The last trade in the house
When flood water has been inside a home, painting is almost always the final step. Wet materials come out, the structure dries, drywall and trim go back in, and only then does a painter arrive. The cost of the painting depends heavily on what the earlier work left behind, so this guide walks through what a painter will be pricing. It quotes no figures.
What the health department advised
After Hurricane Helene, the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (October 2, 2024) advised that items soaked with flood water that cannot be cleaned or dried completely within 24 to 48 hours should be thrown out, that wet surfaces be scrubbed with detergent and water to remove visible mold, and that visible mold be removed before painting or caulking.
For a painter, the last point sets a condition for starting work: no visible mold on surfaces that will be painted or caulked. If a painter arrives and finds growth that wasn't dealt with, the job stops or the scope grows, and either way the cost changes. Before you book, make sure the cleanup is complete and the area is dry.
New drywall versus old walls
After a flood, the lower part of many walls is cut out and replaced with new drywall, while the upper part stays. That creates a mixed surface:
- New drywall needs taping, mudding, sanding and a drywall primer so it takes paint evenly.
- Old wall above may have water lines, stains or mildew spots that need cleaning and a stain-blocking primer.
- The seam between them has to be blended so it doesn't show as a line through the finish.
Who does the taping and finishing matters. If the drywall crew leaves it ready for paint, the painter's job is smaller. If not, the painter's quote may include extra finishing. Ask. Our surface preparation guide explains what a paint-ready wall looks like.
Trim, doors and cabinets
Baseboards, door casings and the lower parts of doors often have to be replaced. New trim needs priming, filling, caulking and finish coats. Doors that swelled may be replaced or trimmed and re-sealed on every edge. Lower kitchen or bath cabinets that were saved need careful cleaning and may need a full refinishing; see our cabinet painting page.
Rooms that weren't touched
New paint on repaired walls rarely matches older paint on walls next to them, even in the same color. The usual answer is to paint whole rooms, or to extend the new paint to a natural break such as a corner. If several rooms are joined by open walls, the area to repaint can grow. Ask each painter what they propose and why.
Older homes and disturbed paint
Under EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978 must hold RRP certification, firms included, even sole proprietorships, and their workers must be trained in lead-safe work practices.
Cutting out wet drywall, removing trim and sanding old surfaces all disturb paint. If the home was built before 1978, lead-safe containment and cleanup add time to the work, both for the crews removing materials and for the painter preparing what's left. You may want to ask whether the firm holds RRP certification.
Scheduling and dry time
Painting too soon after drywall or after cleaning is a common cause of problems. Joint compound, primer and paint each need their own drying time, and damp rooms slow all of them. Running the air conditioning and dehumidifying help. Expect a careful painter to leave time between steps, which may mean more than one visit.
What to compare in each quote
- Is the area confirmed clean and dry before painting starts?
- Who finishes the new drywall, and to what level?
- Is a stain-blocking primer included on old surfaces?
- Which rooms are painted in full, and which only in part?
- Are new trim and doors included?
- If the home predates 1978, what is the lead-safe plan?
For the general cost factors, see the pricing guide, and for the work itself, the interior painting page.