​How LONG does it take to paint a unit or house interior?

​How long does it take to paint a unit or house interior?

Have you ever had a go at painting a house or even just a room? Takes forever doesn’t it? Even we professionals (with all the tools, materials and experience) take a long time to paint home interiors.

I measure that time in ‘man-days’ (even though most of my assistants are women!) So me painting for 5 days is 5 man-days. Me PLUS one assistant painting for 5 days is 10 man days.

AGE OF YOUR HOME
As I bang on about all over this website, age of home, and therefore detail of home is the HUGE differentiator, as is surface condition.

Pre 1960
Older homes (both units and houses) are usually much more detailed. Think, panel doors, wooden windows, detailed skirting boards, picture rails, higher and moulded ceilings, and sometimes moulded plaster arches in the hallway.
This extra detail takes extra time and costs extra money.

Post 1960
Everything is planer and flatter and therefore easier and faster to prep and paint.
Interestingly, ALL ages of home have about the same amount of general damage that must be properly repaired before painting starts. The problems are different but both old and new units and houses have just as many problems.

HOW LONG?
So depending on age and condition:
A 4 Bedroom, 2 bathroom home should take between 30 and 40 man-days (or 6 to 8 weeks alone – less with a helper).

A 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom unit should take between 10 and 15 man-days (or 2 to 3 weeks alone - less with a helper).

TIMING - RULE OF THUMB
A good rule of thumb is for every $5000 quoted you SHOULD get about 10 man-days (after materials and GST is taken out).

This helps when comparing quotes too. A $10,000 quote will mean one painter will work on your home for 20 days, while it’s competitive quote of $8000 will mean one painter will work for only 16 days. (Hmmm. I wonder what he will leave out?) 

To find out what interior painting COSTS CLICK HERE.

By Tony Richardson - The Tidy Painter - Mosman, Cremorne and the Lower North Shore's favourite painter.