How to paint fast without compromising quality

Learn all the pro tips for working on a strict schedule.

Careful planning combined with the right tools and products are key to painting on a strict schedule. Check out these pro tips for maximum efficiency.

Sometimes jobs pile up, especially during high season. When time is of the essence and you want to deliver the best possible quality, it pays off to plan ahead, prep well and choose time-saving products and tools.

Planning & preparation

Plan ahead and schedule your job to minimize idle moments and waiting around. Especially renovation jobs require careful planning, as there are more work phases and variation in drying times. For example, schedule supply runs and lunch breaks according to filler/paint drying times to improve efficiency.

Preparation, which includes protecting surfaces, is a time-consuming phase, but don't cut corners – doing it right is crucial. If you use the wrong type of tape or plastic that doesn't sufficiently protect the surfaces, you will have a lot more cleaning up to do afterwards.
Paint according to need. Sometimes a surface needs only one coat of paint as opposed to a combination of primer and two coats of paint. If the wall is in good condition and the old colour is of a similar shade than the new one, one coat may suffice.

Products

When you want to paint fast without compromising quality, it is good to know what products are available and keep an eye out for innovations with fast overcoating times and better hiding power.

Some paints require only a couple of hours to dry as opposed to the standard 6–8 hours. Paint suppliers are a good source of information – ask for advice and recommendations!

Also look for quick-drying fillers and multi-purpose products, as they can save you plenty of time. New types of fillers provide a thick film in one application and still dry fast. For example, Tikkurila Hole-in-1 is a good product for any tool set: it is an ultra-light filler for holes, joints and cracks on walls and ceilings, especially suitable for one-time filling. It is also practically non-shrinking (<5%).

Tikkurila Hole-in-1

Tools

Rollers are essential to pretty much every painting job, so using a high-quality roller that lifts and distributes paint evenly will save you lots of time and trouble.

Cheap rollers may leave marks and bristles behind, and in a rush, you definitely don't want to spend time fixing something that could've been prevented with proper tools.

If you are painting large surfaces, a paint sprayer is often handy and helps you cover more square meters in less time. But if you're only painting one wall, there is no point in using a paint sprayer, since protecting surfaces and cleaning the sprayer will take up most of your time.