You’ve dreamed of this since you were a little girl — your first home. You just moved in and are in love. There are cozy nooks for reading, ample space for storage, and beautiful hardwood floors.
However, there is one thing you do not love — the color of the walls. And they’ve obviously been painted more than once.
You want to paint but are concerned and wonder, “How many times can I paint a wall?”
Keep reading to learn when and how often you should repaint your walls.
Table of Contents
- Is There a Limit to How Many Times You Can Paint a Wall?
- Is There a Limit to How Many Times You Can Paint Trim?
- When and How Often Should You Repaint Walls?
- How Many Coats Are Necessary for Adequate Coverage?
- Tips for Repainting All the Walls in Your Home
- Two Brothers Painting in Portland, OR: Professionals Who Can Repaint Your Walls With Expert Service
Is There a Limit to How Many Times You Can Paint a Wall?
There’s no limit to how many times you can paint over walls. Let your imagination run wild and choose colors that make you happy.
However, a few steps must be completed before you dip your paintbrush into the paint.
Before painting, you should begin by …
- Cleaning
- Sanding; and
- Priming the walls
… for optimal results.
Would you like to revamp a room in your house? Let Two Brothers Painting help you!
Our painting company’s professionals have provided customers with quality exterior and interior painting services for over twenty years.
Call us today, and let us take care of the prep work and painting. We can also help you choose the right paint color to give your room a perfect look.
Is There a Limit to How Many Times You Can Paint Trim?
As with the walls, there’s no limit to how often you can paint trim, but wood trim can be tricky to work with.
You can paint as many layers as you want, but if the paint gets too heavy, it will pull from the substrate. Once this happens, it returns to the initial bond, the first coat of paint. This tends to chalk out and oxidize over time, and the bond might release a bit.
To prevent this, if you think a new coat of paint might be too heavy and cause peeling, you should sand the trim before painting.
When and How Often Should You Repaint Walls?
As mentioned above, you can paint walls as often as you’d like. But there are a few instances when you probably should think about repainting.
There Are No Rules, but Here Are 4 Instances When Repainting Is a Good Idea
#1: The Walls Are Damaged
Walls that have been damaged — water damage, nail holes, angry fist holes, etc. — will need to be repaired and then painted.
Be aware that If the original paint color is not left over, it may be difficult to match paint just to paint the damaged area. It may be necessary to paint the entire room or wall.
#2: There Has Been Wear and Tear
The paint on your walls will inevitably show signs of wear over time.
For example, it might be:
- Nicks or scratches from moving furniture
- Holes in the walls from hanging pictures
- Fading around hanging pictures
- Chipped paint in corners; or
- The top layer of paint wearing off
Kitchens and bathrooms are especially susceptible to wear and tear. These areas have high traffic and heavy activity, affecting the paint’s condition.
Regardless of the cause, a fresh coat of paint can mask imperfections and restore the luster of your walls.
#3: You Want a New Look
There are times when you just want to change the look of your home.
For example, painting the walls can make a big difference if you wish to update your home’s design to a more modern style or have changed your taste in décor.
Perhaps you bought a house with dark, bold colors but preferred light neutral shades. You might want to add some color with an accent wall. No matter what you do, paint allows you to transform or update any room in your home.
#4: You Want To Improve the Value of Your Home or Put It on the Market
Research has shown that painting your home can increase the house’s real estate value. Even if you’re not looking to sell any time soon, investing in the maintenance and upkeep of your home will provide you with a significant return on your investment.
Are you ready to sell your home? Aside from increasing your home’s value, painting could also help you sell it more quickly.
Both real estate agents and professional painters recommend that sellers paint their houses in neutral shades. In addition to making the house look clean and fresh, neutral colors also make it easier for buyers to imagine their belongings in it.
The house can also be painted in colors popular in current design trends to attract the attention of people scrolling through local home listings. Your interior painter can help you choose the right paint color that will help you sell your home.
