How do you pace your painting projects—slow and steady or all at once?

- Been there, done that. My house was built in 1914, and I swear the walls have a mind of their own.
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There’s something kind of meditative about letting those old walls set the pace, though.

Couldn’t agree more. It’s like the house is telling you when it’s ready. I’ve tried to rush it before—ended up with bubbling paint and had to scrape half a room back down to plaster. Never again.
- A few things I’ve learned the hard way:
- Old plaster takes longer to dry than anything modern. Sometimes it’s days, not hours.
- Humidity messes with everything, especially if your place doesn’t have AC.
- If you skip the “rest” between coats, you’ll pay for it later—peeling, cracking, or that awful alligator skin look.
- Honestly, I used to get frustrated watching friends power through their paint jobs in a weekend. But now I sort of appreciate being forced to slow down. Gives me time to notice weird little details—old pencil marks from past owners, or how uneven the walls really are under bright light.
- Not saying I love dragging projects out for weeks, but there’s something satisfying about seeing the old woodwork come back to life when you do it right. New construction just doesn’t have that same vibe… but yeah, sometimes I do wish I could just slap on a coat and call it done.
- Side note: anyone else notice how old paint smells different when you sand it? Maybe just me, but it’s like opening a time capsule every time I start a new room.

Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve tried to shortcut the drying time on old plaster and paid for it—cracks everywhere. It’s frustrating, but you’re right, there’s something rewarding about doing it right, even if it takes forever. That old paint smell? Not just you. It’s weirdly nostalgic.

I hear you on the cracks—been there, done that, and had to sand everything back down. It’s wild how much patience old plaster demands. I’ve found that if I rush, I end up spending double the time fixing mistakes. That said, sometimes I get tempted to just knock out a room in a weekend, especially if it’s a small space. Do you ever split up big projects over a few weekends, or do you try to get it all done in one go?