The Renovation Dilemma: Should You Paint Before or After Other Contractors?
When tackling a home renovation, sequencing is everything. Deciding when to bring in the painters relative to flooring installers, electricians, or trim carpenters can save you time, money, and hassle.
The decision of whether to paint your home before or after major renovations, such as **wall and ceiling repairs** or **new flooring installation**, is a common challenge. While the answer isn't always straightforward, there is a general rule that guides most professional projects.
Painting Before Flooring: The Ideal Scenario
Typically, it is ideal to complete the bulk of the interior painting **before** the new floors are installed. This approach offers significant advantages for achieving the best finish:
- **Clean Canvas:** Painters can work faster and more freely without having to meticulously mask or worry about drips on expensive new flooring.
- **Blank Slate:** You avoid the need to worry about getting paint on your new floors, baseboards, or trim.
- **Spraying Ease:** For doors, door jambs, and trim, professional painters often prefer to **spray** them for a smooth, high-end finish. Spraying is much easier to manage when the surrounding areas are either covered or yet to be installed.
Why You Might Wait: Minimizing Touch-Ups
The biggest drawback of painting first is that flooring and other installations can be messy, potentially causing damage that requires touch-ups:
- **Damage Risk:** Heavy flooring materials, tools, and contractor traffic can easily scratch, ding, or dirty a freshly painted wall or trim piece.
- **Touch-Ups Are Inevitable:** If you paint first, be prepared for the likelihood that the painter will need to return for final **touch-ups** once the floors are in place.
- **New Trim/Baseboards:** If you are installing new baseboards, the walls and baseboards should be painted **after** the baseboards are caulked and installed to ensure no gaps are visible.
Our Professional Recommendation
The ideal sequence is typically: **Demolition → Repairs (Drywall/Ceilings) → Prime/First Coat Painting → Flooring Installation → Final Paint Coat/Touch-Ups.**
If your project includes **sprayed finishes** (like smooth ceilings, doors, or custom trim), we strongly recommend completing those initial coats first. This minimizes the hassle of setting up extensive containment measures over brand new, sensitive flooring. Always consult with your general contractor to coordinate schedules effectively.