Most rooms take one to two days and a full exterior usually takes three to five days, depending on weather. This page covers how long the work takes, how long paint needs to dry and how long it lasts. Published figures are national ones from HomeGuide for 2026.
How long does it take to paint a house inside?
It takes anything from two or three days for a few rooms to a week or more for a whole house. How many days depends on the number of rooms, the repairs and whether ceilings, trim and doors are included.
| Room | Published painting time |
|---|---|
| Bathroom | 2 to 3 hours |
| Bedroom | 4 to 5 hours |
| Primary bedroom | 5 to 6 hours |
| Kitchen | 4 to 5 hours |
| Living room | 5 to 7 hours |
| Trim and baseboards | Add 1 to 2 hours |
Those are painting hours for one room. Prep, drying between coats and moving furniture are on top, which is why most rooms take us one to two days.
How long does it take to paint the exterior?
A full exterior usually takes three to five days. HomeGuide gives 4 to 5 days as the national average. Day one is washing, and the house then needs to dry before prep and paint.
Two-story homes, heavy scraping and wood repair add days. In Modesto, summer heat can shorten the working day, because we stop painting walls once they are too hot.
How long should I wait between coats?
Wait at least as long as the paint can says. For most latex wall paints that is around 2 to 4 hours between coats. Oil-based paints and many cabinet enamels need longer, often overnight.
Dry summer air in Modesto speeds drying. Damp, foggy winter days slow it. Recoating too soon can lift the first coat.
How long before I can put the furniture back?
You can put furniture back in the room once the paint is dry, usually the next day. Keep it a few inches off the walls for the first couple of weeks.
Fresh paint is soft. A sofa or bed pushed against it can stick and pull paint off, and pictures hung too early can leave marks.
How soon can I shower after the bathroom is painted?
Wait at least 24 hours before you shower, and longer if you can. Steam on paint that has not set can cause streaks, runs and surfactant marks.
Run the fan and leave the door open for the first week of showers.
How long does paint take to cure before I can wash or scrub it?
Most latex paints take about two to four weeks to cure fully. Until then the paint is dry but not hard. Check the label for the exact time.
Do not scrub new paint during that time. If you must clean a mark, dab it gently with a damp cloth.
Can I stay in the house while it is painted?
Yes. Most people stay in their home during interior painting. We work room by room so you always have somewhere to be, and modern water-based paints have little odor.
Open windows when the weather allows. People who are sensitive to odors, and anyone in a pre-1978 home where old paint is being disturbed, should stay out of the work area.
How long does interior paint last?
No national figure is published for how long interior paint lasts. HomeGuide says only that paint in general is redone every 5 to 10 years.
In practice it depends on the room. Ceilings and adult bedrooms go the longest. Hallways, kitchens, bathrooms and children's rooms wear fastest. Strong sun through west windows also fades deep colors over time.
How long does exterior paint last?
Exterior paint lasts 5 to 10 years on average, by national figures, with a full range of 3 to 20 years. By wall type, the published figures are 5 to 7 years on stucco and 3 to 7 years on wood siding.
Modesto's long, hot, rainless summers put local houses under more sun than the national average. Expect the south and west sides to show wear first.
How often should I repaint the outside of the house?
Repaint when the paint starts to fail, not by the calendar. As a guide, the national figure is every 5 to 10 years.
- Color has faded badly on the sunny sides.
- Your hand comes away chalky when you rub the wall.
- Paint on fascia, eaves or garage trim is cracking or peeling.
- Caulking has split and joints are open.
- Hairline cracks in stucco are widening.
Wood trim often needs paint between full repaints. Painting the trim and touching up the sunny walls can put off a full job for a few years.
For a schedule for your own job, call or text (209) 231-7078.