The Short Version
A paint job is mostly preparation. The order is always the same: write the scope, protect what stays, clean, repair, caulk, prime, then two finish coats and a walkthrough. Each step exists because skipping it is a common reason paint fails.
1. Walkthrough and Written Scope
An estimator walks every room or every side of the house, probes trim for soft wood, checks for chalking and peeling, and asks when the house was built. The written scope lists surfaces, the condition of each, prep steps, repairs, primer, products, colors, sheen and number of coats.
2. Protection
Inside: furniture moved to the center and covered, floors protected, switch plates and fixtures removed and bagged. Outside: plants wetted and covered, walkways and cars protected, windows checked closed. On homes built before 1978, plastic containment goes down wherever paint will be disturbed.
3. Washing and Drying
Exteriors are soft washed with a cleaner and mildewcide to remove dirt, pollen, mildew and red clay, then left to dry, usually 24 to 48 hours. Interior walls in kitchens and baths are wiped down where grease or soap film would stop paint from bonding.
4. Repairs
Rotted wood is cut out and replaced, swollen siding bottoms sealed or replaced, nail pops reset with screws, cracks taped, and holes patched and textured. Repairs happen before caulk and primer so the whole surface is sound.
5. Scraping, Sanding and Caulk
Loose paint is scraped and edges feathered with sandpaper. Glossy trim is scuff-sanded so new paint grips. Failed caulk is cut out, and joints at windows, doors, corners and trim are sealed with a paintable sealant. On pre-1978 homes this follows lead-safe work practices: misting, no open-flame burning, HEPA vacuums and cleanup.
6. Primer
Primer goes on bare wood, repairs, patches, stains, chalky surfaces and glossy or oil-based paint. A stain-blocking primer covers water marks and smoke; a bonding primer goes over old oil enamel and chalk. Sound painted surfaces in a similar color usually skip primer.
7. Two Finish Coats
Inside: ceilings, then walls, then trim and doors. Outside: body, then trim, then doors and shutters. Each coat is applied within the temperature, humidity and recoat times on the label; humid days slow drying, so second coats wait.
8. Walkthrough and Touch-Up
We walk the job with you in daylight, mark anything you see with tape, and fix it before we leave. Furniture is reset, debris removed, and leftover paint labeled by room or surface.
After the Job: Cure Time and Care
Latex paint is dry to the touch in hours but takes weeks to cure fully. Wait about two weeks before scrubbing walls, and longer for cabinet enamels. Outside, avoid hosing new paint for a few weeks. Keep the labeled leftover paint for touch-ups.
How Long a Paint Job Takes
| Job | Typical time | What adds time |
|---|---|---|
| One room | 1 day | Many repairs, dark-to-light color change |
| Full interior | 3-7 days | Tall ceilings, trim and doors, drywall work |
| Kitchen cabinets | 5-7 days | Grain filling, cure time, humidity |
| Two-story exterior | 3-6 days | Rain, wood repair, lead-safe prep |
| Deck staining | 2-3 days | Drying after cleaning, stripping |
What Changes in Older Matthews-Area Homes
Homes built before 1978 get lead-safe setup wherever paint is disturbed. Homes from the 1980s and 1990s, which are a big share of Matthews, often need trim and hardboard siding repairs and a bonding primer over old oil-based trim inside.
Do You Have to Leave the House?
No. Interior work goes room by room, and exterior work needs only that windows stay closed on the side being painted. Water-based paints have a mild smell that fades with ventilation; ask about low-VOC products for bedrooms and nurseries.
What to Ask Before Work Starts
- What condition is each surface in, and what prep does it get?
- Which boards or patches will be repaired, and is that priced?
- Where does primer go, and what products and coats are used?
- Is the house built before 1978, and is the firm lead-safe certified?
- What is the schedule, and what happens on rain days?
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the steps in painting a house?
Write the scope, protect, wash and dry, repair, scrape and caulk, prime, apply two finish coats, then walk through and touch up.
Do you always need primer?
No. Primer goes on bare wood, repairs, stains, chalky or glossy surfaces and big color changes. Sound paint in a similar color usually just needs two finish coats.
How long should paint dry between coats?
Follow the label. Many latex paints can be recoated in a few hours in good conditions, but humidity and cool temperatures stretch that.
Why wash a house before painting?
Paint does not bond to dirt, pollen, mildew or chalk. Washing is the first step of any exterior job.
Can you paint when it is humid?
Within the label limits, yes, but drying slows. We start early, avoid painting surfaces that will get dew before the paint sets, and wait longer between coats.
What happens if it rains during an exterior job?
We stop before rain and resume when surfaces are dry. Fresh paint needs a few dry hours before rain.