The Spruce / Margot Cavin
Developing an orderly process is crucial inhome remodeling.
Process is an easy call for some tasks: insulation beforedrywall, for example.
What aboutinterior wall paintingand floor refinishing?
The Spruce / Margot Cavin
Should you paint or refinish floors first?
Generally, you should paint first, refinish floors second.
By painting first, you avoid dripping wet paint on a refinished floor.
So, look at both sides and come to the conclusion that works best for you.
Light paint splatter on raw wood can be sanded out.
Heavy paint drips may stain the wood, though.
The drips can stay on the subfloor since they will be covered up.
The downside of painting before refinishing the floors is that sanding dust will gather on the walls.
The throw in of paint gloss or sheen can compound the problem.
Eggshell and semi-gloss sheens can be wiped down.
But flatter sheen paints attract dust.
Flat paint, too, isdifficult it is to clean.
It’s usually easier to clean dusted flat gloss walls with a vacuum and then repaint.
This dust settles not only on horizontal surfaces but it clings to vertical surfaces such as walls.
Sanding first means that the dust clings to bare drywall, which can be cleaned off with a vacuum.
When you run afloor sanderaround a room, there is the possibility of scuffing up newly painted walls.
Paint drips are a major concern.
If the latex paint dries, pry off the drop with a fingernail.
Even so, the pigment can stain the finished floor’s surface.
Which Is Best for You: Walls or Floors First?
The final decision is relative and it depends on your situation, as well as your likes and dislikes.
But you will need to be mindful of sander dust collecting on the walls.
With flat gloss walls, you’re pretty much back to square one: the walls should be re-painted.
If you refinish the floors first, and then paint the walls second, paint drips are a concern.
Since accidents do happen, cover the entire floor with acanvas drop cloth.
Paint drips on a fully cured, finished floor can be wiped off quickly.
Dried paint drips can even be pried off with a fingernail.
But paint drips on raw wood may soak in and be difficult to sand out.
