Can you paint townhouses

The first thing to learn more about is paint durability. Most interior paint jobs are expected to last between five and 10 years. The exact durability is dependent on the paint type, quality of the job, location, and amount of wear-and-tear the walls endure.

Even if a property is kept in perfect condition, the walls will eventually need to be repainted. Paint wears out over time, and the color will gradually fade and become dingy. A professional paint job should last approximately 10 years, according to the experts. Of course, scuffs, chips, and marks are normal parts of wear and tear. As long as the walls are in good condition, you can choose to put off repainting for as long as possible.

If there are holes in the wall or ceiling, many landlords take the opportunity to repair the problem area and repaint it. As long as you are repainting one area, you may as well complete the entire wall or the room, depending on time and materials available.

Otherwise, the new paint will be much brighter and cleaner than the older paint and the room will be more unsightly. Another aspect of rental property management that you will want to consider while deciding how often to repaint is turnover. The turnover rate will have a significant effect on the frequency of repainting your units.

If you are getting new tenants yearly, you will probably need to repaint every two or three years, if not sooner, due to damages. When setting up your lease agreement, you may want to consider adding a section that details the rules about painting and how often the property will be repainted.

You can even describe what is and what is not considered normal wear-and-tear. If the landlord approves of a tenant painting the apartment, you will want a lease agreement created. This can be an addendum to the lease or a simple agreement that includes names, dates, and signatures for both the landlord and tenant. The addendum should also contain a brief write-up that explains the landlord is granting the tenant permission to paint specified rooms in the rental.

A simple one-page sheet with a copy provided to both parties after signing will work well. In most cases, landlords are not required to repaint their properties between tenants. Only in a few places is it required by law for landlords to paint a rental between tenants. While many landlords choose to do it for marketing and aesthetics, they are not compelled to in most areas. As long as interior paint meets all conditions for habitability not lead-based or chipping or peeling , paint does not have to be new for a tenant to take occupancy.

In some areas, such as rent-controlled communities, landlords may need to paint rental properties. In New York City, landlords must paint every three years, while in West Hollywood, landlords have a four-year requirement. In Ohio, no state law requires landlords to paint according to any schedule. Still, of course, many landlords do so because it is easier to market their rental properties to prospective tenants. It may just be a preference.

Due to cost and inconvenience, most landlords paint every three to five years and try to coincide with a turnover. Because painting is such a hassle for both the painter and the occupant, and empty rooms are much easier to paint than those with furniture and belongings, many landlords choose to paint between tenant occupancies.

Of course, it is easier for both landlords and tenants to document the condition of a rental when there are near new walls in place, making it easier to note and track any damages. Another thing that impacts durability is the different finishes. Choosing the right finish can mean the difference between years of durable and lasting painted walls or dull, inadequate coverage in all the wrong places.

Here is a brief overview of the types of paint finishes and where they work best:. They can accomplish the task that looks great in a shorter amount of time than you could do the job. Painting the interior of a home is much more than just moving a paintbrush around, and you will be happier with the results of a paint crew unless you know what you are doing. That said, there are plenty of landlords who paint their rental properties themselves with impressive results. When choosing a color for your rental property, most landlords recommend sticking to relatively neutral colors so that the walls will appeal to as many potential tenants as possible.

Sticking to tan, sage, cream, beige, off-white, and other neutral colors is likely to be most popular with those coming to tour your rental unit. If you allow your tenant to paint any color they want, make sure to provide them with a list of approved colors to repaint after they move out.

Landlords have many responsibilities , but you can decide when to paint your rental property and how often. Here are five things to consider that might help you decide to paint or not to paint:.

After a tenant has moved out, take a close look at the walls during your move-out inspection. Make sure to also compare the condition of the walls to what they were like during the move-in inspection. If there are chips or damage beyond what is expected, make sure to quote the repair cost to the tenants and withhold that amount from their security deposit.

Sometimes scuffs, smudges, dirt, and oils can build up on the wall, and an easy clean with mild soap and water can refresh the paint quickly. Magic erasers and spot scrubbers also work wonders on scuffs. Focus especially on door frames, window trim, around light switches, and other high-traffic areas. While some landlords are flexible with tenants painting and decorating their apartments as they please, others have more stringent guidelines.

These rules often protect landlords from being left with paint spills on the floors or furnishings, unsightly colors left on walls and can save them time, money and frustrations. If you have the permission from your landlord to paint your apartment rental, adhere to their specifications to make the process smooth for both parties involved, and enjoy your personalized space!

For more questions on lease agreements, to find the perfect rental property or to enlist the professional services of a Licensed Property Manager, visit us here.

Gallery Wall. Share this article. So how can you identify the original color of the walls? Instead, see if you can chip off a tiny fragment of paint from a bottom of an unnoticed corner and take it to a paint store.

Most have the tools and technology to identify every color under the sun, and they can help you narrow it down. Picking the right paint colors for your walls is the most exciting part of any paint job.

The following colors are notoriously difficult to paint over, and should be avoided:. This rings especially true when tackling a paint job. Prepping is probably the most important part of the paint job.

Work from the ceiling to the floor. For best results, roll the paint across the wall in an X, V, or W pattern and fill in the connection points. You should plan to use two coats of paint, leaving at least a few hours between each to dry thoroughly.

Nothing is more of a giveaway than paint being found in places where there once was none. If you spilled any paint on the floors or fixtures, clean those up ASAP. After cleaning, sit back and admire your handiwork. Here are 4 of the best tips to help you paint over your walls. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

I Accept Show Purposes. Remodel Home Improvement. By Julia Millay Walsh. Julia Millay Walsh. MyDomaine's Editorial Guidelines. Meet the Expert Sasha Bikoff is a New York interior designer who's outfitted some of the country's most impressive homes.

Paint Your Walls. Swap Out Light Fixtures. Apply Removable Wallpaper. Install Shelves. Replace Old Kitchen Materials.

Refinish Dated Bathroom Tile. Add Stylish Hardware. Change Your Bathroom Mirror. Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets. Get New Switch Plates. Update Your Shower Head. Remove Cabinet Doors. Layer Light With Sconces. Refinish the Floors. Play With Countertops. Related Stories.