The wife and I just finished painting the media room. The room isn't dedicated specifically for movie watching because I don't really want a room for that purpose.

I couldn't stand the ugly yellow they paint the walls in new homes and since I watch movies in there, it wasn't doing me any favors by bouncing light all over the place when I'm watching movies. So we paid the room a flat reddish color. More specifically it's called drumbeat by Glidden.

This is the first time that either her and myself have painted a room. It looks a little light in spots but I hope that this will even out in the drying process.

This brings me to my question.........How long should I wait for the paint to dry? I'm realllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy anxious to see how it affects the picture quality on my HD70.

I have newfound respect for those guys who paint for a living. Just taping that stuff that I didn't want to get paint on was a job within itself.

Any ideas at how things are going to change once I get my setup going again in the picture quality department?

I would wait at least a couple of hours. Red colors take numerous coats. A grey primer (I know it is too late) helps reduce the number of coats. I did a room in red that took 5 coats to get it to look right.

Come ooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnn, say it ain't so.

I can't take painting that room anymore..........lol.

Hmmmm went with a red huh?

Im afraid that without using a gray primer you may be in for a few more coats.....So now is the time to ask yourself these questions.....how big is the room? How many coats might it take? & How much paint are you going to use to get it where you want it?

There may be a case for going back with the primer and starting the red color over (assuming you only have one coat of red on now).

Oh Noooooooo, there's no going back now. If I can't get what I want out of the next coat, then that's going to be what I'm settling for.

Oh Noooooooo, there's no going back now. If I can't get what I want out of the next coat, then that's going to be what I'm settling for.

You may not have the temperament for DIY home improvement projects and may be better off getting a part time job and hiring someone to do it for you.

You may not have the temperament for DIY home improvement projects and may be better off getting a part time job and hiring someone to do it for you.


May not? I know I don't. The wife suggested I do that. But since I had never tried it, I thought I'd try my hand at it. Well, I'm better for having tried it. Won't do it again though. And, I don't need a part time job to hire a painter, the income from my full time job can handle that.

The rest of the house goes into the hands of professionals..........lol.

The rest of the house goes into the hands of professionals..........lol.

It takes a big man to recognize his shortcomings. Enjoy your media room!

Red sucks sucks sucks sucks sucks. That how many coats you may need and more. The problem is I think the base they make it out of is white. Ask you paint guy what variation of red has a thicker base, so you only have to do 1 or 2 coats. We have a deep wine color that when over purple and it only took 2 coats.

Latex paint takes 30 minutes to dry, except in corners where the paint is thicker. Personally I don't work in the room until the next day.

Oil paint takes 24 hours to dry, and then still is tacky for weeks.

Also I found that the designer paints, (the ones the wifey always picks) seem to require more coats. The contractor grade seems to work better, and the paint guy should be able to match the designer color. Sometimes they won't do it though, since they want you to buy the expensive stuff. I once bought white at Odd Lots and the stuff was fantastic. (Probable had lead in it:))

As a DIY'r myself I believe painting skills might be the number one skill to have. Every project seems to end in painting.

My wife and I did our kitchen in a cherry red and even with tinting the primer it took four coats.

If your wife likes to paint, like mine does, then let her do the painting. My wife usually yells at me when I paint because I go for quantity over quality, so now I stay out of her way when its time to paint.

Good Luck

My wife ends up having a meltdown when she paints, and I hate painting, so I've learned what the above have mentioned...primer primer primer. Also, taping may suck, but cutting the edges without it (and then having to clean up after the screwups/redo areas) can take just as much time.

As for the red, haven't done that color yet, but I can imagine it will take at least the 3 or 4 good thick coats others have mentioned.

I am a DIY'er, but I have no qualms about letting the pros do the work, too.

taping may suck, but cutting the edges without it (and then having to clean up after the screwups/redo areas) can take just as much time.


That's the truth. I use a really nice 2 inch brush cut on an angle for cutting in (~$15-20 at hardware store), and once you learn how the brush bends and practice a bunch, you'll be painting much faster. Paintings one of those things you either don't mind or hate.

i don't mind painting, but I hate plumbing.