When people contact us about painting their house, one of the first questions they ask is: “How long will it take?” And it’s a fair one – no one wants their place turned upside down for longer than it has to be.
The short answer? Most jobs take at least three to five days, but there are a few variables that can affect the timing. The house in the picture took 10 months to paint.
What does a typical painting job involve?
For standard repaints of already-painted interior walls, we usually need:
- Three days minimum for preparation – this includes sanding, patching, masking, and getting everything clean and ready
- Two more days to apply two coats of paint
That’s assuming the job is straightforward and we can get a coat on all your walls each day. For larger homes or more detailed work, we’ll need a bit longer.
What about new or unpainted walls?
If we’re painting fresh plaster or GIB, the job will take a bit more time. Unpainted walls need extra prep and an undercoat before the top coats go on.
You’re looking at around five days minimum for a standard-sized job with new walls.
Exterior painting depends on the weather
For outdoor work, we’ve got to factor in the weather – and in Christchurch, that can change quickly. Exterior painting needs:
- Dry surfaces to begin with
- Warm enough temperatures to let paint dry properly
- No rain while we’re working – or right after
If the forecast is dodgy, we might need to reschedule parts of the job to get the best result. We won’t take risks with paint that won’t stick or dry properly – it’s not worth it for either of us.
Want to know what timing looks like for your house?
Every home is different, and we can give you a more accurate idea once we know what’s involved. The best way to find out is through our Free Estimate page – let us know what you’ve got in mind, and we’ll come back to you with pricing and timing that fits your place.
We’re a woman-run painting team based in Christchurch, and we’ll always be upfront about how long things take. No dragging jobs out – just solid planning, good prep, and a result you’ll be happy with.