Interior Painting Residential Painting

When to paint your homes interior

Posted on October 21, 2021

painting home interiorA common question we get from our customers is when and how often interiors of homes should be painted. There are several factors to consider about weather its time to paint an interior, but it is an important and necessary part of maintaining your property. We are based in Madison, WI which has a cold winter season and potential hot humid days in the summer. The region your home is in will also be a factor in how often painting needs to be done.

Interiors offer a less straight forward answer than exteriors when it comes to a painting schedule. Every house is different, but peeling, bubbling, or cracking paint is a sign its time re-paint the interior. Many times homeowners paint interiors for purely aesthetic reasons also.

How Often Should Paint Your House Interiors?

Most homes have very different levels of wear and tear depending on the room of the home. Areas with more frequent through traffic tend to need to be updated with new paint more often. Things like scuff marks, dents and dings, nail holes, or damage from pets or children all can queue the need for some painting or repairs to be done.

Bedrooms

Kids bedrooms generally see more wall and paint damage than guest rooms or master bedrooms. Items like scribbles, scuffs and dings will come naturally with kids in the home. Kids rooms may need to be painted as often as every 2 to 3 years, stronger finishes that are resistant to damage / hold up to scrubbing are recommended for kids rooms. Adult bedrooms on the other hand can go 7 years or more on a single paint job.

Common Areas

Common areas like living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms tend to see a lot of traffic throughout the year. Most of the time common areas can be maintained with patching and touch up work if the original application used high quality paint. A well kept room should hold up for 7-15 years before needing to be repainted. If you notice faded colors, areas of cracking paint, or damaged wall sections its probably time to have the interior updated with a painting project.

Areas of Most Importance

The highest traffic areas and areas that could potentially collect moisture are the interior sections that will need the most frequent attention in the home. Bathrooms are the main room where both traffic and moisture in the air are common. Areas like hallways and foyers do get foot traffic, but usually don’t have humidity or moisture issues.  If a bathroom is not being regularly vented (with an exhaust fan) when the bath or shower is in use you can expect to need to paint as often as every 2 years to keep a crisp look to the painted surfaces.

Ceilings & Trim

Don’t forget your ceilings and trim. It’s recommended you paint these when you paint the rest of the room. But in case it’s been a while, you should paint your ceilings every ten years to avoid any damage from sun exposure and moisture. Low to the ground trim, like baseboards or wainscoting tend to collect dust and dirt and need to be cleaned more often, frequent cleaning can cause the paint to break down over time. Crown molding usually has a longer life for it’s paint, but it can depend on other factors in the room like how the light comes in or if there is moisture in the air.

If you’re unsure whether your home needs a new coat of paint right now, or are still wondering how often you should paint your house interiors, an expert may be able to help. A professional house painter can also help you determine if there is any underlying damage that should be treated before a paint job can begin. CertaPro Painters of Madison, WI offers free in-home estimates on a variety of interior house painting services. Call today to schedule your free consultation.