Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Should I paint my new build house?

You may not know this, but most builders expect you to paint your home interior when you move in. They do. It is one of the many reasons they use the most basic formula and finish, which most paint companies actually call builder grade finish.

Should you paint before or after construction?

We recommend painting once all major structural and functional work is done, but before new flooring or carpet is installed. Essentially, floors come last so you can avoid the heavier wear and tear multiple contractors, tools and dust the full renovation brings.

How do you paint new construction trim?

For a new project, paint the trim before you adhere it to the wall—you'll save yourself the headache of worrying about getting trim paint on the wall. Low recommends first priming the raw wood, then adding two coats of paint before installing. Once installed, touch up as necessary.

How do you spray house trim?

So you always want to be moving. As you hit the trigger. So. If I have this sprayed.

Do you spray trim or walls first?

Then comes the debate—should you paint the walls or trim first? Which you choose mostly comes down to your application method, Steckel says. “If you're going to spray the trim, you do the trim first," Steckel explains. "If you're going to hand paint, you do the walls first,” he says.

Is it better to roll or spray trim?

In the hands of a skilled painter, spraying will leave a smooth, durable, uniform coat of paint. The brush and roller can leave the paint looking very uneven, and can leave roller or brush marks. Another big advantage of spraying is the cost savings.

Does new trim need to be sanded before painting?

Prepare the Trim

Scuff-sand the surface of the trim. Start with coarse, 80-grit sandpaper and then move to less-coarse 100- and 120-grit. If the trim is new, use only 120-grit just enough to remove any sheen from the surface. Folded sandpaper or a sanding block can be used for flat surfaces.

Do you paint before flooring in new construction?

Once you have prepped your walls, you are ready to install the flooring in your home. You should do this before painting any of the walls. That way if you do cause any damage while installing the floors you don't have to repaint areas. This is especially important if you're installing hardwood floors in your home.

Should you paint before or after carpentry?

For switches and sockets located within carpentry, these will be installed after carpentry is installed. Painting works are done before the carpentry is installed. We recommend applying paint sealer. This locks in the surface, and helps promote adhesion for the new paint that will go on.

Should you paint when you buy a new house?

Many interior designers recommend waiting to paint until you have moved into your new home. The reason is based on the idea that homeowners will need to see how their furnishings look in the space and what colors they will want to pop in a room.

Do you need to prime new construction?

Priming walls before painting is an essential part of the painting process, which is why contractors always do it on new construction painting jobs. The primer prepares the surface of the new drywall by sealing it so that the finish coat can dry uniformly.

Do professional painters use primer?

In order to save time and money, professional painters recommend using a good primer. If you are painting over a dark color like reds, navy blues, purples, and other dark colors, a primer with strong “hide” qualities will work well.

How long does it take to paint a new construction house

What primer to use on new construction?	Valspar® Professional New Construction Primer This primer is specifically designed to equalize surface texture differences between sanded tape joints and new drywall, resulting in an extremely uniform finish coat appearance. Ideal for airless spray application.
What is new construction primer?	Valspar New Construction Primer is specially designed to equalize the surface texture differences between sanded tape joints and new drywall. The result is an extremely uniform finish coat appearance.
What happens if you don't prime a wall?	With fresh drywall, the substrate actually absorbs a coating really well, like a sponge. However, because it absorbs so well, without a primer coat, you'll experience uneven coverage, especially along drywall seams. This means you'll need to apply more paint to finally get an even coat.
What happens if you repaint too soon?	Applying the second coat too early will result in lost time, money, and effort. Not only that but it'll also create additional stress that's not necessary. Applying the second coat too early will result in streaks, peeling paint, and uneven color.
What type of paint is used in new construction?	They use flat paint by default. The best builders give you an option to upgrade your paint for a certain cost. If flat paint is dictated, I would recommend that you keep looking for builders.
What paint should I use inside my house?	Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. An eggshell finish has a subtler shine to it, so it's a great choice if you're not ready for satin.
What paint to use on new build walls?	New home. For example, we recommend the use of breathable paint, such as a contract matt emulsion, as the new plaster dries out during the initial few months. Or why not have a word with our specification team about the products you should use to avoid the yellowing often associated with new build environments.
What color do builders use on walls?	Builder's Beige is the generic colour that most new homes come with. It usually is the colour that a builder uses for an entire subdivision of homes. These colours may actually have sophisticated sounding names but they are just different shades of builder's beige.
What paint do most contractors use?	Contractors are often requested to use low- or zero-VOC paints, and this is something they can get from Sherwin-Williams in a variety of their paint lines. Sherwin-Williams paint is thick because it uses more solids, which makes it easier to work with and will cover more surface area.
Do you need 2 coats of paint over primer?	In most situations, a good rule of thumb is to use a primer plus two coats of paint. If you use this rule, you may do one more coat than needed but this won't hurt the final product. There are few situations where this rule of thumb will result in doing too few coats though which is why it is prevalent advice.
Is 1 coat of primer enough on new drywall?	A minimum of two coats of PVA primer is necessary when painting new drywall in order to prevent the paint finish from looking splotchy and uneven after drying. New drywall is like a sponge, and it's better to let it soak up inexpensive primer than expensive paint.

