How Long Does It Take to Paint a Room?
Whether you're planning to paint a room so you can enjoy a beautiful new color or you're getting ready to sell, painting adds value to your home. Of almost all home improvement projects, nothing can transform a room faster or cheaper than paint. But painting a room involves more than just rolling on your favorite new color.
As you're gearing up to paint a room – between choosing just the right color and lining up a pro you can trust – you probably want to know how long the job will take. Although the question of how long does it take to paint a room seems like a straightforward question, the answer actually depends on several factors.
This article provides the information you need to gain expert insights on how long it typically takes to professionally paint a room. We also provide super helpful time-saving tips that will make the job go faster and easier.
Factors Affecting Room Painting Time
It's not surprising that the size of a room directly affects how long it will take to paint. But other factors, like the amount of prep and painter experience, also play into the timeframe. Read on to learn which factors affect the time it takes to paint a room.
Room Size and Layout
Obviously, the larger the room, the more time it will take to paint. Whether you're painting the trim the same color as the walls, an accent color, or the classic white, the larger the room the more time it will take to carefully tape and paint. The cost to paint a room will increase for larger rooms because of more prep time, additional materials, and more paint.
Preparation and Repair Work
Absolutely nothing takes the place of careful prep and repair in order to achieve a professional paint job. The final quality of the paint job will depend on how well you know how to prep a room for painting. Several factors can affect the prep and repair timeline:
The Complexity of the Room – Rooms with many built-ins, many windows and/or doors, and lots of trim require more time to tape off the non-paint areas.
Amount of Repair Work Required – The walls must be smooth, clean, and ready to accept paint. Therefore, the range of repairs that are required will affect the overall timeline. The most common repairs include:
Cracks that must be filled and sanded.
Flaking or chipped paint must be scraped and removed.
Nail holes that must be filled and sanded.
Drywall or plaster damage must be patched and sanded.
Mold and mildew must be cleaned and spot-primed with a specific primer to prevent growth.
Move Furniture and Remove Wall Accessories
Artwork, mirrors, and wall shelving.
Draperies, brackets, and hardware.
Nails and screws.
Move everything to the middle of the room and cover.
Type of Paint
No matter what type of paint you use, make sure it's high-quality. Better paints result in better paint jobs. For example, you may want to use acrylic latex paint on your walls but a waterborne alkyd on the trim. Check out Sherwin Williams Duration Home and Sherwin Williams Emerald Trim Urethane respectively. Also, be aware that various paints will have different drying times so be sure to check on the label.
Your Level of Experience
It will take a beginner painter longer to complete all of the steps. If you're unsure about your skill, a pro painter can finish the job fast and efficiently.
Steps for Efficient Room Painting
Paint like a pro and stick to the following steps when painting your room.
Choose the Right Tools and Materials
Select the right tools and materials for a professional job. Painting will go faster if you organize everything for easy access. A 14" to 18" roller can make the job go a lot faster. The wrong materials will result in an amateurish job.
Preparing the Room
You're anxious to start and may be tempted to break open the paint can. But wait! Follow these steps for a professional paint job:
Remove all art, mirrors, draperies, wall shelving, sconces, nails, screws, hardware, etc from the walls.
Move all of your furniture to the middle of the room and cover all your belongings so they won't get splattered with paint.
Fill the holes with a spackle. Let dry, and sand smooth.
Clean the walls so they're free of dust.
Tape off all non-paint areas. Nothing says amateur like paint slopped over trim.
Paint
Follow a painting order to make the job more efficient. The saying goes that “there's more than one way to skin a cat” most definitely applies to painting. Whether you start with walls, ceiling, or trim make sure you take your time, allow appropriate dry time between coats, and clean up thoroughly after each stage.
Final Cleanup and Drying Time
Pull up drop cloths and remove painter's tape. Clean brushes, rollers, and paint trays. Seal and store paint cans.
Be sure the paint has dried and cured according to the manufacturer's directions before moving your furniture back into place and rehanging art.
Ready for a Fresh Start? Request Your Quote from Singletrack Painting Now!
How Long Does It Take to Paint a Room?
Let's take a look at painting timelines for various rooms in your home:
Bedroom
It can take from 1 to 2 hours to prep a 12' x 10' bedroom and 1 to 2 hours per coat to paint the walls. Trim can take from ½ to 1 hour per coat and clean up will take from ½ hour to 1 hour for a total of 5 to 8 hours.
Living Room
Plan on 6 to 10 hours or more to paint a living room. Living rooms are typically the largest rooms in the house so will require more time to prep and paint. Also, this room can take more time because it often will have more irregular spaces to paint than other rooms.
Bathroom
A bathroom can be complex to paint because the room is often damp and the paint will take longer to dry. You may need to wait a full day before applying a second coat. Plan on 4 to 5 hours to prep and paint the first coat.
Room Painting Project: Time-Saving Tips
Proper Planning
You'll save time by choosing the right materials. Then organize them so they're handy and follow our efficient room painting steps outlined above. Careful planning will save you oodles of time in the long run.
Use a Primer
Unfinished drywall, masonry, cabinetry, and porous surfaces should be primed first. But if your walls are clean, dry, and have been painted before, you may get by with two coats of paint instead of primer. Read more about primer and self-priming paints here.
Hire a Professional Painter
While painting a room is a very doable DIY project, hiring a painter will save time, stress, and frustration. Instead of having to go out and gather all the materials and supplies, then prep, paint, and clean up on your own, a pro will do all that for you in a matter of 3 to 6 hours. And the end result will be gorgeous!
Work with Singletrack Painting for Your Room Painting Needs
For an efficient professional paint job, contact Singletrack Painting. From a powder room to a big family kitchen, we can quickly paint any room in your home. Singletrack takes pride in providing the highest quality workmanship and excellent customer service. If you have questions about painting a room in your house, we're here to assist with expert advice. Request a quote today!
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