Interior and Exterior Painting in Georgia

Interior and exterior painting share a few basics, such as clean surfaces, the right primer and two even coats, but the work is different enough that we treat them as separate services. Inside, the focus is on smooth walls, crisp lines and protecting your floors and furniture. Outside, it is about repairing and sealing siding and trim against sun and rain. This page explains both for homeowners across metro Atlanta, with separate city lists for interior and exterior work.

Interior painting: preparation decides the result

Most of the time on an interior job goes into preparation. Furniture is moved or covered, floors are protected, and switch plates come off. Nail holes and dents are filled, cracks along trim are caulked, and patched areas are sanded smooth and spot-primed so they do not show through as dull patches.

Bare drywall and new patches need primer, which seals the paper and joint compound so the finish coat dries evenly. Water stains, smoke marks and some knots in wood trim need a stain-blocking primer, or they bleed through fresh paint.

Choosing interior colors and sheens

Sheen affects both looks and durability. Flat paint hides surface flaws and is common on ceilings. Eggshell and satin are easier to wipe clean and suit most walls, including hallways and kids’ rooms. Semi-gloss is typical on trim, doors and cabinets because it stands up to handling. Testing color samples on your own walls, in daylight and at night, avoids surprises. The usual order is ceilings first, then walls, then trim and doors, with two finish coats in most cases.

Exterior painting: repairs, weather and materials

Exterior work starts with a close look at siding, trim, fascia and window sills for rot, peeling and gaps. Soft or rotted wood is replaced before painting, because paint will not hold up on it. The house is washed to remove dirt and mildew and allowed to dry, then loose paint is scraped and sanded, bare wood is primed and open joints are caulked.

Paint makers list the temperature and humidity range for application on the label, and rain or heavy dew soon after painting can spoil a coat, so exterior schedules depend on the forecast. Each material has its own needs: wood and fiber cement take paint well with proper prep, brick and stucco need masonry products, and vinyl siding should only get colors the paint maker rates as safe for vinyl, since dark colors can make it warp. If the house was built before 1978, the old paint may contain lead, which changes how scraping and sanding are done.

What a painting estimate should list

For interiors, a clear estimate names the rooms and surfaces included (walls, ceilings, trim, doors, closets), the repairs and priming, the number of coats, the paint product and sheen, and who moves furniture. For exteriors, it lists the surfaces (siding, trim, soffits, doors, shutters), washing, scraping, wood replacement, caulking, primer and finish coats. Rotted wood found once work begins is described and agreed in writing before it is replaced.

When a permit might come up

Painting on its own is surface work. If the job grows to include replacing siding, structural repair or electrical changes, check with your city or county building department whether a permit is needed. Planning new floors at the same time? Painting usually goes first, so drips and ladder feet never touch the new surface, and our hardwood floor installation page covers the flooring side.

Interior painting by city

The pages below cover walls, ceilings and trim inside the home, one city at a time.

Exterior painting by city

These pages cover siding, trim and other outside surfaces in each city.

Frequently asked questions about house painting

Does new drywall really need primer before paint?

Yes. Bare drywall paper and joint compound absorb paint at different rates, so without primer the finish coat can look blotchy, with patches and seams showing through as dull areas. A primer made for new drywall seals both surfaces so the color and sheen come out even. Patched spots on older walls need the same treatment, even when the rest of the wall is already painted.

Why does weather matter so much for exterior painting?

Exterior paint needs the right conditions to bond and cure. Every product label lists a minimum temperature and other limits, and rain, heavy dew or very high humidity before the paint has set can wash it off, leave streaks or cause poor adhesion. Painting a wall in direct hot sun can also make paint dry too fast. Schedules are planned around the forecast for that reason.

Can vinyl siding be painted a darker color?

It can, but with care. Dark colors absorb more heat from the sun, and vinyl siding can warp or buckle if it gets hotter than it was designed for. Several paint makers offer colors formulated for vinyl and state which shades are safe to use. Choosing from those colors, and preparing the siding properly first, avoids most problems.

Plan your painting project

Call 404-409-4448 to tell us which rooms or which parts of the outside of your house you want painted. We can arrange a visit to look at the surfaces, talk through colors and products and prepare a written estimate.