Painters In Columbia Share 10 Things You Must Know From Interior Painters

You’ve been locked inside for months. You’re surely getting tired of your dreary walls. Why not take the time to paint and give yourself a new interior to look at. Here are 10 things you should know from our interior painters in Columbia, MD.

Sheen For Luster And Protection

Some would argue that as important as the color you choose is the sheen. This offers luster and protection to your color you’ve chosen. For high traffic, high touch or high mess walls, pick a satin or high gloss finish. For rooms like bathrooms and kitchens, these finishes will stand up to the scrubbing to remove dirty fingerprints, avoid moisture absorption and stand up to grease splatters. This finish will add light to the room and could show imperfections or dents. It’s also recommended you choose a lower luster paint for relaxing rooms like bedrooms and studies.

Choose Your Color And Your Mood Will Follow

Picking a color can overwhelm anyone. This is the reason so many of us throw in the towel and opt for off white or cream. Don’t be afraid of more vivid colors. Some choices are relaxing or calming while not being dark. For a spa like feel, go light blue, or offer a calmness with the great outdoors in a barely there green. Feeling confident in your color choice? Awesome. Don’t commit to gallons yet. Get a tester pint mixed. Paint in on a large poster board. Move that board around the room throughout the day, and different lights, as well as put it in the eye line site from other rooms. This will allow you to swatch test the color without messing up your walls.

Planning And Budgeting

Don’t overspend on your project. Knowing the right amount of paint allows you to stay cost-conscious without cutting yourself short for the project. Use the square footage of the room and plan for several coats, plus messes and spills. Normally a gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet.

Prep And Then Prepare

Our pros will insist you should plan for ⅔ of your work time to be in the preparation. This means spending a good deal of time cleaning, repairing, taping and removing hardware. This will all add up in man hours you put into your paint job. Plan your work accordingly to make sure you stay on track and finish with a professional looking paint job.

This Is Prime Time

There are times when priming is an absolute necessity. These include working with virgin drywall, patches or distinct drywall. This means investing the time and money into primer and applying it on the walls. Some stores will offer tinted primer. This can help vivid colors show more vibrantly and provide better overall coverage. Priming helps adhesion on patches and virgin walls for a better overall finished look.

How Do I Cut In?

Cutting in is a tried and true method of forming straight edges. This means painting the edges and corners first, then finishing the larger swaths of wall. Using a smaller brush and more careful strokes creates a border between your trim and walls allows you to swiftly roll the walls in a W shape for the best coverage.

Don’t Be Afraid To Go Big On Supplies

One area you shouldn’t be afraid to buy extra in is the supplies. Rollers and brushes can seem like overkill when the register rings up, but having both available during the job is crucial. Each serve a different purpose and skipping one or the other could end up costing you. Economy rollers and brushes are available, but our pros suggest going a level higher. These are higher quality and won’t leave fuzz or bristles behind to dry in the paint.

Hard To Reach? Try The Extension

While you might not be able to avoid climbing on a ladder altogether for your work. If you have a high ceiling or are working on vaulted walls, consider purchasing an extension. This will save you a number of ladder climbs with heavy paint and messy brushes.

Quality Control For Your Paint

A room rarely needs only one gallon of paint. While mixers are very thorough with their color work, there can be slight variations. Use a professional technique called boxing to avoid issues with the color being off. Use a large bucket and put your gallons together before you start painting.

Let The Professionals Help

If this all seems too overwhelming, we’re here to help. Schedule a free, in-home estimate with our interior painters in Columbia, MD.