Painting a full new build

Mjdavies1

I'm looking for some advice on how long it might take to paint a full new build house internally. (walls and ceilings) We're a bit stuck for time now as the company will be late handing over the keys after they've finished. (2 months late). We'll be painting for a family member to help them save money. I've done a decent amount of painting in the past (mostly external) and the person painting with me has a little bit of experience.
It'll be empty inside which will help with time, all floors will be down and plasterboard joins will be filled and sanded ready to go.
Same paint throughout the whole house, except two walls. (One in each bedroom).
Mist coat and two coats of chosen paint. Skirting boards will be going on afterwards thankfully and just one wall instead of spindles on the staircase.
First floor :
- Kitchen/diner 45 m2 L shaped.
- Entrance hall 9 m2.
- Bed1 13 m2.
- Bed2 13 m2.
- Bed3 9 m2.
- Bathroom 8 m2.
Second floor :
- Bedroom 14 m2.
- Dressing 5 m2.
- Bath 5 m2.
Any advice or tips for saving time or the timescale would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

phill99

I would expect my sub-contracted decorator to do this in around 15-18 labour days.
DIYers would take a little longer

Mjdavies1

Hi Phill, thanks for the reply.
I was hoping you'd say a little quicker than that as we only have two weeks now. We're both taking time off work to do as it is whereas if they'd finished on time, we would have had up to a month of free time.
It looks like we'll have to be 3 people, and work longer days then.
Is your sub-contracted decorator working alone? or would he normally have someone with him?
Our only prep work would be to put dust sheets down and the kitchen wouldn't have been installed yet either so no worktops or cupboards to protect and work around.

Thanks

PasturesNew

These days they send paint sprayers in.

I watched a neighbour's house between rentals when they had it resprayed. Over the course of 3 days 1-2 chaps turned up for 3 sessions of a few hours apiece.

Sometimes when watching all night TV my eye's been drawn towards a paint roller called The Renovator.... looks good (if it does what they say). Looks fast, clean.

Painting doesn't really take that long.... it's the fiddly bits and the mindless boredom and isolation that breaks me down when I do it.

Then there's the issue of the number of coats. Painting is one thing, then you realise it needs a 2nd coat. Doing a 2nd coat is annoying, but then it'll be done.... until you realise all or some of it will want 3 coats

phill99

Mjdavies1 wrote: »

Hi Phill, thanks for the reply.
I was hoping you'd say a little quicker than that as we only have two weeks now. We're both taking time off work to do as it is whereas if they'd finished on time, we would have had up to a month of free time.
It looks like we'll have to be 3 people, and work longer days then.
Is your sub-contracted decorator working alone? or would he normally have someone with him?
Our only prep work would be to put dust sheets down and the kitchen wouldn't have been installed yet either so no worktops or cupboards to protect and work around.

Thanks

He works alone, but I identified LBOUR DAYS. If you have 2 guys, then it would be done in less time. (It's not a straight equation as they wouldn't do it in half the time as there is always drying time to allow for etc) But two guys should do it in 2 weeks. However, that is for Professional decorators who are quick and experienced, which is not the same as keen amateurs.

Clive_Woody

Mjdavies1 wrote: »

...plasterboard joins will be filled and sanded ready to go...

Possibly a naive question, but are you putting on a skim coat of plaster or painting straight onto plasterboard?

(I ask out of curiosity and for my education, rather than saying one way one is right or wrong)

Cash-Cows

I recently painted a house and saved time and money with a mist coat followed by trade matt. The paint was good enough to not need a second coat.

RelievedSheff

Why is the new build not being painted by the developers?

davemorton

Personally I would have thought with 2 people doing it, and no skirting to do, al the same colour, doing it all in a week (7 days) would be do-able if decent paint is used, and only a mist and 2 coats are needed. Use a nice wide roller.

phill99

Clive_Woody wrote: »

Possibly a naive question, but are you putting on a skim coat of plaster or painting straight onto plasterboard?

(I ask out of curiosity and for my education, rather than saying one way one is right or wrong)

It sounds like it is a tape and joint finish, so a plaster skim wont be applied.

-taff

I'd go paint sprayer too, always end up covered in speckles with a roller which is also a good reason to wear some tyvek suits...