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Cover Walls That Show Years of Wear
Interior Painting Services in Birmingham, Alabama
When walls in your Birmingham home show scuff marks that will not wipe clean, nail pops that have cracked through the paint, or color that has faded unevenly near windows, interior painting restores smooth, uniform surfaces that look intentional rather than neglected. You might need to cover dark accent walls that no longer suit the room, repaint ceilings that have yellowed from age, or refresh trim that has chipped around door frames. South's Finest Roofing prepares surfaces, applies primer where needed, and rolls or brushes finish coats that dry without streaks or lap marks.
Interior painting in Birmingham involves moving furniture to the center of rooms, covering floors and fixtures with drop cloths, and filling holes or cracks with spackle that is sanded flush once dry. We clean walls to remove dust and grease, scrape loose paint, and sand glossy surfaces so new paint adheres properly. Trim, doors, and windows are masked with tape, and outlets are covered to keep paint off electrical components.
If you need interior painting in Birmingham and want to understand how long the work takes, reach out to South's Finest Roofing to discuss your project and schedule a walkthrough.
Surface Prep Determines How Long Paint Lasts
Painting begins by filling nail holes and drywall dings with spackling compound, then sanding those spots smooth after they dry. In Birmingham, we wipe walls with a damp cloth to remove dust, then apply stain-blocking primer over water stains, marker, or crayon so discoloration does not bleed through the topcoat.
Once primer dries, you will see walls that look uniform in sheen and color, with no shadows or patches that stand out under angled light. We roll two finish coats in a consistent pattern, cutting in edges with a brush before rolling the field to avoid visible lines where the two meet. Ceilings are painted first, then walls, then trim, so each layer overlaps the one below without leaving gaps.
We remove tape while the final coat is still slightly tacky to prevent peeling, then touch up any spots where paint pulled away from the edge. Outlet covers go back on after paint has cured, and furniture is moved back once floors are clear. The work does not include wallpaper removal, texture repair, or refinishing cabinets unless specified in the original estimate. If walls have significant texture damage or uneven surfaces, those conditions affect how smoothly paint applies and may require additional prep work.
These Questions Come Up Often
Interior painting raises practical questions about prep work, paint types, and drying times. Addressing these helps set expectations for how the project will unfold.
- How long does interior paint take to dry before I can move furniture back? Most paints dry to the touch within an hour but need 24 hours before you place objects against the walls. Full cure takes up to 30 days, so avoid scrubbing or hanging heavy items during that time.
- What causes paint to peel off trim shortly after it is applied? Peeling happens when glossy or dirty surfaces are not sanded or cleaned before painting, leaving nothing for the new coat to grip. Skipping primer on bare wood or previously stained trim also causes adhesion failure.
- Why do some walls require two coats when others only need one? Dark or bold colors need two coats to fully cover lighter shades beneath, and high-traffic areas benefit from the added durability. Lighter colors over white primer sometimes cover in one coat if applied evenly.
- What sheen should I use for different rooms? Flat or matte finishes hide wall imperfections but do not clean well, so they work best in low-traffic spaces like bedrooms. Satin and eggshell finishes tolerate washing and suit living areas, while semigloss is durable enough for kitchens, bathrooms, and trim.
- How do you prevent paint from getting on hardwood floors? We tape canvas drop cloths to baseboards and overlap them by at least six inches so rollers do not flick paint onto exposed floor. Plastic sheeting slides too easily and traps moisture, which can damage wood floors.
