Does sanding between coats add much to the cost when repainting interior walls in my Burnaby condo?

Sanding between coats is rarely necessary for standard interior wall repainting and would add significant cost if a contractor recommended it. For most condo repaints in Burnaby, proper surface preparation before the first coat is what matters — not sanding between topcoats.

When Sanding Between Coats Is NOT Needed

For typical condo wall repainting over existing latex paint in good condition, sanding between coats is unnecessary and would be considered excessive prep work. Quality acrylic latex paints like Benjamin Moore Regal Select or Sherwin-Williams Duration are formulated to bond well to the previous coat without mechanical abrasion. The second coat chemically bonds to the first as long as you're recoating within the manufacturer's recoat window (typically 2–4 hours for fast-dry paints, or overnight for standard latex).

Most Burnaby condos built in the 1980s–2000s have drywall with existing latex paint that just needs cleaning, minor hole filling, spot priming, and two fresh topcoats. Sanding between coats here would add 2–4 hours of labour per room and create unnecessary dust in your living space — exactly what you want to avoid in a condo environment.

When Sanding Between Coats Might Be Justified

Sanding between coats is primarily needed for cabinet refinishing and high-gloss trim work where you want a furniture-smooth finish. Kitchen cabinets getting sprayed with Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane benefit from light sanding (220-grit) between the primer and first topcoat, and sometimes between topcoats, to eliminate any texture and achieve that factory-smooth look.

For walls, sanding between coats might be recommended if you're applying a high-gloss or semi-gloss finish in a bathroom or kitchen where smoothness is critical, or if the first coat had application issues like brush marks or roller stipple that need to be smoothed out.

Cost Impact in Metro Vancouver

If a contractor quoted sanding between coats for standard wall repainting, it would add $1–2 per square foot to your project cost — potentially $300–600 extra for an average condo. This includes the sanding labour, dust cleanup, and additional time. Most contractors would use 150–220 grit sandpaper and need to protect your furniture and floors from dust.

For a typical Burnaby condo interior repaint ($2,500–6,000), unnecessary sanding between coats could increase your total by 15–25%. That's money better spent on premium paint that covers better and lasts longer.

What Proper Condo Prep Actually Involves

Quality preparation for condo wall repainting focuses on cleaning, patching, and spot priming — not sanding between topcoats. Walls should be washed with TSP substitute to remove cooking grease and everyday grime, nail holes filled with lightweight spackle, and any stains spot-primed with a stain-blocking primer. Scuff marks and crayon marks get light sanding, but this is surface prep, not between-coat sanding.

Red Flags and Recommendations

Be cautious if a contractor insists on sanding between coats for basic wall repainting — this suggests either inexperience with modern paint formulations or an attempt to inflate labour hours. Quality painters achieve smooth wall finishes through proper roller technique, good paint selection, and maintaining a wet edge during application.

For your Burnaby condo, focus on finding a contractor who emphasizes surface preparation, uses premium low-VOC paint suitable for condo living, and understands strata noise bylaws. The investment should go toward paint quality and skilled application, not unnecessary sanding that creates dust and adds cost without improving the final result.