Professional Painting Secrets from Your Local CertaPro Painters

Homeowners are very enthusiastic to begin their own home painting jobs. But if you asked them how they felt half way through the project, most of them would report losing all their enthusiasm immediately after they began. That is when the reality of rolling the entire room(s) comes into view. But most DIYers pull through and finish the job. With different levels of success, of course.

Many novice painters can get the color on the walls with an ok outcome.

However, professionals, like your local CertaPro painters, will elevate the results to get a perfectly polished and professional look.

Through tips and techniques learned throughout their career, knowledge gained in the field, & sheer practice, our local painters at CertaPro always get a better looking end result. We asked them for a little advice.

Here are house painting secrets from the pros.

Clear the area

Clearing out the area will protect your belongings from stray drips or splatters. It will also give you the freedom to move about the workspace freely. Scraping, sanding and painting all can cause quite a bit of a mess. Even with the best taping and drop cloths, accidents happen. Moving around your furniture with paint and brushes is just asking for a rogue drip. Completely removing the furniture is best but if it’s not possible, move all of it to the center of the room.

Do prep work

Preparation to paint should take ⅔ of your job’s total time. This is how professional painters get their great results. For a crisp, finish of a pro, make sure all cracks, dents and holes are addressed. Use putty or spackle to resolve issues. If you have wood damage, try a wood filler. Finish with a good sanding and primer coat.

Sanding

Sanding allows the repaired areas to be feathered into a flat, unrecognizable area. Sanding gives a good tooth for the new paint to adhere to. Sanding sponges provide a good grit to get the appropriate results without over sanding the area. Sanding the previous finish or gloss for the new paint to stick easily to the walls.

Sponge the walls

This is arguably the most skipped step and it’s a huge mistake. You will be surprised by the amount of dust, cobwebs and grime that comes off of your walls. Mix trisodium phosphate no-rinse substitute and a rag to sponge down and wipe the walls. The goal is not to completely soak the wall, but lightly wet it to pull down dirt. Any leftover dirt can get into your paint and cause lumps on your finished wall.

Caulk all cracks

Cracks will make any paint job like shoddy. Use acrylic-latex caulk that is marked paintable to fill any cracks. Give special attention to trip and frames. Our painters insist this is one of the tips to get a professional looking finished job. Make sure the tip of the caulk is smaller than you think it would be. Too much will cause messes.

Use tape – maybe

Professional painters are torn when it comes to tape. It can be helpful in creating a straight line. Because it makes painters feel more confident, they tend to overload the tape causing messes. Take care not to put too much paint on the tape. When applying it, use a putty knife to seal the edge against your brush. Plan for double the dry time you’d assume before you attempt to remove it. Try separating the paint film from the tape with a knife before peeling it off.

Picking primer

The one thing all of our painters agreed on was primer. It’s more than just another coat of paint and an additional step in your process. The primer gives the new paint a solid and even base for the paint to stick to. It will also seal out any stains. To pick the right one, consult with your local paint store. They will help you determine your needs and the primer that’s best for you.

Go for gloss

The room you are painting will determine the sheen of your paint. Flat is good for ceilings and rooms that don’t get used much. If you are working in a room full of messes like a kitchen or bathroom, you’ll want to go for a gloss or eggshell finish. This protects the paint and you’ll have the ability to clean it without damaging the paint.

Paint additives

Some paints have extra additives that make the paint dry more quickly. While the dry time is tempting, the chemicals can make rolling or brushing it on more difficult. Consider the swiftness you’ll need to work with to get a good finish.

Picking a roller

Choosing a tool to paint presents you a lot of options. The ideal tool for vast, open areas you need to paint is a roller. When shopping, remember the longer the nap, the more texture will be left behind when you paint. Pick a roller that will hold a good amount of paint. To get the best of both worlds, pros suggest a ½ inch lamb’s wool roller. Remember, cheap rollers can leave fibers behind so opt for a bit more quality.

Grab a bucket

Grab a 5-gallon bucket and roller grid while your shopping. This provides several benefits. First, you will probably need more than one gallon of paint for your job and while paint mixers are very good, there can still be some variances from one gallon to the next. Mix them together in the bucket before you start to avoid this. The bucket is heavier so it will be more stable and not dance around the floor as you work.

Good brushes

Similar to rollers, economy brushes will leave loose bristles behind in the paint. Experts insist brush make up will save you every time. For finer work, get nylon, but polyester is great for interior work. You’ll want stiff, tapered bristles and match the size to the size of the job.

Close cutting in

Cut in on walls. Load your brush and create a solid line close to the trim you are working around. Spread the excess paint into the wall to feather the edges. Rolling over that will make the lines virtually impossible to see once your paint is all completely dry.

Ceiling to floor

Once you have cut in and are ready to start painting your walls, begin at the top and work your way down. If you are painting the ceiling or crown molding trim, start there. Allow dry time and then start rolling walls from the top down.

Touch ups

There will be touch ups. Even our professional painters occasionally have to head out for a fix up. Expect a touch up or two will be necessary once the job is completed. It’s very difficult to manage to hit ever angle of every corner in one swipe. Store extra paint that’s leftover for a few days and keep a small brush on hand.

These are just a few suggestions from your local CertaPro painters. But if you would rather that we handle all the heavy lifting, call your local Certapro today for an estimate!