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How Long Does Interior Paint Last on the Wall?

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interior paint on wall

This question is one that many professional painters hear all the time: how long does interior paint last on the wall? Ultimately, however, this question is nearly impossible to answer. A general rule of thumb is that a well-done interior paint job will last between 5-10 years, and potentially even longer. However, your paint’s longevity is based on a bunch of different factors. So, how long does interior paint last on the wall? Well, that depends.

In this article, we’ll take you through some of these factors (such as paint quality and room purpose) in an attempt to help you determine how long your interior paint job will last.

repainting interior

When Should I Repaint the Interior?

Since it’s hard to put a specific figure on how long interior paint lasts, it’s also pretty difficult to figure out when it’s time to repaint the inside of your home or office. In order to properly assess when it’s time to repaint, you need to keep track of when, how, by whom, and with what your last paint job was done. For example, a well-done paint job done by a trusted painting company such as Colorado Painting will generally last longer than a paint job you paid your teenage son and his friends to do.

You can combine these objective facts with your intuition and other factors. If the room in question is a playroom or somewhere that hosts a lot of activity, chances are the walls will get scuffed and chipped much more frequently than a home office. Additionally, some families or business owners may be more tolerant of peeling, fading, or scuffed paint than others- so choosing when to repaint is also a personal preference.

Paint Types

The type of paint used in your paint job will also help you answer how long does interior paint last on the wall? Really, there’s no reason why a coat of quality paint done by a professional painter cannot last upwards of a decade.

There’s a reason why some types of paint are more expensive than others – it’s because they’re expected to last longer and look better on your walls. Going with high-quality paint as opposed to the cheapest option at your local hardware store is a good way to ensure that your interior paint job lasts longer.

There are also different types of paints that you can use.

Traditionally, interior paints fall into two broad buckets: oil-based or water-based.

We’ve compiled a list of a few characteristics and advantages of choosing each type of paint down below:

Oil-Based Paint

  • Also known as solvent-based paints, oil-based paints are traditionally more durable
  • Long-lasting means oil-based paints are typically more affordable
  • Stands up to daily wear and tear extremely well
  • Takes significantly longer to dry as compared to their water-based alternatives
  • Organic Oil-based paints are traditionally more expensive, more delicate, and take longer to dry
  • Inorganic oil-based paints are cheaper and sturdier but have an extremely strong odor while still fresh

Water-Based Paint

  • Commonly known as latex paints
  • Slightly less durable and generally more expensive than their oil counterparts
  • Dry significantly faster than oil-based paints
  • Easier clean-up and lack the odor that oil-based paints have
  • Generally used more frequently as interior paints due to ease of use, dry time, and lack of odor

interior wall paint

Different Paint Finishes

The finish you choose for your interior paint job also impacts its longevity. For paint finish, there’s a sliding scale that ranges from non-reflective and almost paper-like to extremely shiny. The glossiness you choose has a direct impact on how easy the paint is to clean, which in turn can boost longevity.

Flat: Flat is the least reflective type of paint finish. Since it’s cozy, tough to clean, and matte-like, it’s a great choice for low-traffic areas such as formal living rooms.

Satin: Satin is still relatively non-reflective and matte-like, but contains a hint of gloss. It’s one of the interior paint finishes.

Eggshell: Eggshell finishes tend to have a fairly even glossy finish. This level of glossiness is often extremely easy to clean with a damp cloth, making it a popular choice for anybody who is concerned with longevity.

Semi-Gloss: Semi-gloss is an even more reflective finish than eggshell, and tends to be much more durable. This is a popular finish for high-traffic areas that require significant paint durability, such as a kitchen or bathroom.

High Gloss: High gloss, often also called gloss, is the shiniest finish available. Generally, this finish is only used for wood trim and molding since it’s both the most decorative and the easiest to clean.

finished interior paint job

Other Factors to Consider with Interior Paint

When asking how long interior paint lasts on the wall, there are more factors to consider than just paint type and finish. Down below are a few more factors that will influence your paint’s longevity:

  • Number of Coats Used: the more coats used in a paint job, the longer that paint job should last.
  • Purpose of Room: A high-traffic room such as a bathroom or kitchen will inevitably wear down faster than an office or formal living room.
  • Wall Condition: A beat-up and uneven wall will need to be repainted more frequently than a meticulously cared-for, well-sanded wall.
  • Damage Repair: A great way to extend the life of your paint job is to quickly clean and repair any damage to either the paint or the wall
  • Sun Exposure: Sun exposure can lead to paint fading more quickly. Installing window treatments can help mitigate this problem.

Using a Professional Painter

One of the best ways to ensure a quality, long-lasting paint job is to use a trusted professional.

