A little prep before your painters arrive shortens the job, keeps your belongings safer, and produces a noticeably cleaner finish. Here's the same checklist we give every Callapainter interior painting client before we start.
1. Move What You Can
Take down wall art, photos, mirrors and curtains. Pull books off shelves if shelves are getting painted. Anything fragile should go in another room — we'll move furniture to the center and cover it, but irreplaceable items belong out of the work zone.
2. Clear Surfaces
Empty bookshelves, mantels and countertops in the rooms being painted. If kitchen cabinets are getting refinished, empty their contents — see our cabinet refinishing process for what to expect during cabinet work.
3. Plan Around Pets and Kids
Active rooms are off-limits during application and drying. Plan where pets and kids will be during work hours. We use low-VOC paint as standard, so off-gassing is minimal, but freshly painted surfaces still need to be left alone for a few hours.
4. Note Wall Damage Ahead of Time
Walk the rooms with us during the estimate and flag any cracks, holes, water marks or peeling areas. We'll either include those in the scope or coordinate drywall repair so the finish doesn't telegraph the damage — here's why that matters.
5. Make Color Decisions Early
Have your colors picked, sampled and approved at least a week before start day. Test patches on the actual walls and check them in morning, midday and evening light — our color selection guide covers what to look for.
6. Confirm Access
Make sure painters can get to outdoor outlets, water spigots, and any rooms behind locked doors. Garage codes, alarm codes, and parking instructions should be in our hands the day before.
7. Plan for Power
Sprayers and lights need outlets. Let us know if any circuits in the work area are sensitive (e.g. shared with a home office or server).
8. After-Work Walk-Through
Schedule a final walk-through with the lead painter. Any touch-ups get marked with painter's tape and handled before we leave. Your written warranty starts the day we complete that walk-through.
Ready to Book?
Our crew handles all the heavy prep — drop cloths, masking, moving furniture, sealing off rooms. Your job is mostly to point the way. Request a free interior estimate and we'll send the full prep checklist along with your quote.