon, with five-gallon pails often costing $250-$400 before tax. A professional exterior repaint using this premium paint can total $4,000-$12,000 or more, depending on home size, surface condition, number of coats, labor rates, and access.
Paint-only pricing is much lower than the full project price. The estimates below assume standard colors and ordinary access; local dealer pricing and contractor discounts can change the quote.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evershield paint, per gallon | $55 | $70 | $85 | Retail estimate; finish and color may affect price |
| Five-gallon pail | $250 | $325 | $400 | Usually more economical per gallon |
| Paint for a 1,500-sq-ft exterior | $700 | $1,050 | $1,500 | Approx. 10-18 gallons, excluding primer and waste |
| Professional exterior repaint | $4,000 | $7,500 | $12,000 | Labor, prep, and paint; scope varies widely |
What Evershield Costs Per Gallon and Per House
Dunn-Edwards Evershield is an exterior paint line, and its price depends on the selected finish, color, container size, and dealer. A practical planning range is $55-$85 per gallon or $250-$400 for five gallons. Some locations or specialty colors may fall outside that range, so a current local quote is more reliable than a national list price.
For a typical 1,500-square-foot home exterior, paint alone may cost about $700-$1,500. That estimate assumes roughly 10-18 gallons for two coats, with actual usage determined by wall area, texture, porosity, color change, and product coverage. A contractor’s complete repaint quote commonly lands around $4,000-$12,000, including preparation and labor.
Assumptions: standard colors, two finish coats where needed, ordinary access, and typical U.S. retail pricing; primer and extensive repairs may be additional.
For budgeting, separate the paint purchase from the labor-intensive exterior project. A small, sound single-story home can cost considerably less than a large multistory house with peeling paint, detailed trim, or difficult access.
How Paint, Labor, and Surface Prep Shape an Evershield Quote
Paint is only one part of a contractor’s price. A complete estimate may include washing, scraping, sanding, caulking, spot priming, masking, finish coats, cleanup, and disposal. Ask whether the quote specifies Evershield by product name and lists the number of coats; “premium exterior paint” alone does not confirm the product.
| Quote component | Typical price range | How it is priced | What can raise it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evershield paint | $55-$85 per gallon | Gallons or five-gallon pails | Special colors, extra coats, textured siding |
| Washing and masking | $300-$900 | Per project | Heavy dirt, landscaping, many windows |
| Scraping, sanding, and caulking | $500-$2,000 | Per project or labor hours | Peeling coatings, failing joints, damaged wood |
| Painting labor | $2-$5 per exterior sq ft | Paintable surface area | Height, trim details, steep terrain |
| Primer and minor repairs | $200-$1,200 | Materials and task allowance | Bare substrate, stains, patching needs |
Labor rates are often estimated as part of a project bid rather than a visible hourly charge. For comparison, painter labor may equate to about $40-$75 per worker-hour, but productivity and local overhead vary.
Preparation can cost as much as or more than the finish paint when existing coatings are failing. The estimate should identify which surfaces get scraped, primed, caulked, or repaired rather than grouping all preparation into an unexplained allowance.
Why Wall Area, Coats, and Surface Condition Change Gallon Count
Exterior square footage is not the same as the home’s interior floor area. A 1,500-square-foot one-story home may have around 1,500-2,000 square feet of paintable wall area, while a two-story home with the same floor area can have more wall surface and harder-to-reach elevations. Garages, gables, porches, and trim also affect quantities and labor.
Coverage varies by substrate and application, but a planning range of 250-400 square feet per gallon per coat is common for exterior paint. Rough stucco, porous masonry, and weathered wood may cover less; smooth, previously painted siding may cover more. Two coats roughly double the quantity compared with one, although color, condition, and manufacturer instructions determine the appropriate system.
A major color change can require an additional coat or primer, adding roughly $55-$85 per gallon for paint plus application labor. Dark colors, intense pigments, and certain custom colors may have different pricing or coverage. A test patch can reveal whether the existing color will show through before the contractor calculates the final order.
Get the contractor to estimate gallons from measured paintable area and stated coverage, not floor area alone. A reasonable quote should explain whether the takeoff includes trim, fascia, shutters, doors, and waste allowance.
Three Exterior Repaint Quotes With Different Scopes
The examples below illustrate how paint quantity and preparation change the total. They are not fixed local quotes; regional labor rates, access, siding type, and repair needs can shift the price. Paint-only amounts assume Evershield at approximately $55-$85 per gallon, with primer or specialty materials listed separately where applicable.
| Project | Paint and scope | Labor estimate | Illustrative total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small single-story ranch | 1,200 sq ft paintable area; 10 gallons; washing and minor caulking | 45-65 hours at $40-$65 | $2,800-$5,500 |
| Average two-story home | 2,000 sq ft paintable area; 15-20 gallons; scraping and spot priming | 75-110 hours at $45-$70 | $5,500-$9,500 |
| Large stucco house | 3,000 sq ft paintable area; 25-35 gallons; extensive masking and repairs | 120-180 hours at $50-$75 | $9,000-$16,000 |
For the small home, paint could represent roughly $550-$850 of the total before primer. In the larger examples, more gallons are needed, but labor, setup, surface repairs, and elevated work generally account for a larger share of the bill.
