[subego]

I've just painted a room that was contractor white.

I've put on one coat. It looks fine. Is there any reason to do another?

It's Behr Premium Plus, if that matters.

[residentEvil]

are you happy with it (is it fully dry)? if so, then that is all that matters and don't do another coat.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Second coat made a big difference to the three rooms I've recently painted along with the one ceiling. With the exception of the ceiling, the paint was applied over a different colour however, so YMMV in that respect. I'd recommend a second coat based on that experience.

[andi*pandi]

If it's white on white, it might be ok, but wait for it to dry fully and check in full light. I've always heard two coats is the way to go, but then again that's from paint companies.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by subego 

I've just painted a room that was contractor white.

I've put on one coat. It looks fine.

When I paint, I typically only wear a T-shirt, not a coat.

You definitely would be too warm in two coats.

Oh, wait

-t

[Athens]

A good primer + a single coat of paint (the high quality stuff designed for single coats) should be enough. Since the wall was already white you don't even need the primer. From experience though rooms I have painted, first coat always looked real good and this was white on white like you did but when I applied the second coat it always looked even better even though before the second coat it looked good. But I never used the good quality paint either because the places I have painted was rentals and was on my way out.

[Face Ache]

Originally Posted by subego 

I've just painted a room that was contractor white.

I've put on one coat. It looks fine. Is there any reason to do another?

It's Behr Premium Plus, if that matters.

This depends on:

a) How good the paint is.

b) How good a painter you are.

c) How fast a painter you are.

d) What colour it is. Any bright colour will look washed out with just one coat.

But primarily, are you happy with it? Or will the walls call to you at 3AM on sleepless nights. "One coat... one coooaat!"

I've probably painted 80+ rooms over the years, and always do a second (or third) coat.

[Doofy]

Have some taste and stick some nice flock wallpaper up... ...then you wouldn't have to worry about how many coats of paint.

[subego]

Thanks for the replies!

I ended up taking the risk and sticking with the one coat.

Looking at it now it would have been better with another coat, but that amount of betterness didn't achieve a proper better to pain in my ass ratio.

[Eug]

When I painted the living room burgundy, it needed something like 4 coats. This is with top of the line Benjamin Moore paint.

With white on white, you can get away with one to two coats.

[subego]

It's a medium grey, eggshell.

It also turned out not to be the color or finish I wanted, which was another factor in me wanting to be done with it.

[subego]

Looks okay from a distance.

You can't see how the masking tape really did a number on the moulding paint.

[Eug]

You can get painters tape, which isn't as sticky.

However, because it's not as sticky, it might not always hold the edge as well as regular masking tape. It's also much more expensive.

[subego]

That's what I used. It both held a crummy edge and stripped the paint.

And yes, it's freaking expensive.

[Eug]

Really? Hmm... I've never had a problem with painters' tape stripping that semi-gloss paint off moulding. I have seen it strip off cheap flat finish builders paint from drywall though.

[subego]

I'm going to guess the moulding was just slathered in the same contractor white as the walls.

At least, that's what it looks like to my untrained eye.

[Face Ache]

Originally Posted by subego 

It's a medium grey, eggshell.

It also turned out not to be the color or finish I wanted, which was another factor in me wanting to be done with it.

Wait, you're unhappy with it so that's good enough?!

That colour should have had a grey undercoat and two top coats. I'd slap another two coats on top. Only gonna get darker though, so if you were expecting lighter you're SOL.

That grey looks kinda... grey. Is that what you were after?

[subego]

Yup. Just lighter, and flat.

[The Final Dakar]

It's a nice color.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

Well that's the most awkwardly obvious online pickup attempt I've seen in a while

[The Final Dakar]

Someone feels neglected.

[Tiresias]

I like the white ogee molding.

[subego]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

It's a nice color.

Thank you!

I don't dislike it, it's just not as practical as what I wanted. It's going to be sort of a workroom/gear storage area. Most of my gear is dark, so there's very little contrast between my shelves of crap and the walls.