Interior Painting in Atlanta, GA

What this job actually involves

Most of an interior paint job is prep. Holes get filled, caulk gets cut out and redone, glossy trim gets scuffed so paint will grip it. The painting itself goes fast once the walls are ready.

How the work runs

1. 1 Walk the rooms and protect everything We look at every wall in daylight and again with a work light held low, which shows dents and bad patches. Floors get rosin paper or canvas drop cloths. Furniture is moved to the center and covered, and outlets and switch plates come off.
2. 2 Repair the surfaces Nail holes and dings are filled, larger damage gets patched with setting compound, and cracked caulk at trim and tub lines is cut out. Humid summers open up joints in Georgia houses, so hairline gaps at crown and baseboards are common. Each patch is sanded flush.
3. 3 Clean, spot-prime and scuff Kitchen walls get degreased and bathroom walls get washed for mildew. Stains, patches and bare drywall are spot-primed so they do not flash through the finish coat. Previously glossy trim and doors are sanded or deglossed.
4. 4 Cut in and roll the ceilings first Ceilings go first so drips land on walls that are about to be painted anyway. Edges are brushed, then the field is rolled. Walls follow the same way, with a wet edge kept so the finish does not show lap marks.
5. 5 Trim, doors and second coats Trim is painted after walls and given time to dry between coats. Most walls need two finish coats, and the second goes on only after the first has dried per the label. In a humid house that can mean waiting longer than the can says.
6. 6 Touch-up, cleanup and walkthrough Tape comes off while the paint is still slightly soft so the edge stays clean. We look over each room in good light, touch up anything missed, put the furniture back and remove all debris. You walk the job with the crew lead before it is closed out.

What moves the price

• Square footage of wall and ceiling surface, not the floor area of the house. High ceilings and open stairwells add scaffold or ladder time.
• Condition of the walls. Heavy patching, old wallpaper residue or texture matching takes more labor than repainting sound drywall.
• Whether trim, doors, baseboards and crown are included. Detailed trim is slower than wall rolling.
• Color change. Going from dark to light usually needs a primer coat on top of the two finish coats.
• How much furniture needs to be moved, and whether rooms are empty or lived in.
• Paint line chosen. Premium scrubbable finishes cost more per gallon but often cover better.

What does this actually cost? Real metro-Atlanta price ranges and what moves them — no email required. →

Materials

We use quality interior latex or acrylic paint, with a stain-blocking primer on repairs and stained spots, because primer is what stops patches and water marks from showing through the finish. Kitchens, baths and hallways get a more washable sheen than bedrooms.

Questions we get asked

How long does it take to paint the inside of a house?

A single room is often one to two days including prep. A whole house depends on its size and the repairs needed, but plan on days to a week or more rather than a single afternoon. We give you a schedule once we have seen the rooms.

Do I have to move out while you paint?

No. Most people stay. We work room by room and keep the rest of the house usable. Low-VOC paints cut the smell, and opening windows helps in mild weather. If anyone in the house is sensitive to odor, tell us up front and we will plan the order of rooms around that.

Should I move my own furniture?

Small items and anything breakable, yes. Take things off walls and shelves. We handle heavy furniture and cover it. Clearing the room ahead of time shortens the job.

How soon can I hang pictures or put furniture back?

Paint is dry to the touch in hours but takes days to cure. In Georgia humidity it is slower. We suggest waiting a few days before hanging frames or pushing furniture against walls, and about two weeks before washing the walls.

Do you paint ceilings, trim and doors too?

Yes. Say what you want included when we quote, because trim and doors take real time and are priced separately from walls.