It seems that latex paints have won over even the most finicky painters. “Though we still use oil-based paints for restoration work, latex paints are fine for interior walls and new trim,” says Toto, “as long as you don't go cheap on the paint.”
Our preferred paint brand is Sherwin Williams.
We use top of the line products and Sherwin Williams is known for the highest quality paints. The product lines we typically use are the Duration, Emerald and Super Paint lines which are exceptional for coverage, wear and durability.
Professional Painters Usually Don't Wash Walls
Washing cuts into painting time, which cuts into their income, so don't expect your hired painter to wash down your walls unless you agree to pay them more for the service. Better yet, hire a cleaner to do this work, or do the cleaning yourself before the painter arrives.
A solution of warm water and mild detergent is the best thing to wash walls with before painting and generally recommended by the major paint companies.
Stick with Warm Water or Mild Soap
Glossy paint: All-purpose cleaner or dish soap and water. White paint: Baking soda and water. Latex paint: Dish soap and water, or vegetable oil-based cleaner. Oil-based paint: White vinegar, or dish soap and water.
In general, it can take roughly 5 or 6 hours to complete a room-sized 12' by 12'. On a much larger scale, it can take less than a week or 3 to 5 days to fully paint the interior of a 12,000-square-foot home. This is not always going to be the case with every paint job that's done on the interior of a home.
The general rule is that you should use two coats of paint. However, this rule changes based on the color, quality of the paint you use, whether or not you used primer, and the type of surface you're painting.
The layperson may think they can save time or money by using just one coat of paint, or that they've chosen the thickness or sheen that will perform up to their standards – but it's quite likely they'll be disappointed with the long-term results. So, back to the first answer: always use two coats.
Professional painters usually use at least two coats of paint when adding a new color. Depending on the surface they're painting, painters may apply a primer coat before two coats of paint. Ceilings, trim, and baseboards typically get one coat of paint applying a fresh coat of the same color.
Overall, both Behr and Sherwin-Williams have upsides and downsides. In the Sherwin-Williams vs. Behr paint comparison, Sherwin-Williams generally performs better, especially in toughness, washability, and application simplicity. Sherwin-Williams is typically a better option if you're okay with the higher price.
Many professional painters combine spray painting, roller painting and brush painting depending on the exact surface being painted.
Pro painting tips will usually tell you to follow a certain order when painting a room. They paint the trim first, then the ceiling, then the walls.
Larger rooms take longer to paint, and smaller rooms take less time, naturally. The average bedroom, according to the National Home Builder Association, is about 432 square feet. For the average painter and a room this size, the whole job should take about 4-6 hours from preparation to cleanup.
Tape should be removed when it feels dry to the touch, which is ideally about an hour after painting. If it still feels gummy, leave the tape on overnight and remove it within 24 hours, when it finally feels hard and dry.
Painting a room is a relatively simple job and won't eat up your entire day. If you prepare ahead of time, you can paint a room in 4-6 hours without a professional's help. Just make sure that you take each step one at a time, so you do not have to end up redoing anything.
Generally, to paint a standard room that measures 12 x 12 feet, it takes about 6 hours for both the walls and the ceiling. That time estimate is only correct if the walls are in good condition and spackling does not need to be done first.
There are circumstances where painting in one day will happen naturally, depending on the size of your house, the size of the room you're painting and how much ventilation there is will all factor into the time it will take to paint, but you should avoid going into any DIY project with the mindset of getting it done ...
You may be able to adequately wash walls using plain warm water. If there are stains or marks, use soapy water (especially if crayon-happy children live in the house). Make a mixture of water and a small amount of mild detergent.
Wall dirt makes it difficult for paint to stick to the surface, so make sure your wall is spotless before you start painting. For stubborn stains, try baking soda, a substance used to clean everything from sinks to toilets.
The vinegar and water solution alone is great to use for washing walls before painting as well as routine wall washing in the home. *Note, if you need a little extra scrubbing action switch from the smooth side of the cloth to the scrubbing dots side.