Planning guide · Interior painting

What to prepare, decide, and expect before painting your interior

Lead-safe, low-VOC, and contained within your unit. This guide covers everything from surface condition to sheen selection to what happens on production day.

Get a free video estimateStart the self-assessment
Freshly painted interior — clean walls and crisp trim in a Boston condo

Phase 0 — Is this right for you?

5 questions before you reach out

These flag anything that could change the scope or approach — and confirm whether painting is the right service for your space right now.

01

Was your home built before 1978?

!Lead assessment required

Pre-1978 homes likely have lead paint. Jerry is EPA RRP certified — this is handled correctly and safely. Flag it now so we build it into the estimate.

02

Are your walls in reasonable condition — no major holes, significant water staining, or actively peeling existing paint?

!Surface assessment

Minor holes and surface prep are included. Significant plaster damage or moisture-related peeling changes the scope — we assess this on the walkthrough.

03

Do you know what you want to do with trim, doors, and ceiling — or are you focused on walls only?

!Scope decision

Walls only is the most common scope. Adding trim and doors adds 1–2 days. Knowing now helps us price accurately the first time.

04

Is the unit occupied during the project?

!Plan for low-VOC

We use low-VOC formulas — safe for occupied units. You'll need to move furniture away from walls and have a plan for pets.

05

Do you have a color direction in mind, or do you need help choosing?

!We can help

Color consultation is part of the estimate call. If you have references, bring them. If not, we'll narrow it down together.

Interior painting has the most flexible conditions of all our services. Most yellow items above are handled in the estimate call — they don't stop the project, they shape it.

Discuss on a free video call

Phase 1 — Before you reach out

What to document before the walkthrough

A quick walk-through of your space on video or in photos gives us what we need to build an accurate quote.

Your space

  • Walk the rooms you want painted on video, or photograph each wall
  • Note ceiling heights — standard 8ft vs. vaulted affects pricing
  • Flag any water stains, cracks, or peeling areas with close-up photos
  • Note existing paint finish (flat, eggshell, gloss) if you know it

Your building

  • Check condo bylaws for contractor access hours
  • Confirm elevator is available for equipment staging
  • Note whether you need to provide a COI to the building management
  • Pre-1978 building: ask your building records for any prior lead abatement documentation

Your timeline

  • Painting is our most flexible service — 1–4 days depending on scope
  • Plan to have furniture moved away from walls the morning we start
  • If the unit is occupied, identify a space for displaced furniture temporarily
  • Color decisions must be final before we primer — no changes after prep begins

A short video walkthrough of your space — even filmed on your phone — gives us everything we need to quote remotely without an in-person visit.

Phase 2 — Your design decisions

Decisions you'll make before work begins

Fewer decisions than most services — but color and sheen are locked before the first coat goes on.

Color

What color or colors are going in each space?

  • Single color throughout (most cohesive, best value)
  • Accent wall in a contrasting color
  • Different colors per room
  • Ceiling in a lighter tint of the wall color

Jerry says

Test your color in the actual room before committing — the same swatch reads completely differently under north light vs. south light. We always recommend a sample pot first.

Sheen

What finish level goes where?

  • Flat — ceilings and low-traffic walls (hides imperfections best)
  • Eggshell — most interior walls (subtle sheen, wipeable)
  • Satin — kitchens, bathrooms, high-traffic areas
  • Semi-gloss — trim, doors, and casework (most durable, easiest to clean)

Jerry says

Eggshell for walls, flat for ceilings, semi-gloss for trim is the standard that works for most homes. Don't use flat on walls in a kitchen or bathroom — it won't hold up to wiping.

Scope

What surfaces are included in this project?

  • Walls only
  • Walls plus ceiling
  • Walls, ceiling, and trim (baseboards, door and window casings)
  • Full room — walls, ceiling, trim, and doors

Jerry says

If the trim is in good shape, walls-only gets you 80% of the visual impact at 60% of the cost. If the trim is scuffed and dingy, add it — fresh trim amplifies the wall color significantly.

Furniture

What needs to move before we start?

  • You'll move everything out of the rooms beforehand
  • Furniture stays — we work around and cover in place
  • Mix — some rooms cleared, some covered

Jerry says

Moving out gets you better results at corners and along baseboards. Covering in place is fine for larger pieces — we protect everything. Either way, walls behind furniture count toward the quote.

