Painting the interior of your house is one of the best ways to give your place a facelift. A new coat of color can bring a fresh, unique design to a boring room.
However, while you may be interested in painting, you may be asking yourself, “how long does it take to paint a room?”
If so, you have come to the right place. This guide will explain the aspects involved in painting a room. With this in mind, you can calculate how long it will take.
How Long Does It Take to Paint a Room?
The two phases are planning and painting. Both phases are a process. Spend some time thinking them through before you dive into the job. A thorough planning phase will lead to a smooth painting phase. This is how to maximize your time.
Planning
In this phase of painting a room, you will clear the room, measure, and acquire supplies.
The first thing is to pull everything out of the room that you don’t want to get paint on. Some larger items such as a desk or dresser can stay if you pull it away from the wall and cover it.
Once you have access to the walls in the room, it’s time to take the square footage. Naturally, the larger the room, the more time and paint it will require. A general rule is one gallon of paint will cover 400 sqft.
With that in mind, it’s time for a trip to the hardware store. Below is a basic list of supplies you will need.
- Brush
- Roller with extension
- Paint tray
- Paint
- Drop cloth
- Painters tape
Getting enough of the right supplies, the first time will lead to a productive job. Nothing bogs down painting time like multiple runs to the store.
Painting
With the planning phase complete, it’s time for the fun part.
Lay the drop cloths over the floor and any furniture still in the room. If the ceiling is not getting a coat of paint, tape off the trim. The straighter the tape line, the better it will look.
Shake the paint and pour it into the tray. Use the brush to paint the corners and the trim. This process is called “cutting in.” A carefully cut trim will save you a lot of time rolling.
Now that the corners have a coat, you can use the roller to cover the rest of the surface area. Roll broad strokes in a W pattern. Using ample paint will limit the number of coats needed.
This is the most efficient way to paint a room. Cutting then rolling will save time. The time to paint should be around an hour per 400 sqft.
Time Is Money
Consider the process above. Does this sound like the type of undertaking you have time for? Perhaps you are considering painting the entire house.
If it sounds a bit daunting, there are residential painting companies that will handle the task. Many of these companies will even offer free estimates. Now, you can determine if it is worth the cost before making a decision.
It all depends on what you think you think your time is worth.
Upgrade Your Home With New Paint
How long does it take to paint a room? Well, the safe bet is 1-3 hours. Use this guide to determine the factors involved. Your supplies, experience, and square footage all play a part in calculating the scope of the project. Good luck and have fun.
If you found this article useful, stick around the blog for more how-to home improvement tips.
