It’s one of the oldest questions in the painting book: Do you really need two coats of paint for your house? It’s important to know that applying just one coat of paint won’t save you money in the long term. If you’re thinking about cutting corners and painting your home’s interior or exterior surfaces only once, read the rest of this post before making that decision.
Your Paint Job Will Look Nicer
While it is certainly true that some paints are (slightly) thicker than others and state on the can that only one coat of paint is needed, generally speaking, skimping and only painting the majority of your home’s surfaces once won’t give you the desired effect. Regardless of the paint type or the surface, you will only get that lush, deep finish if you opt for two coats of paint for your house painting project.
In addition to this, and contrary to popular belief, don’t be fooled into thinking you can get away with only one coat of a darker colored paint. These actually have less ‘body’ and will need two – if not three – coats so that the rich color is able to develop properly.
Surfaces Will Be More Durable
Looks aren’t the only thing to take into consideration; two coats of paint are far more durable than one. A wall, whether interior or exterior, will also normally be easier to clean if it has been coated twice.
You Won’t Have to Limit Your Paint Color Choices
If you take the ‘easy’ way out, be warned that you’ll be facing a less-than-stellar finish if you are painting one color over another – especially if the new color is paler than the existing one. In reality, one coat may be sufficient if the two colors are similar, but if not – or if you are painting over white – you will need a second coat of paint to stop the base color from either showing through or altering the real shade of your new paint. This might sound like a pain, but it gives you a far greater choice when it comes to picking a color because, if you commit to two coats, you’ll be able to choose from any color out there, not just limit yourself to shades that are similar to your existing one.
And let’s not forget that by painting your walls or other surfaces twice, you will also reduce the chances of missing any spots.
Your Paint Job Will Last Longer
Generally speaking, the lifespan of a one-coat paint job is as little as three years. Compare that to the same surface which has been properly prepared and given two coats of paint and, depending on external factors such as the elements, that lifespan increases dramatically to ten years! This might not be such a major factor when it comes to the rooms you use most in your home – chances are you will change your bedroom or lounge color scheme before the ten years are up anyway. When it comes to large spaces such as stairwells and hallways or your home’s exterior, it can mean the difference between doing the job right the first time and not having to worry about repainting for a decade. Cutting costs and corners will likely only come back to bite you when you need to redo and pay for the entire job all over again in just a few years.
What are the Advantages of a Second Coat of Paint?
- You can choose any paint color and it will cover completely with no bleed through or streaking of the old color coming through your new color.
- The biggest cost of a paint job is the preparation work: power washing, tarping, taping, scraping, priming, and caulking. The actual painting time is not the largest cost of a painting project. So, adding a second coat is a good investment.
- The second coat of paint goes on quickly and costs very little.
- The first coat goes on thicker and slower.
- The second coat of paint serves as a second skin or protector of the first coat, adding life to your paint job. You can expect some surfaces to last twice as long with a second coat!
- Two coats of paint ALWAYS looks better and more professional than just one.
- The best paints sold by top paint vendors recommend a two coat system.
- You get a longer warranty with two coats of paint.
Professional House Painters You Can Trust
Because a second coat of paint is a lot easier and quicker to apply than the first (since the prep work has been done, and the paint adheres better the second time around), reputable professional home painters will only charge you a nominal amount for the second coat.
Whether you need advice about painting techniques or you’d like to entrust the painting of your home to the professionals, contact us today – we’re here and ready to properly paint your home interior or exterior. Get a free house painting quote.
FAQs
It's best practice to apply a primer coat before your color paint. If painting a darker color, you may only need one coat with a few added touch-ups. It's best to apply two coats when painting a similar or lighter color.
Do professional painters use two coats of paint? ›
Another question we get asked a lot from DIY painters and other contractors is, “how many coats of paint do I need when painting the interior or exterior of a home. The general rule is that you should use two coats of paint.
