When done by professionals, painting may look easy and foolproof. Sadly, this is far from the truth. Painting takes skill, patience, and experience to know what order to complete the tasks and the right products to use for a quality finished product. Preparations to walls and surfaces must be done in advance of picking up a roller or paint brush or the possibility exists that the paint may not cure correctly, peel, appear uneven, or be aesthetically displeasing.
Prepping for your paint project may seem as simple as cleaning the walls but it actually goes a bit further to protect your furnishings and floors, and make the surfaces smooth and clean to have the paint properly adhere to them.
Here are a few pre-paint steps you will want to take to make your project turn out professional looking and transform your space.
Surface Prep
Before you even consider putting on your first coat of primer, thorough cleaning of the ceiling and walls should be completed. If walls have dirt, dust, grime, or debris on them it is not a good idea to start a paint project without washing with warm water and soap.
A smooth, clean surface will allow the primer and final coats of paint to adhere properly and remain durable for years. In order for paint to cure correctly, the walls need to be clean and free of dirt and grime that could eventually cause the paint to peel, bubble or wear away prematurely. Don’t forget to get into the corners where spider webs and debris can settle!
Another critical part of the surface prep is filling all nail holes, and smoothing surfaces where possible. Use putty and a putty knife to fill holes and grooves that have marked the walls and allow them to dry completely before wet sanding and smoothing the surface.
Remove Furnishings and Wall Items
Part of the prep for painting an interior room should be the removal of as much furniture from the room as physically possible. All furnishings that can be moved should be. Rugs, tables, and personal items should all be cleared to avoid damage or injury.
Additionally, all hanging lights should be wrapped in plastic or removed, for the time being, to avoid any drips or splatters. All decorative light switch plates and wall plates should be unscrewed and removed from the wall for easy painting.
Finally, part of the prep process should include covering the floors so if any drips or accidents happen they will not leave any lasting damage to the floor covering.
Gather Tools and Painting Items
Before beginning your project, it’s a good idea to gather your paint, primer, and all the tools you will need including a damp cloth for stray drips, a paint stirrer, brushes, painter’s tape, rollers, trays, and step ladders or roller extenders. This step in the process will save you time when the project is in full swing. You will have everything you need all in one spot.
For a professional transformation of your space talk to one of our team members about scheduling an estimate and getting on the calendar for All Pro Painters to take care of your project for you!