Paint Prep: Get A Perfect Interior House Painting Finish
Posted on August 12, 2019
Preparation is key when it comes to getting a great outcome on your paint job. One missed spot or paint drip will be all you see after your job is done. Avoid the dings and holidays by learning about paint prep to get a perfect interior house painting finish.
Empty the Room
It seems like extra work to remove the furniture, but it’s a small step that will save you in the long run. If you don’t have the room to pull all of the furniture out of the room, at least move all of the pieces into the center of the room. Cover it with plastic to avoid drips or splashes and make sure you tape it down.
Clean the Walls
Thoroughly dust and wipe the walls down. You’ll be surprised how much dust is lingering on the walls. Use a vacuum nozzle or towels to wipe all of the walls. Mix 3 teaspoons of laundry detergent in one gallon of water. Use the mixture and a sponge to wipe everything down.
Repair Issues
Small cracks and bumps make the difference between a professional looking project, or a home-done one. Use a scraper to remove flaking paint and small bumps. Get some sandpaper to remove smaller imperfections. Fill holes with plaster and correct showing nailheads. The flatter the wall is before you start painting, the better the end project will look.
Gather Materials
Give your walls ample time to dry and start gathering your supplies. Nothing slows down a job like running out for a missed item. Bring all of the brushes, paint, rollers and drop cloths into the room to save running around the house – potentially with paint on your shoe.
Tape it Off
Remove plates, fixtures and any other trim you can’t tape off. Use painter’s tape to seal off baseboards, windows and other architectural design elements you don’t want to paint. Pros say to use a putty knife to seal the tape firmly on the edges.
Prime the Walls
Primer is often overlooked in the steps of painting a room. Using a high quality primer will help hide small nicks in the wall and allow for a good bonding surface for the paint.
Painting Time
Begin the paint by cutting into corners. Next, paint in long and even strokes. When covering the wall, use a W pattern, repeating until the whole wall is painted. This method helps avoid missed spots and holidays.
