I'm currently tackling the painting of a small bathroom utility room that's about 70 square feet, but there's quite a bit of cutting in to do around appliances. I've just finished priming after about 13 hours of work, and I'm feeling a bit discouraged since I hoped to complete everything in a single day (around 10 hours). I've painted before but always had someone helping, so this solo project is taking way longer than I anticipated. I even took some time off work for this, and I'm starting to wonder if I should have just hired a pro instead.
3 Answers
Most of my small room jobs wrap up in a day, but a lot depends on whether you've got to do drywall patching or caulking first—both of which can slow you down. Applying mud and sanding can take time too, but painting isn’t usually as labor-intensive! I had the unexpected chore of caulking my trim when I realized the contractors missed it, which stretched a simple job longer than I thought.
Honestly, when it comes to DIY painting, expect things to take at least three times longer than you think! But on the flip side, you'll pick up some great skills over time. Once you get the hang of cutting in and all the prep work, your speed will definitely improve. I once fixed a massive hole in a wall and had everything—including new drywall, texture, primer, and paint—done in about three hours, but that was rushing with two people and some creative drying methods! Just keep at it; the more you practice, the faster you'll get!
And twice as expensive, haha!
Ain’t that the truth!
As a tip you might not hear too often, try using a thicker nap roller, like a 3/4" one. It made a world of difference for me. I used to dread painting, but now it feels way easier! Remember, primer doesn’t need to be perfect; just get it on and don’t stress too much about coverage.
Thanks, I’ll give that a shot!
Yeah, I had to deal with that too! The previous owners really botched the drywall job in there.