How long does interior painting take?
Less than most people expect, because the paint is not the constraint — masking and prep are. Modern low-VOC acrylics recoat in 2 to 4 hours, so a crew that preps properly in the morning can put 2 coats on the same day.
- Walls only, 2-bedroom — 1 working day
- Whole unit including ceilings, doors and trim — 2 to 3 days
- A single room with repairs — 1 day, most of it drywall work
Which sheen belongs where in a coastal house?
Humidity changes the answer here. Eggshell or satin on walls so they can be wiped down without burnishing; flat only on ceilings. Semi-gloss on trim, doors and every wet area — bathrooms, laundry, the wall behind a kitchen sink.
In bathrooms and closets we use a mildew-resistant formulation as a matter of course rather than as an upgrade. In this climate a standard wall paint in an unventilated bathroom is a maintenance problem you buy on purpose.
What happens to mildew on an interior wall?
It gets treated, not covered. In Gulf Coast humidity — above 70% for most of the year — bathroom and closet walls develop surface mildew within weeks, particularly in properties where the air conditioning runs minimally, which is most rentals between guests.
Painting over mildew guarantees it comes back through the new paint within months. The correct sequence is an antimicrobial wash, complete drying, a stain-blocking primer where needed, then a mildew-resistant paint. If a painter tells you they will just prime over it, that is a callback being scheduled in advance.
What about the repairs behind the paint?
Most interiors need something fixed before they need painting. We do that work with the same crew rather than sending you to find a second trade: drywall repair and finishing, texture matching so a patch disappears instead of announcing itself, and cabinet refinishing when the kitchen is the actual reason for the project.
One crew, one schedule, one invoice. For a rental turnover that difference is measured in vacant days — see turnover painting.