frequently asked questions

Wondering in what order to paint a room? When painting an entire room, you should work from top to bottom.

• Ceiling
• Walls
• Trim (including doors and windows)
• Baseboards

How to prep walls for painting depends on the condition of the surface. As a general rule, walls should be clean, dry and dull.

Walls that have never been painted should have a primer applied before painting; or, if you are using a paint that is self-priming or a paint-and-primer-in-one, your first coat of paint can act as the priming coat. For previously painted walls, thoroughly wash them with a mild soap-and-water solution, then rinse with clean water. If your existing surface was painted previously with semi-gloss or gloss paint, the surface should be lightly sanded* to a duller finish and all sanding dust removed.

If there is loose or peeling paint, scraping and sanding* of the affected area is needed. When preparing walls for painting, scrub all surfaces to remove all dirt, grease, oil, etc. Rinse surface well and allow to dry. Apply appropriate patching material to cracks, nail holes or other surface imperfections, sand* smooth, and remove sanding dust.

If the walls have not been painted in five years or more, or if they are stained, a primer or two coats of a paint-and-primer should be used.

Visit our Painting Advice section for more tips on preparing to paint.

Room and surface temperatures between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal painting conditions. Paint dries best between 65 F and 85 F.

Allow at least 4 hours of drying time before recoating.

To achieve one-coat coverage, paint should be applied at a maximum of 400 square feet per gallon. Rough or textured surfaces may require more paint. On these areas, allow for 125-300 square feet per gallon. Do not thin.

Visit our Paint Calculator to determine how much paint you need to paint a room.

Depending on your project and the type of structure you are painting, paints may be applied with a nylon/polyester brush, a paint pad or spray unit.

Visit our Paint Checklist for a complete list of tools needed for painting.

Dutch Boy primers are specifically formulated to seal porous surfaces and block stains, as well as ensure the proper adhesion of the topcoat and produce the best possible coverage. When to use primer depends on the surface and type of paint you use. For most projects, you can use a paint-and- primer-in-one instead of a primer; however, for surfaces with rust water or smoke damage, we recommend using a primer.

Learn more about primers.

Wallpaper can be painted over, but it is not recommended. It is very important to properly prepare the surface if you decide to paint over wallpaper. Be sure to remove any loose wallpaper, scuff and sand* the surface. Once you have prepared the surface, please find the suitable Dutch Boy paint-and-primer-in- one or self-priming product approved for use over wallpaper.

Yes, you can apply latex paint over oil-based paint.

But be sure to prepare the surface properly before painting. Oil-based paints should be sanded to a flat finish before painting. Thoroughly rinse to surface to remove sanding dust and dirt, then apply Dutch Boy oil-based primer and the desired Dutch Boy latex paint.

Our no-prep no-prime formula in Dutch Boy Platinum allows for painting over gloss and semi-gloss surfaces without the need to sand or prime. So if you use Platinum you will not need to do any extra steps.

If you do not use Dutch Boy Platinum, all glossy surfaces should be dulled to a flat finish by sanding before the paint is applied.

No, you cannot use exterior paint inside.

Exterior paints are formulated to be more flexible to withstand temperature and climate changes.

A second coat of latex paint may be applied 4 hours after the first coat.

Avoid touching, wiping or cleaning painted walls and surfaces for 30 days. After that time, dirt and stains may be removed with a mild, nonabrasive cleaner and water.

Do not place objects on windowsills and shelves until paint is thoroughly dry.

The longevity will depend on odor concentration, frequency of exposure and the amount of surface area painted. Some field tests have been in process for well over one year and the technology is still reducing odor.

Odors are gases or vapors that we breathe in. Refresh^® paint contains proven odor-reducing technologies that can nearly eliminate odor vapors from the air. Through natural airflow, the odor vapors come in contact with the walls and are locked within the paint film.

The odor vapors are captured in the paint film and locked away. Testing has been done to show that washing or damaging the paint will not release the odors.

Testing has been done to show that washing or damaging the paint will not release the odors. Your walls will not smell.

The more surface area you cover with Refresh^® paint, the better the technology works to reduce odors. Odor vapors circulate through natural airflow and are captured in the paint film when they come in contact with the painted surface. Painting the ceiling helps increase the amount of surface area available to capture and lock away odor vapors.