Height changes everything
A two-storey house is not simply twice the work of a single-storey one. The upper walls take longer to reach, longer to prepare and longer to paint, because every action at height is slower and safer done carefully. Gables, dormers, high soffits and the tall walls above a garage or a sloping yard add to it. This guide explains what drives the cost of repainting a two-storey exterior in Bozeman, Montana, without quoting any prices.
A county note
Gallatin County's history says the county is named for Albert Gallatin, President Madison's Secretary of the Treasury, and that the Lewis and Clark party left the first written description of the Gallatin Valley in 1805 and 1806. It's printed as the county words it, as background, and says nothing about any house.
Access: ladders, lifts and scaffolding
How the crew reaches the upper walls is often the first thing that separates bids.
- Extension ladders are the usual tool. They need firm, level ground and frequent moves along each wall, which costs time.
- Ladder stabilizers and standoffs keep ladders off gutters and siding and steady at height.
- Roof work is needed where a lower roof sits below upper walls; crews may need harnesses and roof brackets.
- Lifts can speed up big, flat walls on accessible ground, but they need clear, firm access and may need rental.
- Scaffolding suits long, complex walls or heavy prep work, with setup and teardown time.
Slopes, decks, landscaping and fences under the walls all affect which option works. Ask how the painter will reach each high wall.
Preparation at height
The same steps that happen on the ground happen up high, more slowly:
- washing, including upper walls and soffits, often with an extension wand;
- scraping loose paint and sanding edges;
- caulking gaps at trim, windows and corners;
- spot-priming bare wood and repairs;
- replacing rotten trim or siding boards, which may need a carpenter's time on the ladder.
Ask the estimator to look at the upper walls closely, with binoculars if needed. Peeling that's hard to see from the ground is a common source of added cost later.
Soffits, fascia and eaves
On a two-storey house, the eaves are the highest and most awkward part. Soffits are painted overhead, often around vents, and fascia boards behind gutters may need repairs. Some painters price soffits and fascia separately. Make sure the bid says whether they're included, and whether gutters are painted or only cleaned around.
Coats, products and color
Siding, trim, doors and shutters often get different products and sheens. A color change can add a coat. Ask for the product, sheen and coat count for each surface, so you can compare bids honestly. Our exterior painting page explains the process, and the sheens guide covers finish choices.
Older paint at height
Under EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, anyone paid to disturb paint in a home built before 1978 must hold RRP certification, firms included, and their workers must be trained in lead-safe practices. EPA runs the program in states it has not authorized; Montana is not among the states on the list printed here that run their own EPA-authorized programs.
On a tall house, containment takes more effort. Ground covers have to extend further out from the wall, chips falling from upper walls travel further, and scaffolding may need sheeting. Ask how the proposal handles this and whether the firm can show the RRP certification the rule describes.
Weather and scheduling
Exterior paint needs dry surfaces and temperatures within the product's label range for drying and curing. A larger, taller house takes more days, so the schedule is more exposed to weather. Ask how the painter handles rain or cold days, which side they'll paint first, and whether you'll be charged for delays. Read the product label limits with them.
Protecting what's below
Plants, decks, roofs, cars and walkways below high walls need covering against drips and debris. Windows may need masking if spraying. Ask what's covered and how.
Comparing two-storey bids
- How each high wall is reached, and whether lifts or scaffolding are included.
- The preparation on upper walls and soffits.
- Repairs expected, and how extra repairs are priced.
- Products, sheens and coats for each surface.
- Containment and cleanup on a house built before 1978.
- How weather delays are handled.
See the pricing guide for the full list of cost drivers.