Pets, Kids and Painting Days
By Lemoon's Painting
On painting days, keep pets and children out of the work area entirely rather than just away from wet paint. Tell the painter about every animal and every gate before the start, set up a quiet room or a day away for wash and spray days, keep birds and fish tanks well clear of fumes, and remember that paint dry to the touch is not yet cured.
A painter will notice wet paint. A dog will not, and neither will a three-year-old. Most of the trouble on painting days with pets and children is not dramatic: a tail through a fresh doorframe, a cat asleep on a drop cloth, a gate left open because the hose was running through it. All of it is avoidable with a little planning before the first morning.
Tell the painter about everyone in the house
At the estimate, mention every animal and every child who will be home during the work, and where they usually spend the day. It changes small but important decisions: which gate the crew uses, whether the dog door gets masked, where the cans and tools are kept, which room is painted first so another stays available as a quiet room.
Ebenezer manages every project personally, so this is one conversation with one person, not a message passed along a chain.
Exterior days, one at a time
The wash
Power washing is loud and wet, and it is often the day an anxious dog finds hardest. Water reaches the yard, the patio and sometimes the windows. A quiet interior room with the radio on, a walk at the start of the day, or a day with a friend or at daycare all work better than a dog pacing the side yard.
Repair and masking days
Scraping, sanding and the sound of ladders being moved are less dramatic but constant. Windows are covered while masking is in place, so the house can get warm in the afternoon; plan the pets’ room accordingly. If your home was built before 1978, as many in the older parts of National City were, dust from old coatings matters most for small children and animals that live close to the floor. Ebenezer is EPA lead-safe (RRP) certified, so that old paint is scraped and sanded the lead-safe way.
Painting days
Wet paint on gates, fences, railings and doorframes is where pets pick it up. Keep animals away from any freshly painted surface they could brush against, and assume a gate that was painted this morning is still soft this evening. If paint is sprayed, keep everyone indoors on that side of the house.
Interior days
Inside, the rule fits in a line: one closed door between the family and the work. Use the room plan to make that possible:
- Paint one area at a time, so the rest of the house stays normal.
- Keep doors closed or gated, including a baby gate where a door has to stay open to dry.
- Move pet beds, crates, bowls and litter trays before the first day, not halfway through.
- Keep cans, trays and rags out of reach. That is the painter’s job, but it is worth saying out loud.
- Ventilate: windows open where the weather allows, and air moving out of the room rather than through the house.
- Plan around naps and routines. Tell the painter if a child sleeps at midday or someone works from home; noisy work can often be scheduled around it.
Doors and trim usually take longest to be ready for handling, because they are painted last and touched most. Expect some to be propped open for a while.
Birds, fish and small animals
Birds have sensitive lungs and should be moved well away from the rooms being painted, ideally to the far side of the house with fresh air. Cover aquariums and keep them away from any spray. Small animals in cages on the floor should be moved out of the work area entirely.
Odor and the products themselves
Most modern water-based paints carry much less odor than older coatings, and Dunn-Edwards and Sherwin-Williams both make low-odor lines for interiors. If anyone at home is sensitive to smells, ask at the estimate which product is proposed and why. There is more on choosing finishes and timing for a child’s room in painting a nursery or a child’s room.
After the last coat
Dry to the touch is not the same as cured. The label gives a cure range, and until it has passed, the film is softer than it will be. Keep crates, pet beds and toy boxes a little away from fresh walls, avoid scrubbing anything for a few weeks, and check paws after a day in the yard. If a dog has rubbed against a fresh door frame in spite of everyone’s efforts, tell the painter; a small touch-up is part of finishing well.
A house that keeps running
Painting works best when it fits around the household, not the other way round. On a family home in Chula Vista or anywhere else, that means a plan agreed before the start, a clear boundary each day and someone who answers when you have a question. Read more about interior painting and how a job goes.
Tell Ebenezer about the dog, the cat, the children and the nap schedule when he comes to look at the house. Ask for a free estimate, and he will plan the days around the people and animals who live there.
Common questions
Is it safe to have pets in the house while painting?
It is safest to keep them out of the rooms being painted and away from the work area outside. Most modern water-based paints have far less odor than older coatings, but wet paint, drop cloths, open cans and ladders are still hazards for a curious animal. Ventilate well, and keep birds in particular well away from any fumes.
How long after painting can my dog or cat go back in the room?
Once the paint is dry to the touch and the room has aired out, the room is generally usable, but the film is still soft for some time. The label gives a cure range. Until then, keep pet beds, crates and scratching posts away from fresh walls, and wipe paws if they have been near anything newly painted.
Should children stay away during an exterior repaint?
During the work, yes. Ladders, planks, hoses, a pressure washer and a sprayer are not play equipment, and children are drawn to all of them. Agree a clear boundary on the first morning, such as a side of the yard that is off limits, and keep doors to the work area shut.
What about older homes and paint dust?
If your home was built before 1978, the old paint may contain lead, and dust from scraping or sanding it is a concern for children and pets above all. Ebenezer is EPA lead-safe (RRP) certified, so the old surface is handled that way and the work area is kept separate from the family.