How Many Coats of Paint Are Necessary for Adequate Coverage?
Almost anyone you ask will have a different answer for you. And with the internet, you’ll probably get lots of responses from painters from all walks of life.
The general rule when painting interior walls is to apply two coats to ensure that the coating is of good color and consistency. But it’s important to remember that less is more. A minimum amount of coverage applied is the preferable way of applying paint.
Tips for Repainting All the Walls in Your Home
Rooms are used for different activities, so how and how often you repaint may differ from room to room.
No matter what room you are painting, you should use better quality paint products and prepare the wall properly, such as patching or repairing it.
Living Rooms and Dining Rooms
Families and friends gather in the living and dining rooms — from simple family dinners to movie nights.
The colors we choose for living rooms and dining rooms reflect our personalities. While many daily activities occur in each of these rooms, the frequency at which rooms should be painted varies — although the five to seven-year period is common among homeowners.
Most homeowners choose popular modern colors to paint their living room to create the perfect home and family atmosphere. The balance between dark and neutral paint colors can be challenging.
Using the same paint color and finish throughout the dining and living rooms will create the perfect balance. This gives the impression of a larger area and makes the space more open.
Even though these rooms are frequently used, the paint tends to last.
This is because …
- Furniture
- Drapes
- Window treatments
- Floor lamps; and
- Plants
… protect a wall from …
- Touches
- Scratches; and
- Scuffs
Bedrooms
When selecting paint colors for a bedroom, keep in mind that bedroom paint colors should convey:
- Charm
- Tranquility
- Aesthetic taste; and
- Warmth
The master bedroom is usually handled gently, and this bedroom does not usually require frequent painting.
On the other hand, it’s not uncommon for the kids in the family to make a mess in their rooms, and the walls are often the evidence. Children’s bedrooms may need painting every two to three years.
Kitchens and Bathrooms
Since kitchens and bathrooms are prone to humidity and water and are rooms that see lots of mess, it’s common to have to paint them every two to three years.
Does the idea of painting your kitchen and bathrooms every two to three years not appeal to you? Use waterproof paint to help withstand the humidity and water. Additionally, with waterproof paint, you can easily wipe off any mess.
Hallways
Picture your children running down the hallways of your homes. The sound of their laughter might make you smile, but do you see where their hands are? Yes, scraping the walls as they run. This leaves behind dirt and imprints that are hard to wash out.
Hallways are often the most neglected areas of the house. This is because it’s the area of the home we do not spend time in; however, with frequent use, they need to be repainted often.
Freshening up your hallways with a coat of paint will usually need to be done every two to three years.
Ceilings
When it comes to painting projects, ceilings are often overlooked. Since they aren’t as visible, people often think they don’t need to paint them. The ceiling of a room can, however, be just as crucial as the walls.
The key to painting your ceilings well is getting good coverage. This is why you should add a second coat of paint if necessary, especially if you use light-colored paint. The first coat may not make much difference, but the second coat will make your ceiling look nice and finished.
Add an extra layer of paint — it makes a big difference.
Trim
As with your ceilings, you often overlook the trim when painting the walls. It is important, however, to keep in mind that your baseboards and trim are always in the middle of the action.
Every day, they encounter things such as …
- Toys
- Feet; and
- Vacuums
… which can harm even the best paint job.
To maintain a fresh and clean look, your home’s trim needs to be refreshed with paint every two to three years.
Two Brothers Painting in Portland, OR: Professionals Who Can Repaint Your Walls With Expert Service
There is no doubt that painting the interior walls of your home or office can be a messy and overwhelming task. That’s why you should hire professionals.
Two Brothers Painting’s seasoned team has over 145 combined years of experience handling interior (and exterior) painting projects.
In addition, Two Brothers Painting prides itself on providing responsive, reliable service as a family-owned business.
Make an appointment with us today for an estimate.