Questions about any of these? The estimate call is the right place to work through them — no commitment required.

Book a free walkthrough

Phase 3 — The project workbook

What happens, day by day

Pre-construction

Before we arrive

  1. Color selections finalized — paint ordered or confirmed at the paint store
  2. Scope locked: which rooms, which surfaces, which sheen levels
  3. Lead assessment documented if pre-1978 building
  4. Furniture plan confirmed — what moves, what gets covered
  5. You'll receive a pre-arrival checklist 48 hours before start

Production

Days 1–4 in your unit

Interior painting in progress — fresh coat on walls
  1. Day 1: Surface prep — patch holes, sand rough areas, caulk gaps at trim
  2. Day 1: Primer coat on patched areas and any stained surfaces
  3. Day 2: First finish coat on walls — edges cut in by hand before roller
  4. Day 3: Second finish coat (most walls need two coats for full coverage)
  5. Day 4 (if full scope): Trim and doors painted last to avoid lap marks on walls

Post-construction

After sign-off

  1. 1-hour dry-to-touch on most low-VOC formulas — light use same day
  2. Full cure in 14–30 days — wait before washing walls or hanging items with adhesive
  3. Final walkthrough: inspect edges, corners, and any patched areas together
  4. Touch-up items addressed before sign-off — we leave a small touch-up quantity for future use
  5. Furniture can return same day if paint is dry to the touch

Phase 4 — What "done" looks like

What 'done' actually looks like

What you get

  • Clean, consistent color across all specified surfaces — no holidays, lap marks, or uneven sheen
  • Patched areas blended into the surrounding surface — flush and invisible after paint
  • Lead-safe process documentation if applicable — we provide a certificate
  • Touch-up paint quantity left with you for future nicks and scuffs

What to know

  • Two coats are standard — very dark or very light colors over a contrasting base may need a third coat (discussed before, not after)
  • Fresh paint reads slightly different once fully cured at 30 days — it typically lightens and the sheen settles
  • Texture differences between patched and original surfaces can appear under raking light — we sand and feather to minimize, but perfect invisibility isn't guaranteed on older plaster
  • Wall color makes existing trim imperfections more visible — we note any trim issues in the walkthrough
Interior walls before professional painting
Before
Interior walls after professional painting — Somerville condo
After
See more results →

Ongoing care

Getting the most out of your paint job

Day-to-day care

  • Use the touch-up paint we leave — a quick dab on a fresh scuff prevents the mark from setting
  • Wipe walls with a barely damp cloth — never soaking wet
  • Allow 30 days before washing walls with any cleaner

Annual check

  • Inspect corner joints and trim caulk lines — re-caulk if cracking
  • Check around windows and exterior walls for any moisture-related bubbling
  • Touch up any areas with visible wear before they compound

What to avoid

  • Magic Erasers on eggshell or flat finishes — they remove sheen and create dull patches
  • Hanging art with adhesive strips on walls for 30 days after painting
  • Steam from humidifiers or cooking directed at walls long-term

Our commitment

What's covered

Covered

  • Coverage uniformity — any holidays, thin spots, or missed sections corrected before sign-off
  • Adhesion failure within 1 year — peeling or delamination on a properly prepared surface
  • Color match accuracy — if a mixed color is significantly off, we remix and re-coat at no charge

Not covered

  • Scuffs, marks, or damage from furniture, art, or normal use after sign-off
  • Peeling caused by underlying moisture that was present but not visible during prep
  • Color appearance under lighting conditions different from those during application

Read the full workmanship guarantee →

You're ready

Three steps to get started

Completed interior painting project — Somerville
1
Schedule a free 20-minute video walkthrough

We assess your space, confirm scope, and answer every question from this guide.

2
Receive a written quote within 24 hours

Three-tier proposal with options — you choose the scope that fits your timeline and budget.

3
Lock your start date

We handle building paperwork, access coordination, and the pre-arrival checklist.

Get my free estimate

No commitment required. Written quote within 24 hours. MA HIC #208336.

Questions? Talk to Jerry directly.

Every estimate starts with a video walkthrough — no obligation, no pressure, just a clear written scope.

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