Should I Repaint the Builder Paint in My Brand New Home?
You do not have to, but there are two good reasons to: you want your own color, or you want walls you can wash. Builders mostly use flat paint, which marks easily and does not clean up well. The easiest time is before your furniture moves in.
This is for people who just bought a new build or are about to close on one. If you like the color and the walls are holding up fine, you can leave them alone. If you want a whole-house change, that is our interior painting service.
Why new homes come with flat paint
Flat paint makes the builder’s job easier. Kristie Barnett, who writes The Decorologist, says it is used almost only in new construction because it cuts down the crew’s work. A small spot can be touched up without showing roller marks.
The trade-off comes after you move in. Sherwin-Williams says flat paint is prone to scuffs and stains. Barnett warns that scrubbing it hard can take the paint right off the wall.
What changes when you repaint
| Flat | Satin or eggshell | |
|---|---|---|
| Scuffs | Sherwin-Williams calls it prone to them | Sherwin-Williams says these work well where walls get nicked |
| Cleaning | A light touch only | Barnett says eggshell scuffs usually wipe off with warm water and a cloth |
| Touch-ups | Easy, with no roller marks | Harder. Barnett says a perfect look often means repainting the whole wall |
So neither finish wins everywhere. Sherwin-Williams lists flat for adult bedrooms, formal living rooms and ceilings. It lists satin and eggshell for hallways, children’s bedrooms and family rooms.
A brand-new home we repainted
In October 2026 our owner, Zsolt Zakara, finished a brand-new home in Lakewood Ranch. In his words, it was “builder painted flat white.” The owner wanted tan, a light beige, so he repainted all the walls in the house and also painted the tray ceiling.
He used Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint with Air Purifying Technology in satin. Sherwin-Williams says this paint helps reduce VOCs, the chemicals some materials give off into the air, from things like carpet, cabinets and fabrics. It also says the effect depends on how much is in the air and how much wall is painted. The paper and tape in the hallway photo below kept the floor covered during the work.
When to do it
Before you move in. Empty rooms are the simplest to paint. If other work is still going on, ask how late changes get handled. Our customer Cindy Dumas wrote that more painting was needed as construction on the home finished.
After you move in. This works too. We cover floors and furniture and clean up the work area each day.
Either way, ask your builder first. Ask whether a final touch-up visit is coming and whether repainting changes anything on your new home warranty. Only your builder can answer those.
New homes around Sarasota and Manatee
New homes keep selling here. Lakewood Ranch, which runs across Manatee and Sarasota Counties, passed 1,000 new home sales in the first half of 2026 by RCLCO’s count, as reported by Sarasota Magazine and the East County Observer. The Observer put Wellen Park in Venice at 727.
What to ask a painter
Cindy Dumas wrote that many painters wanted to spray the inside of the new Dumas home, and some priced it without seeing it. Those are fair things to ask about before you choose anyone:
- Will you see the home before you give a price?
- How many coats are included?
- What paint and what sheen will you use on each room?
- Will all of that be in writing?
Cindy also wrote that Zsolt brought up two coats without being asked, because to him that is how a home should be painted.
From the new home we repainted
01 In their words
What customers said about this kind of work.
Long Review but worthy of reading…An Outstanding Experience with Silver Painting & Cleaning LLC! When our newly completed home was ready for painting, we interviewed several painters before making our decision. Unfortunately, many wanted to spray the interior, while others provided estimates without even taking the time to see our home. Then we met Zsolt Zakara, Owner of Silver Painting & Cleaning LLC. From the beginning, he stood apart. Zsolt personally came to our home, took the time to thoroughly inspect the project, and carefully considered the details before providing his proposal. One thing that impressed us was that we wanted two coats of paint, but we never even had to ask. Zsolt brought it up himself, explaining that this is simply how a home should be painted. That told us a great deal about his standards and commitment to doing things right. Our home also included custom-built coffered ceilings with an interior accent color and multiple layers of decorative molding. This was a very detailed project requiring precision, patience, and exact alignment. As construction was completed, additional painting was necessary, adding even more work to the project. Throughout it all, Zsolt never complained about the additional work or the complexity of the job. He simply took care of it and did an absolutely amazing job. We could not be happier with the finished results. His professionalism, attention to detail, pride in his workmanship, and willingness to go above and beyond made this an exceptional experience. We highly recommend Zsolt Zakara and Silver Painting & Cleaning LLC to anyone looking for a painter who truly cares about the quality of his work. It is refreshing to find someone who takes such pride in doing things the right way!
We used Silver Painting Cleaning to paint our entire new house not only is he very pleasant to work with. He does a great job attention to detail and I would be very comfortable referring him to anyone.
02 Questions
Questions homeowners ask.
Is builder paint bad paint?
It does a job for the builder. Flat paint is easy to touch up during construction. It is just harder to live with, because it scuffs and does not take much scrubbing.
Do I have to repaint everything at once?
No. You can start with the rooms that get the most use. Sherwin-Williams lists flat as a fine choice for adult bedrooms, formal living rooms and ceilings, so those can often wait.
How much does it cost to repaint a new home?
It depends on the size of the home and what you want painted. We come out, look at the home, and give you a free written estimate.
Sources
- The Decorologist, Flat or eggshell paint: the great debate
- Sherwin-Williams, Paint sheen guide
- Sherwin-Williams, SuperPaint with Air Purifying Technology
- Sarasota Magazine, RCLCO mid-year 2026 rankings (July 2026)
- East County Observer, Lakewood Ranch remains No. 1 in sales in mid-year survey (July 30, 2026)
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