Are there any interior paints which are really "one coat"?

[dennis thompson]

I am getting ready to paint the living room and dining room. They are currently a light beige.
Are there any interior paints which are truly "one coat"?
Thanks

[Jason Roehl]

I am getting ready to paint the living room and dining room. They are currently a light beige.
Are there any interior paints which are truly "one coat"?
Thanks

Not if you want a quality paint job.

[Bill Gugel]

Good answer.

[Jason Roehl]

Good answer.

Been living that answer for 19+ years.

[ken masoumi]

You could use one coat of paint over a good quality primer .

[Phil Thien]

You could use one coat of paint over a good quality primer .

I even suck at that, I need two coats of the color coat for a good result.

I know I am a painting failure, it takes me forever.

[glenn bradley]

You could use one coat of paint over a good quality primer .

Thanks a lot Ken. I just blew a mouthful of PB&J all over the monitor.

[George Bokros]

If I have to prime I still apply two top coats, just seems to produce a much better job.

[Chris Padilla]

No, no, no!! I think the minimum is always 2 coats. It is just the way it works.

[Bruce Page]

Been living that answer for 19+ years.

Jason, when you're painting a large wall surface area do you use a roller, power roller, or spray?

[Brian Elfert]

I had real good luck with Behr Ultra last fall. It only took one coat after I applied primer. The only spots that needed touch up are spots where we missed with the roller. I had to prime all the walls due to using three buckets of mud to patch the walls and also because the walls were absolutely filthy from the previous owner.

[Jason Roehl]

Jason, when you're painting a large wall surface area do you use a roller, power roller, or spray?

Simple answers? In new construction, I spray (and back-roll while wet), and on an already-painted surface, I roll. I use an 18" roller if it's going to be more than about 3 gallons, 9" roller if less. Almost always a 3/4" nap.

If you want more in-depth answers than that, you'll have to swing by Lafayette and buy me a beer or three sometime.

[Jason Roehl]

If I have to prime I still apply two top coats, just seems to produce a much better job.

I agree it does, for 3 main reasons.

1. Color coverage. Paints have certainly gotten better about this in recent years, but generally it takes two coats minimum to fully change colors. With a very stark color difference, it may even take three or more.

2. Sheen change. Especially if you're going from a flat paint to satin or eggshell (or shinier), the full sheen won't be achieved with one coat, so you'll see where the paint is heaviest (usually where the cut-in and rolling overlap, called "hat-banding" locally).

3. Durability. It's all about the mils, baby. The more you have on there, the less likely a scuff or bump is to go through the paint film.

I guarantee your time is worth more than the paint, so don't skimp on the paint. Why waste all that setup, prep and breakdown time on one measly coat that looks cheap? A second coat goes pretty quickly.

[Brian Elfert]

The windows, interior doors, trim and flooring were all out of my house last fall when I painted. I sprayed a primer coat on all walls plus I sprayed the ceilings. The final coat on the walls was done the old fashioned way with a roller. It was really easy with no interior doors or trim installed. No, I didn't do two coats except in limited areas.

[Jim Becker]

...and there are some colors that require three coats, even over properly primed surfaces. Nature of the beast. The best paint job is the one done correctly and that process can vary with multiple factors. Buying good paint isn't an option, however... ...it's necessary regardless.