Short answer: two coats for most repaints - in our proposals that means a spot coat on repairs and primed areas, then a full top coat. Add primer on bare wood, new drywall and patches. Plan on three or four coats when going from a strong dark colour (deep blue, green, red) to white or a pale colour.
Table of Contents
The standard: spot coat plus top coat
Every surface in our quotes gets two coats "free of runs, sags, drips and holidays" (a holiday is a missed spot). The first is a spot coat - it goes on the patched, primed and bare areas so they do not show through as dull or shiny patches. The second is the full top coat. On a sound wall repainted in a similar colour, that is enough.
When you need primer first
- Bare wood, especially cedar, which bleeds tannins.
- New drywall and drywall patches - unprimed mud flashes through the paint.
- Stains from water leaks or smoke - they need a stain-blocking primer or they come back.
- Glossy old paint or oil-based paint you are covering with latex.
Why colour changes add coats
This is the most common reason a paint job takes longer than expected. A deep blue, green or red wall going to white can need three or four coats to stop the old colour ghosting through, even with good paint. Light to dark is easier, but deep colours themselves often need an extra coat to look even.
Our rule with clients is simple: tell us the colours before we quote, and the number is final. If the colour changes after the quote, the coat count can change too. More on that in what changes a quote.
Exterior coats in Vancouver
Outside, two coats of a good acrylic over proper prep is our standard. We also offer a 5-year warranty option with double coats on exteriors - more film means more protection against our rain and UV on south and west walls. Products we spec most on exteriors are Sherwin-Williams Duration and Benjamin Moore Aura.
Things that do not reduce coats
- "Paint and primer in one" helps on sound, similar-colour repaints. It does not replace a real primer on bare wood or stains.
- Applying one thick coat. It sags, dries slowly in our damp air, and still shows the old colour.
- Cheap paint. Lower-hide paint means more coats, which costs more labour than the paint saved.
How to tell if a second coat is needed
Look at the wall in daylight from an angle. Patchy sheen, lap marks or the old colour showing through means another coat. Wait for the first coat to dry fully - wet paint always looks darker.
Frequently asked questions
Is one coat ever enough?
On a touch-up in the same colour and sheen, sometimes. For a whole room, rarely.
Do ceilings need two coats?
Usually. Ceilings show roller marks and missed spots in raking light from windows.
How long between coats?
Read the can. Most water-based paints can be recoated in a few hours in warm, dry conditions - longer in a cold, damp Vancouver winter.
Does white need more coats than other colours?
White over a dark colour does. White over white does not.