Assumptions: contractor supplies materials, applies two finish coats where specified, and has normal site access; structural repairs and extensive lead-safe work are excluded.
Compare the work descriptions alongside the totals. A lower bid may exclude shutters, trim, damaged siding, or a second coat rather than offer the same scope at a better rate.
How California and Other Regions Affect Evershield Pricing
Dunn-Edwards has a strong presence in the western United States, particularly California and nearby markets. Dealer availability can make product pickup convenient in those areas, but local retail prices are not uniform. In high-cost coastal or metro markets, painter labor and insurance expenses can push a complete repaint 10%-25% above a comparable project in a lower-cost inland or rural market.
In other regions, the paint may need to be special-ordered, and freight or limited local availability can affect the material quote. Delivery charges might add $50-$200 for a small order or more for a larger delivery, depending on distance and supplier. Ask whether the contractor’s material price includes sales tax, delivery, and unused-paint handling.
Weather and climate also influence timing and preparation. Hot, dry conditions, coastal exposure, intense sun, or freeze-thaw cycles can affect scheduling and surface condition. These conditions do not automatically change the paint’s shelf price, but they can change the amount of prep, the suitable application window, and how quickly a crew can complete the job.
Use local labor comparisons rather than applying one national project average to every market. For a meaningful comparison, request quotes from contractors working in the same area and on similar home styles.
When Prep, Trim, and Paint Removal Add Charges
Contractors may price ordinary washing and light masking as part of the base bid, while extensive scraping, sanding, caulking, or patching appears as a separate charge. Significant peeling can add $500-$2,000 or more, and rotted trim or siding replacement is usually priced separately. Ask whether repairs are included, capped at an allowance, or billed after approval.
Trim can add complexity even when it uses relatively little paint. Fascia, soffits, railings, shutters, window frames, and doors require extra masking and careful brushwork. A trim-heavy home may add $500-$2,500 or more, depending on the number of details, condition, and whether a contrasting color requires additional coats.
Paint removal is not always necessary before repainting. If existing paint is sound, cleaning and light abrasion may be sufficient. If it is peeling or failing, scraping and spot priming may be required. Homes built before 1978 may require lead-safe practices if old paint is disturbed; those requirements can increase labor and disposal charges.
Ask the estimator to distinguish routine prep from repairs and regulated paint removal. That distinction prevents an apparently low base price from expanding after work begins.
How Long Crews Need to Paint an Evershield Exterior
A two- or three-person crew may complete a straightforward small home in about 3-5 working days, including basic preparation and painting. An average two-story exterior may take 5-8 days, while a large or repair-heavy home can take 1-2 weeks. Rain, humidity, temperature, drying time, and access constraints can lengthen the schedule.
Labor is affected by ladders, scaffolding, steep ground, overhead utility lines, dense landscaping, and the amount of trim detail. A simple single-story lap-siding house is usually faster to coat than a multistory stucco home with deep textures and many windows, even if the measured wall areas are similar.
Some contractors schedule exterior work during their busiest dry-weather months. Rush requests or short-notice scheduling may carry a premium, but timing is not always the main price driver; extensive prep and difficult access are often more important. The crew should also follow product instructions for weather conditions and drying between coats.
Request a written schedule that separates preparation, application, and weather delays. A stated crew size and estimated workdays help explain labor allowances and make bids easier to compare.
Ways to Lower the Evershield Bill Without Cutting Coverage
Control the scope before changing paint quality. Include only surfaces that need coating, and identify whether trim, garage doors, fences, and detached structures are part of the job. Bundling these areas with the main repaint may reduce mobilization costs, but it can also raise the total, so ask for separate line-item prices.
Complete practical site preparation when it is safe and agreed upon: move patio furniture, trim plants away from walls, and provide clear access to gates and water. Do not scrape old coatings or handle suspected lead paint without appropriate precautions. Confirm that contractor instructions allow any homeowner preparation to count toward the quote.
Choose a standard color and avoid unnecessary specialty upgrades. Buying five-gallon pails can lower material cost per gallon, but the contractor should calculate the quantity to avoid excessive leftovers. Do not reduce the number of coats solely to hit a budget; ask whether better washing, spot priming, or targeted repairs can address the issue at lower cost.
Obtain at least three written bids using the same scope, product, coat count, and repair assumptions. Verify whether Evershield is included, what finish is specified, and whether taxes, disposal, and cleanup are covered. The most useful savings usually come from removing unnecessary scope and comparing equivalent bids, not accepting less preparation or coverage.