Interior painting
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Interior Painting by city
What an interior painting job involves
Most of an interior paint job is preparation. A good painter moves and covers furniture, protects floors, fills holes and cracks, sands patches smooth, caulks gaps along trim, spot-primes repairs and stains, and masks what is not being painted. The painting itself — usually two coats — is the shorter part.
A quote should say which surfaces are included: walls, ceilings, trim, doors and frames, closets, window sashes. Ceilings and trim are often priced separately, and a quote that is much lower than the others has often left them out.
When to repaint, and when to call a pro
- Walls that are scuffed, stained or faded so cleaning no longer helps.
- Before selling or between tenants, when a neutral fresh finish matters.
- Water stains on a ceiling — but fix the leak first, or the stain comes back through new paint.
- Peeling or cracking paint, which usually points to moisture or poor adhesion that needs proper prep rather than another coat.
- High ceilings, stairwells and cathedral spaces where ladders and staging make it a two-person job.
Homes built before 1978: lead-safe work
Paint in homes built before 1978 may contain lead, and sanding or scraping it makes dust that is dangerous, especially to young children. Under EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting rule, anyone paid to disturb paint in housing built before 1978 must be certified, unless the work disturbs six square feet or less per room inside (EPA). Ask a painter for their firm’s RRP certification if your home is that old.
How to choose an interior painter
- Ask what prep is included, in writing: patching, sanding, caulking, priming.
- Ask which paint — brand, product line and sheen — and how many coats. Two painters quoting “two coats of good paint” may mean very different things.
- Check liability insurance, and the painting or contractor licence where your state requires one.
- For a pre-1978 home, check EPA or state RRP certification.
- Ask how they protect floors and furniture, and who moves it.
- Look at recent jobs, ideally in person, and ask how they handle touch-ups.
What affects the cost
- Area and height: square footage of walls, ceiling height, stairwells.
- Surfaces included — ceilings, trim, doors and cabinets add time.
- Condition: holes, cracks, water damage and peeling paint all add prep.
- Colour change: going from dark to light, or the reverse, can need primer or an extra coat.
- Paint quality and sheen, and who supplies it.
- Whether the rooms are empty or furnished.
- Lead-safe work practices in older homes.
DIY or a pro, and safety
Painting one room is a reasonable DIY job; most of the skill is patience in the prep and cutting in clean lines. Painters earn their price on whole houses, high spaces, heavy repairs and a fast turnaround.
Ventilate while painting and while it dries. EPA notes that paints and other products can release volatile organic compounds indoors, and advises using them with plenty of fresh air and following the label (EPA). In a pre-1978 home, do not dry-sand or scrape old paint until you know whether it contains lead.
Common questions
- Does an interior painting quote include ceilings and trim?
- Not always. Ask for each surface to be listed — walls, ceilings, trim, doors, closets — so you can compare quotes like for like.
- How many coats of paint does a room need?
- Usually two over a sound, primed surface. A big colour change, fresh drywall or patched areas may need primer first.
- Do I need to move furniture before the painters come?
- Ask when you book. Many painters move and cover furniture as part of the job; others expect small items and valuables out of the way.
- What if my house was built before 1978?
- Hire a firm certified under EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting rule for any work that disturbs old paint beyond the small exempt area.
- Who supplies the paint?
- Either. Painters often buy at trade prices; if you want a specific product, name it in the quote.
- How long before I can use the room?
- It depends on the paint and the conditions. Keep the room ventilated, and follow the drying and recoat times on the can.
Related services
Sources
Safety and standards advice on this page comes from these publishers. Dates are the ones each page shows.
- US EPA, Renovation, Repair and Painting Program: Contractors (last updated March 31, 2026)
- US EPA, Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality (no date shown; read October 2026)
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