• Is 1 coat of primer enough?

  • Depending on how strong or bold the previous color is, it may be necessary to apply more than one coat of primer. However, it is not necessary to over apply the primer with so many coats. As long as the primer applies uniformly over the previous color, then one or two coats should be sufficient.

• What needs to be done before drywall goes up?
  • Here's a checklist of items that need to be installed before the drywall goes up:
    • Electrical: All wiring and electrical boxes installed for wall outlets, switches, and light fixtures.
    • Plumbing: Drain lines along with hot and cold water lines.
    • Heating and Cooling: Any ductwork for room vents and air return.
• What is a pre drywall walkthrough?

  • A Pre-Drywall Inspection can identify potential problems with the framing, plumbing, and electrical systems in the home before it's too late. It's also a good way to get an idea of what repairs may need to be made at this stage of the building process.

• How do I prepare for drywall installation?
  • Five tips for installing drywall
    1. Store wall boards flat on the floor to prevent damage. Stage the boards flat on a clean surface to prevent damage.
    2. Cut the boards carefully and properly.
    3. Screw fasteners to the proper depth.
    4. Don't forget to mark and cut out receptacles.
    5. Stagger vertical end joints.
• Do I need to clean drywall dust before priming?
  • The drywall needs to be as dust free as possible or your finish will have lots of bumps in it, enclosed with primer. Sometimes you just gotta change the rinse water in your bucket. Good job.

• What to expect during pre drywall inspection?

  • Your pre-drywall meeting is just what you think—the meeting before all of your drywall goes in. You'll be walking through the house at its framed stage—complete with wall studs, roof, electrical, and plumbing. You'll have plenty to do and look during this stage, so here's what you can do to prepare!

• Should you paint or carpentry first?
  • Painting works are done before the carpentry is installed. We recommend applying paint sealer. This locks in the surface, and helps promote adhesion for the new paint that will go on. Paint can then be applied.

• Do painters do the caulking?
  • Professional painters do handle caulking as part of their services. Depending on the project requirements, they use different types of silicone, acrylic latex, and polyurethane caulk. The application process involves using a caulking gun or tube to dispense the material along cracks or joints that need sealing.

• Does a carpenter paint walls?

  • While carpenters are skilled at building and renovating interiors, most often do not have as much experience applying various types of paint as professionals who specialize in painting. Completing a professional paint job involves more than just simply slapping a coat of paint on a surface.

• Who is responsible for caulking baseboards?

  • Normally, with separate trim and paint crews, the painter would do the filling. Caulk works better when a piece of trim is set in the caulk rather than having it smeared on after the trim is nailed in place, so I caulk as needed as I go. That is part of the painters job.

• Do professional painters paint the trim or walls first?

  • 'We almost always paint the trim before we paint the walls. This is because we use the tape and caulk method to get perfectly straight lines where the wall and trim meet,' shares Matt Stone, professional painter and owner of Hometown Painting.