If you are in the Denver, Colorado area, there is simply no better company to use than Colorado Painting. We’ve been Denver’s best painting contractors for almost 40 years, with both residential as well as commercial interior paint jobs.

We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality work, being locally owned and operated, having a great reputation, and having a high level of experience.

We also include an automatic service guarantee for every project we do.

Please feel free to reach out to get a free estimate today!

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Marcus GMarcus G ★★★★★ Really great job on painting the trim of my house! Leo and the crew paid attention to detail and Ben was super communitive throughout the process. The job really modernizedmy house from 1949! Definitely will use for other projects.Elizabeth “Liz” F.Elizabeth “Liz” F. ★★★★★ They were on time and did a great patch up work on the shed would use them again for any big painting projects!Elizabeth “Liz” F.Elizabeth “Liz” F. ★★★★★ They were quick, on time and did an amazing job on my shed!MIND FRAME C.MIND FRAME C. ★★★★★ CCRP does great work! My wife and I are very pleased with the quality of their work and their top-tier customer service. Their crew treated our home like it was their top priority. We’ll definitely be using them againfred G.fred G. ★★★★★ This is the second time I have used Colorado Commercial Painting and I have to say both experiences were excellent. From the sales team to the painting crew, everything was great. Everyone was professional and knowledgeable. I had the interior and exterior painted. The painting crew were professional and efficient. They took pride in their work and made sure everything was done correctly. They also took care to protect the things that were not being painted. I will be using them again and I highly recommend them if you are looking for quality painting.Kelly A.Kelly A. ★★★★★ We really enjoyed working with CCRP to paint the exterior of our home! Everyone we worked with from the quoting and scheduling, to the painting and repair of our home was friendly, helpful, and clearly communicated each step of the project. Ben was an awesome project manager and Leo and his team did an outstanding job painting- everything was done beautifully and meticulously. We couldn't have been happier with the end result!Stephen L.Stephen L. ★★★★★ Simply the best, couldn't be happier with the job!Andrea H.Andrea H. ★★★★★ The team did a great job. I am very happy with their work. They went above and beyond to do some repair jobs first and they even got on the roof and painted the cupola! THANKS!DepressoDepresso ★★★★★ Great people. fast but Quality Work, Very good explanation of what theyre doing.Carly B.Carly B. ★★★★★ They did excellent work and the whole team was very nice and easy to work with.Katherine T.Katherine T. ★★★★★ Great communication, fair pricing, and a great looking finished product! We had two sections of unevenly faded siding on the south-facing gables of our house. They did a great job matching the color and made it easy to get the work we needed done.Hannah B.Hannah B. ★★★★★ Great work by the team. We were able to walk through everything with the project manager beforehand and the team that painted did a wonderful clean job on our home.Hoppy M.Hoppy M. ★★★★★ 1. Sales process was straightforward with detailed explanation2. Project managers were great at communicating updates and keeping in touch3. Painters worked very hard and did a fantastic job bringing a vision to life - complete with paint, lime wash, and a bright door!We love how our house come out!Bart D.Bart D. ★★★★★ Kevin and his Team was one of the most professional groups I have worked with over my design and build career in the business for 36 years now. Their care for meeting all aspects of design intent and attention to every detail for quality was superior.We are in development with our next project of 12 units in Colorado and look forward to working together on each.One time, on budget and high quality work was the best results we could ask for and they achieved at the highest levels.SincerelyBart DeLorenzoDeLorenzo ProductionsJason D.Jason D. ★★★★★ They did amazing and they were very professional. They addressed any and all questions in a timely manner. Thank you againRobert TRobert T ★★★★★ Very easy to work with and expert results. I was impressed that they did the whole job in one day including some serious prep work. Lots of scraping and caulking. The house looks great with all the boards tightened up and the new coat of paint. Would recommend CCRP without hesitation.William K.William K. ★★★★★ Our experience with Colorado Painting could not have been better. From the prompt and friendly communication surrounding the estimate for the exterior paint job, to the efficient and quality painting on the finished product. All aspects of the experience were top notch, fairly priced, and completed in a professional manner.Matthew M.Matthew M. ★★★★★ Impressive work for painting the entire interior of the home. Minimal touch ups needed at the end. Company has the ability to resurface uneven areas with sanding and texture. Pricey but worth the end result.alison B.alison B. ★★★★★ We had a great experience from the beginning to end of our painting project! The original sales/quote process was so professional and the painting went quickly and was done very professionally. This is our second very successful experience with Colorado Commercial & Residential Painting. We'll use them again!Peter H.Peter H. ★★★★★ Colorado Painting provided an excellent quality of work for our exterior and interior house painting projects. The staff and painters were professional, friendly and very easy to work with during the projects. We are very happy with the final painting project. We recommend the company.js_loader
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