Most interior rooms take one to two days, and a full exterior usually takes three to five days depending on weather. Honolulu's humid air and passing showers affect drying more than temperature does. Here is what to expect.
How long does it take to paint a house inside?
Most rooms take 1 to 2 days, including prep and two coats. A whole house interior takes from a few days to more than a week, depending on size, the number of colors and how much repair is needed. A small condo can be quicker. Empty homes go faster than furnished ones. HomeGuide lists the painting time alone at 4 to 5 hours for a bedroom and 5 to 7 hours for a living room.
How long does it take to paint the exterior?
A full exterior usually takes 3 to 5 days, depending on the size of the house and the weather. Washing comes first, and the walls then need time to dry. Scraping and priming old wood can take longer than the painting. On the windward side and in the valleys, showers can stop work for part of a day, so allow some slack.
How long should I wait between coats?
Follow the time between coats printed on the can, which for most water-based paints is a few hours. Honolulu humidity stretches that. Paint dries by water leaving it, and damp air slows that down. Paint that feels dry to the touch can still be soft underneath. Oil-based products and cabinet enamels need longer, often overnight.
How long before I can put the furniture back?
You can usually put furniture back the day after the last coat, kept a few inches off the walls. Wait longer before hanging pictures or pushing a sofa or bed hard against fresh paint. Fresh paint stays soft for days and things can stick to it or leave marks, most of all in humid weather.
How soon can I shower after the bathroom is painted?
Wait at least 24 hours before you shower, and longer if you can. Steam on paint that has not set can leave streaks, drips and dull patches. Run the fan or open the window during and after the first showers. If the home has only one bathroom, tell us, and we can plan the day around it.
How long before I can wash or scrub new paint?
Wait until the paint has had time to cure, which for most water-based paints is about two to four weeks. Check the label for your product. Dry and cured are different things. Paint is dry in hours but only reaches full hardness after weeks. Until then, wipe marks gently with a soft damp cloth and do not scrub.
Can I stay in the house while it is painted?
Yes, most people stay in the house. We work a room or an area at a time, cover floors and furniture, and leave you a way through. Modern water-based paints have a mild smell, and Honolulu homes are easy to air out with the windows and jalousies open. People who are sensitive to smells, babies and pets are better kept out of the room being painted until it is dry. Work that disturbs lead paint in an older home has stricter rules about keeping people out of the work area.
How long does interior paint last?
No single figure is published for how long interior paint lasts. HomeGuide gives a general repaint interval of every 5 to 10 years. In practice it depends on the room. Hallways, kitchens, bathrooms and children's rooms need paint sooner. Ceilings and bedrooms for adults can go much longer. In Honolulu, bathrooms without a fan are usually the first to need repainting, because of mildew.
How long does exterior paint last?
Exterior paint lasts 5 to 10 years on average, by the national figures. By wall type the published figures are 3 to 7 years on wood siding, 5 to 7 on stucco and 10 to 15 on fiber cement board.
Honolulu sun is strong all year and there is no winter rest. The south and west walls, the fascia and the lanai railings wear out first. Homes close to the ocean wear faster again. Good prep and top-grade paint push a job toward the long end of those ranges.
How often should I repaint the outside of the house?
Repaint when the paint starts to fail, not by the calendar. Look once a year for chalking, fading, cracked caulk, peeling on the sunny side and bare wood at board ends. On a single-wall house the paint is the only thing between the boards and the weather, so do not wait for widespread peeling. Washing the house and touching up the worst side between full repaints stretches the time.
A free estimate with a written quote includes the days we expect the job to take. Call or text (808) 201-4302.