Should I paint the walls before or after refinishing the floors?

Question

I'm considering repainting my walls and also having the hardwoods resurfaced and refinished. I'm just not sure which order to do it in.

I figured you paint first then worry about the floors, but the floor people suggested I do the floor first because of the dust. Something about not getting the dust on new paint.

what do you think?

Answer 1

The hardwood floors is the last thing you do. Once the paint is dry, the dust will just wipe off. If you refinished the the floors before you paint, you'll have to get the dust off of your walls before your first coat.

Answer 2

Ahh this is the chicken and the egg dilemma. If you are painting yourself, then paint first, the floor sanding will remove the paint drips. If a pro is painting, have the floors done first, have the pro wipe down the walls (you will pay extra for that, but well worth it), drop and cover everything,
and re-paint. But it will always be a 50-50 shot as to wether the floor or walls should be done first ( paint on the floor, or dust on the walls???)

Answer 3

We refinish hard wood floors and are currently doing one. We told the owner to paint the walls first. That way any paint gets on the floor, it will come off with the sanding. Obviously you would wait to sand the floor until the paint is dry. Use a sander that has a vacuum attached that will pick up the sawdust and minimize the dust. If you paint after the floor is refinished, it might have to be lightly sanded to get any paint off that accidently dripped and then another coat of verathane to bring the finish back up

Answer 4

I refinish floors and paint professionally and you should do the floors first! Not only will the dust be brutal but there may be some trim that gets effected from the edger. When you do paint, be sure to place cardboard under your ladder so you don't dent your new floors. good luck and only do it this way. If you were to get any paint on the, they will be sealed now, so you can wipe right up.

Answer 5

I say paint the walls first. If you sand the floor first, you will get a lot of dust on the walls and even the ceiling. You will have dust in crevices you won't see dust in till you start to paint. So, do the walls first. You don't want dust in your paint.

Answer 6

The only problem would be getting the dust on wet paint. I would paint first, but you can do the floors first and then cover every inch of them with drop cloths.

Answer 7

definitely do the floors first, you will have a lot of dust from the floors, also you are trusting that workmen carrying equipment and moving furniture are not going to bang or mark your newly painted walls. At least you can cover dings after while painting.

Answer 8

the floors first, dust would get all over your new painted walls

Answer 9

Paint first and then wait a two weeks or so and do the floors so the paint won't get messed up. That's what we're doing at my new house!

Answer 10

Before! So you dont get any paint on your new floors :) The dust will be fine! Good Luck :)