Start indoors
Most painting in a house happens inside, and most of it is done one or two rooms at a time. This page works through the rooms of a typical home and what each one asks of the paint and the painter. Outside work is covered on our exterior painting page.
Moisture in the background
In an average year at Tallahassee, NOAA counts about 2,073 hours with the wet-bulb temperature above 73°F and about 3,899 hours above 67°F.
Those are NOAA's Tallahassee station counts. The wet-bulb reading reflects how much water the air holds, and it matters indoors more than people expect. Paint dries as water leaves the film; in damp air that slows down, and the time to full hardness stretches further. Running the air conditioning during and after painting helps, because it removes moisture as it cools. Ask your painter what the product label says about conditions and cure time, and plan to treat freshly painted doors, shelves and trim gently for a while.
Kitchen
Kitchen walls collect grease, steam and fingerprints. Before any paint goes on they need degreasing, or the new coat won't stick. A finish with some sheen wipes clean more easily than flat. Cabinets are their own job, with their own prep; our cabinet painting page explains why sanding and primer matter more there than color.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms combine steam and small spaces. Mildew spots on ceilings and above showers must be cleaned and treated, not painted over. A product made for moist rooms and a sheen that tolerates wiping are the usual choices. Make sure the exhaust fan works; paint doesn't fix a room that never dries out.
Bedrooms and living areas
These rooms are about appearance. Flat and matte finishes hide wall flaws; eggshell and satin are easier to clean. The quality of the result depends on the wall underneath: nail pops, cracked joints, dents and old patches all show through. The surface preparation guide explains how they're fixed and primed.
Ceilings
Ceilings are slow and messy to paint, and they show every lap mark under window light. A flat ceiling paint is usual. Water stains need a stain-blocking primer, and the cause of the stain has to be fixed first. Furniture usually needs to be moved and covered, which adds to setup time.
Trim and doors
Baseboards, casings and doors take the most wear in a house. They are usually painted in a harder, higher-sheen enamel, and they take careful brush work, filling and caulking. Doors may be painted in place or taken down. Our sheens and finishes guide compares the options.
Stairwells and tall walls
Stairwells and two-storey entries need ladders, planks or scaffolding set safely on steps. That setup time is part of the price, and it's worth asking how the crew will protect the stairs and railings.
What Florida's sources say about painting
Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation lists paint and wallpaper among examples of work that do not require state licensure. Florida law lists painting among job scopes for which a local government may not require a license, under Florida Statutes s. 489.117(4)(a). We quote both and don't extend them.
We don't evaluate or recommend painters. A written scope that lists every room and surface, and proof of liability coverage, are the practical safeguards.
Planning the job
- Decide which rooms come first, and where furniture will go.
- Agree what's included in each room: walls, ceiling, trim, doors, closets.
- Ask about wall repairs and primer.
- Pick sheens room by room.
- Ask how long each room should stay unused and how the AC should be run.
- Get the scope and products in writing.
For pricing, see our pricing guide, and for the full interior service, the interior painting page.