A little preparation before your painting crew arrives makes a significant difference in the quality and speed of your interior painting project. Here's exactly what our Marin County clients need to do — and what we handle ourselves.
One of the most common questions we get from Marin County homeowners before an interior painting project is: "What do I need to do to get ready?" The answer depends on the scope of your project and what your painting contractor handles, but there are a few things that make a real difference in the quality and efficiency of the work. Here's our practical checklist.
What You Should Do Before We Arrive
1. Clear the Room (or at Least the Perimeter)
You don't need to empty a room completely, but clearing the perimeter — moving furniture at least 3–4 feet from the walls — gives our crew room to work efficiently and protects your belongings. For large or heavy pieces like sofas and dining tables, we're happy to help move them on the day of the project. Small items like lamps, plants, artwork, and decorative objects should be removed from the room entirely before we arrive.
2. Remove Wall Art and Mirrors
Take down all artwork, mirrors, and wall-mounted decorations. Leave the nails or hooks in place — we'll work around them or remove them as needed. If you have a large gallery wall, take a photo of the arrangement before removing everything so you can rehang it exactly as it was.
3. Note Any Repairs You Want Made
Interior painting is an excellent opportunity to address wall damage — nail holes, scuffs, hairline cracks, and dents. Walk through the rooms to be painted before we arrive and make a mental note (or a written list) of any repairs you'd like addressed. We handle standard patching and sanding as part of our prep process, but larger repairs like fixing water-damaged drywall or addressing significant cracks may require a separate conversation about scope and cost.
4. Communicate About Trim, Ceilings, and Doors
Before the project starts, be clear about what you want painted and what you don't. Are the ceilings included? Do you want the trim painted the same color as the walls or a contrasting color? Should interior doors be painted? These decisions affect the scope and cost of the project, and it's much easier to discuss them before work begins than to change course mid-project.
5. Secure Pets
Please arrange for pets to be in a separate area of the home or away from the property during painting. Open doors and windows during ventilation, paint fumes, and the general activity of a painting crew can be stressful for animals — and a curious dog or cat in a freshly painted room is a recipe for paw prints on walls and floors.
What We Handle
Our crew handles all of the following as part of our standard interior painting process:
- Moving and covering remaining furniture with drop cloths
- Removing outlet covers, switch plates, and light fixtures (or masking them)
- Filling nail holes and minor wall damage with spackling compound
- Sanding patched areas smooth
- Masking all trim, baseboards, windows, and doors not being painted
- Protecting floors with canvas drop cloths
- Applying primer to patched areas or new drywall
- Cleaning up at the end of each day and completely at project completion
A Note on Paint Selection
If you haven't already selected your paint colors, we recommend doing so at least a week before your project start date. We're happy to provide color consultation as part of our estimate process, and we can bring large paint samples to apply to your walls so you can see exactly how each color will look in your home's specific light conditions before we commit to a full room.
Ready to schedule your interior painting project? Get a free estimate — we typically respond within one business day.