An old wall can be considered for repainting once its coating and condition have been assessed. A colour change does not automatically require stripping every wall, but loose paint or unresolved damage changes the job substantially. That distinction is what needs settling before anyone talks about price.
How to build a short condition record
Photograph the room, the previous repairs and any peeling or staining. Tell the painter what you know about earlier coatings and leaks — how many layers there are, when it was last painted, whether oil paint was ever used. If the history is uncertain, ask for an inspection before any abrasive or removal work is proposed.
How old paint is tested
The soundness of a coating is checked on site: a hand drawn across the surface reveals chalking, an inspection of the edges shows where peeling starts, and an adhesive tape test on a small area checks adhesion. A glossy old coating holds a new layer poorly and needs either abrading or a specialist primer.
What separates a refresh from a repair
Two quotes only compare with each other when both describe the same scope:
- Refresh: a sound wall, two coats, local touching up.
- Repair: removing unsound areas, filling, levelling, priming.
- Recurring damage: the cause first, cosmetics afterwards.
- An agreed rule for what happens when a hidden defect appears.
- The approved colour, sheen and number of coats.
- Treatment of edges, recesses and surfaces behind furniture.
What if the new colour is much lighter
Going from dark to light often takes more than two coats. Ask for a sample and a coating specification rather than assuming one extra coat solves every colour change. A high-opacity primer is used where it is needed; read the primer guide and colour selection.
How much material and time it takes
Manufacturers usually state 10-12 m² of coverage per litre per coat, though an old, porous or repaired wall absorbs more. A second coat normally follows after 2-4 hours. The film goes on hardening for up to 28 days, so the wall should be treated carefully through the first month.
Why sanding old paint carries a risk
In buildings from the Soviet period the older layers may be lead-bearing paint, and dry sanding it leaves a hazardous dust. Where the history of a coating is unknown, the work area is isolated and dust control is used. The sources are described in this EPA material.
How to agree what the finished wall should look like
Before handover, settle whether the whole wall is being painted or only a local area: a new patch over old paint is almost always visible. Inspect the result with the painter under the room's normal lighting. For recurring stains, first read damp and staining, then send your photographs with the enquiry.
This general guide was prepared with AI assistance. Technical sources are linked in the text; the specific product instructions and an assessment of the property take precedence over general examples.
