How long does it take to paint a two-bedroom flat?

Painting a two-bedroom flat normally takes a few days of work, and it can stretch to more than a week if there are repairs, ceilings or many coats. There is no timescale that is the same for every home. Anyone who gives you a fixed timescale without seeing the home is guessing.

What the timescale depends on

Condition of the walls: repairing cracks and scraping off loose paint takes time.
Number of painters: two people finish faster than one.
Empty or furnished home: with furniture, it has to be moved aside, covered and put back.
Number of coats: two coats take longer than one.
Ceilings, doors and skirting boards: each item adds time.
Colour: changing from dark to light usually needs more coats.

The stages of a paint job

Many people think painting is just rolling on the paint. In practice, the work has several stages, and each takes its own time.

Protection: covering the floor, furniture and sockets.
Preparation: scraping, sanding, filling holes and cracks.
Primer, where necessary.
First coat.
Second coat.
Touching up, removing the protection and cleaning.

Preparation is often the most time-consuming part. It can take as long as the painting itself.

Drying time

Paint needs time to dry between coats. This time is shown on the tin and varies with the paint, the temperature and the humidity of the air. If you rush, the second coat can end up with marks.

In homes near the sea, or in damper areas of Sintra and Cascais, drying can be slower on foggy or rainy days. Opening the windows helps, as long as no damp is coming in.

What can delay the job

Discovering damp or mould only after starting.
Walls with lots of cracks, which need more filler and sanding.
Changing the colour halfway through the job.
Running out of paint and having to buy more.
Difficult access, with no lift or nowhere to park.

How to plan

Ask the painter how many people will be working and how many days they expect. Ask for the start and finish dates in writing, knowing that it is an estimate and that the time may change if problems arise.

If you live in the home, agree the order of the rooms. That way you can keep using the kitchen or a bedroom during the job.

Example of a simple schedule

This is only an idea, not a guaranteed timescale. In an empty home in good condition, the first day might be protection and preparation, the second the first coat, and the third the second coat and touching up. If there are ceilings, doors or larger repairs, more days are added.

If the home is lived in, allow more time. Each room has to be cleared, painted, left to dry and only then tidied. Talking to the painter about the order of work avoids disruption.

Tip: Empty the rooms before the painter arrives, or at least move the furniture to the centre. It saves time and avoids accidents.