Most interior rooms take us 1 to 2 days, and a full exterior usually takes 3 to 5 days depending on weather. This page covers the timing questions people ask before and after a paint job. Lifespan figures are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026.
How long does it take to paint a house inside?
A full interior usually takes several days to two weeks, depending on size, the number of rooms, the amount of trim and the repairs. If you want to know how many days your house needs, count the rooms: most take 1 to 2 days each for a crew, including prep.
The published national figures for the painting itself are 4 to 5 hours for a bedroom, 5 to 7 for a living room and 2 to 3 for a bathroom, plus 1 to 2 hours for trim. Plaster repair needs drying time between steps, so older homes take longer.
How long does it take to paint the exterior?
A full exterior usually takes 3 to 5 days, depending on the size of the house and the weather. HomeGuide's national figure is 4 to 5 days for an average job. Trim only on a brick house can be shorter. A large frame house with heavy scraping takes longer.
St. Louis weather often adds gaps. Thunderstorms are frequent in spring and summer, and we do not paint wet wood.
How long should I wait between coats?
Follow the label. Most water-based wall paints can be recoated after a few hours, and oil-based and enamel products need longer, often overnight. High humidity and cool air slow drying, so the wait between coats is longer on a muggy St. Louis day than the can suggests.
How long before I can put furniture back?
You can usually move the furniture back the day after the last coat, set a little away from the walls. Leave a small gap for a couple of weeks and do not press anything against fresh paint. Hang pictures after a few days.
How soon can I shower after the bathroom is painted?
Wait at least a full day before a hot shower, and longer if you can. Steam on fresh paint can leave drips and marks. For the first weeks, run the fan or open the window during and after showers.
How long before I can wash or scrub new paint?
Wait about a month before you scrub. Paint dries in hours but takes weeks to cure to full hardness. Until it has cured, wipe marks gently with a damp soft cloth and no cleaner.
Can I stay in the house while it is painted?
Yes, most people stay in their home while it is painted. We work room by room so you keep bedrooms and a bathroom in use. Modern water-based paints have little smell, and open windows or a fan clear it.
The exception is lead-safe work in a pre-1978 home. Occupants, and children most of all, must stay out of the work area until it has been cleaned.
How long does interior paint last?
No single figure is published for how long interior paint lasts, because it depends on the room. A guest bedroom can look good for a decade. A hallway, kitchen, bathroom or child's room often needs repainting much sooner. HomeGuide's general figure for repainting is every 5 to 10 years.
How long does exterior paint last in St. Louis?
An exterior paint job usually lasts 5 to 10 years, by the national figure, with a full range of 3 to 20. By material, the published lifespans are 3 to 7 years on wood siding, 5 to 10 on aluminum and vinyl, and 5 to 7 on stucco.
How long exterior paint should last here depends on exposure. South and west walls fade first in the summer sun. Sills, porch floors and other flat wood that holds water fail first of all.
How often should I repaint the outside of the house?
Repaint when the paint starts to fail, not by the calendar. As a guide, how often you repaint is every 5 to 10 years for most houses, by the national figure, and sooner for wood trim that takes the weather.
Walk around the house each spring. Look for cracked caulk, peeling at sills and bare wood. Touching up those spots early can put off a full repaint by years.
For a schedule for your own job, call or text (314) 742-3507.