Homeowners shop paint brands. Painters know the brand matters far less than what happened to the wall in the six hours before the first coat.
The sequence
Clean, patch, sand, caulk, spot-prime, then paint. Skipping any of these shows up within a year as peeling at the trim, flashing over patches, or a finish that scuffs off with a fingernail.
Caulking is not optional
Every joint between trim and wall gets caulked. It's what makes the lines look sharp and it's why professional work photographs so much cleaner than DIY.
Two coats, always
One coat over a color change never covers evenly, no matter what the can promises. Two finish coats plus primer over patches is the standard.
Sheen selection
Flat and matte hide wall imperfections but scrub poorly. Eggshell is the practical default for living spaces. Satin or semi-gloss on trim, bathrooms, and kitchens.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to paint a room?
- $450-$900 in the Capital Region for a typical room including prep, two coats, and trim.
- Can you paint over wallpaper?
- We strongly recommend removal. Paint over wallpaper eventually bubbles and the seams telegraph.
