Preparation is the work
We move and cover furniture, mask floors, remove switch plates and pull or mask hardware. Nail pops get reset and screwed, which is a constant in houses with roof trusses as the seasons change. Dents and settlement cracks are filled, sanded and spot-primed so they do not flash through the finish. Gaps between trim and wall are caulked. Glossy or oil-painted trim is sanded and primed with a bonding primer so the new coat stays put. Only then do we paint, two coats, cut in by hand.
Choosing sheen and product
Flat hides wall flaws and suits ceilings and formal rooms. Matte or eggshell is the right answer for most living areas since it wipes clean without shining. Satin belongs in baths, kitchens and kids' rooms. Semi-gloss or a urethane-modified enamel goes on trim and doors because it cures hard. We use the upper product lines from the major manufacturers. The added material cost on a whole house is small, and coverage and durability are clearly better.
Tall spaces, trim and cabinets
Two-story foyers and great rooms need scaffolding or tall ladders with stabilizers, and the patience to cut a straight ceiling line eighteen feet up. Painting stained oak trim white is a multi-step process of cleaning, sanding, bonding primer, grain filling if wanted, and two enamel coats. Cabinet painting is its own specialty: doors and drawer fronts come off, get degreased, sanded, primed and sprayed for a factory-smooth finish, and need about two weeks to cure fully.
How the work runs
- Walk and specifyRoom-by-room scope with surfaces, colors, sheens and repairs listed.
- Protect and prepareCover, mask, patch, sand, caulk and prime.
- PaintCeilings, then walls, then trim and doors, two coats.
- Reassemble and walkPlates and hardware back on, furniture returned, touch-up walk with you.
What moves the price
We do not publish square-foot prices, because they mislead more than they help. These are the factors that actually change the number on a proposal.
- Amount of drywall repair and preparation.
- Ceiling heights and stairwells needing scaffold.
- Whether trim, doors and ceilings are included.
- Number of colors and any dark-to-light changes requiring extra coats.
From our recent projects
Photographs from jobs we have built. Each one opens to the full project, including the framing and rough-in stages when we have them.
How long it takes
A few rooms take two to three days. A full interior takes one to two weeks. Cabinets add about a week plus cure time.
Permits
None required. See our guide to which projects need a permit.
Interior Painting questions
Do I have to move everything out?
No. We shift furniture to the middle of each room and cover it. We ask that you clear small items, wall hangings and breakables.
Can you paint my oak trim and doors white?
Yes. With proper sanding and bonding primer it holds up well. Expect some grain texture to show unless we grain-fill, which adds labor.
Which paint do you use?
Premium lines from the major brands, chosen for the surface. If you have a preferred brand, we will use it.