What To Expect When You’re Expecting… Painters: A Clean, Calm, And Thorough Guide To Painting Your Home The Stanwich Way
Photo by Cal David
Let’s face it: inviting painters into your home feels a little like preparing for houseguests—except these ones arrive with drop cloths, ladders, and the subtle scent of primer.
You tidy up. You second-guess your color choice. You wonder if you should move the dog’s bed.
And then you start Googling things like “Do I need to wash my walls before painters come?” or “Will paint fumes kill my fiddle leaf fig?”
At Stanwich Painting, we’ve seen it all—from hyper-prepared homeowners who label every outlet to the ones who hand us keys and head to the Cape.
So let’s demystify it.
Here’s what to expect when you're expecting... painters.
Before We Arrive: How to Prepare Without Overpreparing
Let’s start with the good news: if you’ve hired professionals like Stanwich, the heavy lifting is ours—not yours.
You don’t need to:
Wash the walls
Spackle nail holes
Move all your furniture to the garage
Apologize for the state of your baseboards (we’ve seen worse)
What helps:
Take down art, shelves, or wall-mounted items
Clear away small, sentimental, or fragile objects
Let us know about pets, alarm systems, or naptime schedules
And if you’re unsure whether something needs moving, just ask. Part of what sets Stanwich apart from other Fairfield County painters is our attention to care—from protecting heirlooms to respecting your time.
Day One: The Prep Work Is the Work
This might surprise you, but day one rarely involves color. Instead, it’s about creating a perfect surface and a safe workspace.
Here’s what we typically do:
Cover floors and furniture with professional-grade drop cloths
Mask off windows, trim, and cabinetry with precision tape
Fill gaps, cracks, and holes
Sand, seal, and prime where needed
Evaluate lighting and surface irregularities
And yes, it may look chaotic at first. But this level of prep is exactly what separates a flawless, long-lasting finish from a rushed job. (Many of our clients have told us this was the key difference between us and past experiences.)
Living in a Work Zone: What It's Actually Like
If we’re working inside your home, we know we’re entering your space. And we don’t take that lightly.
Here’s what you can expect:
Noise: Mostly from ladders, light sanding, and movement—not jackhammers.
Smell: We use premium low- and zero-VOC paints, so odor is minimal and temporary.
Access: We’ll coordinate access points, protect floors, and respect daily routines.
Cleanliness: We clean up at the end of each day. Always.
Many Fairfield County painting companies claim to be “professional.” At Stanwich, we define that as being clean, considerate, and clear in our communication. If we need to adjust a schedule or coordinate around your family’s needs, we do.
What We Promise (And Deliver): Respect, Detail, and Transparency
Here’s our informal code:
We arrive on time
We protect your space like it’s our own
We never leave music blaring, doors unlocked, or dust behind
We label every paint can with color name, brand, and finish before we go
We also walk you through every step of the process before we begin—and provide updates as we progress.
It’s one reason clients say working with us “felt effortless”—and how we’ve built long-term relationships throughout Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Riverside, and beyond.
Curious how we stack up against other painting companies in Fairfield County? Here’s what our clients say—and what we’ve heard from theirs.
After the Last Coat: Drying, Curing, and Touch-Ups
Once the final coat goes on, the transformation begins—but you’ll want to give your space time to breathe.
Here's the rule of thumb:
Drying time: A few hours for surface dryness
Curing time: 7–30 days depending on sheen and brand (we'll advise)
Furniture return: 24–48 hours is ideal for walls to fully set
Hanging art: Wait 2–3 days, especially for satin or semi-gloss finishes
We’re often asked whether we offer post-project touch-ups. The answer is yes—though most of the time, our clients don’t need them. But if a moving company dings your brand-new wall? We’ll fix it.
The Unexpected Ripple Effect
There’s something funny that happens when you paint one room well: it makes you look at everything else differently.
That trim you never noticed is suddenly very… yellow.
Your light fixture feels out of place.
Your throw pillows look tired.
Paint isn’t just a surface change—it’s a perspective shift. We’ve had many clients start with “just the living room” and call us back three weeks later for the entire house. (Don’t say we didn’t warn you.)
Final Thoughts
Painting your home doesn’t have to be a hassle. It doesn’t require you to live in chaos or prep like you’re about to be featured on a home renovation show.
It just requires a team that knows what they’re doing.
If you’re ready for a painting experience that’s calm, clean, and built around you, call Stanwich Painting.
We’re here to make it beautiful—and make it easy.