Do I really need a second coat of paint? ›
We've all heard paint manufacturers claim “one coat coverage” but is it really true? As a rule of thumb, you should always expect to apply two coats of paint regardless of what the label says.
Does my house need two coats of paint? ›
You need two coats of paint when: The siding is damaged and peeling. You want to change the color of your home. You want a long-lasting and more durable product.
Can I just do one coat of paint? ›
You'll rarely get a seamless finish from just one coat of paint, and even if you do, coverage isn't the only goal when it comes to painting a room. You also want to prepare your walls for the coming years of wear and tear, cleaning, wiping and sunlight – in short, you want the paint to be durable.
Does one coat paint really work? ›
One-coat paint is not guaranteed to be one coat, even in favorable conditions. Manufacturers' one-coat paint guarantees often exclude repaired surfaces, porous surfaces, surfaces that have previously been uncoated, surfaces that contain tannins (such as cedar), and surfaces with aggressive stains.
How long do professional painters wait between coats? ›
Adding a Second Coat
After your first coat of paint is dry, it's safe to recoat typically after four to six hours. A good rule of thumb is to wait at least three hours to recoat your paint or primer if it's water-based. Waiting 24 hours is best for oil-based paint and primer.
What happens if you don t wait long enough between coats of paint? ›
When you don't wait long enough between paint coats, you don't give the first coat enough time to dry. Applying the second coat before the first coat is dry will result in a low-quality finish. Here's why: Applying the second coat before the first coat is dry will result in the paint peeling and cracking over time.
Does Sherwin Williams paint need two coats? ›
Priming is not generally necessary if you use Duration or Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint Exterior Latex. Use one coat of Duration or two coats of SuperPaint.
How do you know if paint is dry enough for a second coat? ›
After application, it will typically take 2-4 hours until the paint is dry to the touch. However, you'll have to wait a minimum of 24 hours until you can apply a second coat.
The more coverage you get, the more even and richer the finish will appear. Finally, paint brands make paints to render the final colour after two coats. So, a second paint coat will make the finish look darker and more intense.
What is the minimum amount of paint needed for two coats? ›
So if your room needs 2 coats, plan on getting around 200 square feet out of a gallon. Two gallons would allow for two coats of coverage over roughly 800 square feet. Most people will commonly buy this amount as it covers common-sized spaces like a living room or larger bedroom.
Can I water down paint for a second coat? ›
All the answers to your questions are printed on the container instructions, however thin the first coat by adding approximately 10% water, I would also thin the 2nd coat the same personally.
Do professional painters do one coat? ›
Two coats of paint ALWAYS looks better and more professional than just one. The best paints sold by top paint vendors recommend a two coat system. You get a longer warranty with two coats of paint.
Do you need to cut in again for a second coat of paint? ›
Yes, without fail, cut in the second coat. If you cut in only one coat, you'll see that one coat beside the second rolled coat after you roll the wall the second time. The one-coat cut-in will look thin, and you'll see the primer or original color underneath that one coat of new paint.
Can you paint over old paint? ›
You probably don't need a primer. If the current wall is smooth, clean and covered with the same type of paint (both are oil-based for example), you can head straight for the paint. You need to fill holes, spackle and sand*, maybe even cut a new piece of drywall in to the existing wall.
Should I paint single or double coat? ›
You might be tempted to leave it at one coat, especially with paler colours, because the coverage is so good. But don't - paint cures and hardens as it dries, so two coats will ultimately give you the most durable finish in the end.
How many coats of paint considered as a quality paint? ›
Paint quality: Higher-quality paints generally require fewer coats than lower-quality paints. If you're using a high-quality paint, you may be able to get away with just one or two coats. However, if you're using a lower-quality paint, you may need to apply three or more coats to achieve the desired results.
How does a professional painter paint? ›
A professional painter will use a primer on any bare spots or new wood before applying a topcoat. This is called spot priming. Sometimes an older surface will a lot of peeling paint will need a prime coat applied to the entire surface. This is called full priming.
