Paint can transform a space from boring and dull to fresh and new! Before you start your painting project and pick out your colors and painting equipment, be sure to review some of these common painting mistakes that can mean the difference between a professional-looking paint project and one that was completed by a novice.
Avoiding mistakes while painting can translate into a beautiful space while minimal issues such as spilled paint, roller lines, or uneven colors. Let’s review some of the most common painting mistakes novices make when trying to tackle a paint project.
Skipping the Prep
One of the major errors newbies make when starting a paint project is thinking that they can just jump right into painting the walls with minimal preparation.
Professional painters know that there are steps that need to be taken to ensure the paint adheres correctly and that furnishings and floors are not damaged by drips or accidents. For instance, some of the tasks that should take place as part of the preparation for painting include clearing the room as much as possible, dusting and washing the walls, covering the floors with drop cloths, removing light futures (when possible), unscrewing light switch covers and plugs, and making it so the room is as empty as possible before you even lift a brush or roller.
Failure to do these simple steps could make for a less-than-stellar paint job and messes that are hard to rectify.
Skipping the Primer
Lots of people who attempt to paint the interior walls of a home on their own skip this important step. Using a primer to ready the walls to accept new paint and allow for proper adhesion is a critical step that should not be missed.
Primer not only allows for that proper adhesion to the surfaces but brings out the actual color you have chosen. Lack of primer could mean having to use multiple coats of your primary color and uneven adhesion to the walls creating a not-so-professional appearance.
Rushing the Drying Time
Homeowners like to see the fruits of their labor in a weekend or less. Waiting in between coats of primer and paint to dry can seem like a delay in the satisfaction of seeing the final product, but it is an important part of the painting process.
Failure to wait for the paint to dry and cure could lead to tacky paint being painted over or globs of paint getting stuck on your surfaces. Neither of these is probably the look you were aiming for when you began the project.
Too Much Paint
In our world of “more is better,” there is a tendency for novices to paint projects to load their brushes and rollers up with too much paint thinking the job will go faster. Sadly, too much paint can lead to drips, globs, and eventually lines from the overloaded roller showing up on the wall.
Try dipping your brush about a third of the way in the can and wiping off extra to avoid these situations. For rollers, make sure all sides of the nap are covered in paint but that you roll away excess paint before applying it to the wall.
Want to avoid all the hassle and prep work needed for a professional-looking paint job? Try calling our team and scheduling an estimate today.