House Painting Tips from Professional Painters

Most of us are capable of painting a room to a decent look. A professional interior painter in the industry can do a great job. That’s partially because of on the job experience, but also techniques and tips they have gained from being in the field. We spoke with some professional painters to get the best tips they can offer to novices and do-it-yourselfers.

Clear the area

Beyond the stray paint drip, there is prep work that must take place in your room for a professional outcome. The steps include sanding and scraping which can make a big mess. To protect your furniture, and make it easier to complete the job, it’s best to completely remove it from the room. You’ll be able to sashay your way from wall to wall easier. If removal isn’t possible, at least pull everything to the center of the room and cover it with drop cloths.

Do the prep work

Most professional painters will tell you that prep work should take longer than the actual interior painting. To get the crisp look of a pro, you’ll need to repair all of the cracks, dents and holes before you can move any further in the project.

Use putty or light spackle for minor issues. If you have damage to wood, it’s best to use a wood filler since the spackle tends not to stick. Sand everything flat and follow it up with a coat of primer to ensure good paint adhesion.

Sanding

Sanding will feather out any chipped paint, and create a good tooth for the new paint to stick to. If you are working on glossy paint, try a sanding sponge instead of paper. It will mold better to the shape of the trim you’re working on.

The goal is to make sure you have removed the prior gloss or finish to allow new paint to stick easily to the walls.

Sponge the walls

Our pros insist you cannot skip this step. Cleaning the walls is imperative to removing old dust and cobwebs. If they are left on the wall before painting, you will end up with them texturing your new paint, permanently. If there is a real problem with dirt, consider using a bucket of TSP No-Rinse Substitute.

Use a rag or sponge to wipe down the walls. The goal is not to soak the wall, just to remove dust. You’ll be surprised the grime that comes off the walls. It might not have been visible to the naked eye but your paint brush would have found it for sure.

Caulk all cracks

Cracks can ruin a new paint job. Use a paintable acrylic-latex caulk to fill any cracks, especially around trim. This is a tip the painters insist gives you a professional, polished finish. Make sure the tip of the caulk is smaller than you think it should be. Too much will cause messes further down the road.

Use tape (maybe)

Some pros swear by tape, while some swear at it.

Tape can be a huge help in creating a straight line in your paint. That comes with the caveat that it can make painters feel more confident. This leads to overloading the tape with paint and messes that follow. Many a do it yourselfer has been found yelling at tape that peeled the finish up or allowed paint to bleed through behind it.

If you choose to use painters tape, it’s a good idea to paint with extra care against it. Don’t overload it with too much paint. Also, when applying it, use a putty knife to seal the paint against the edge. Plan to give it an exceedingly long dry time to avoid pulling the finish up.

Some pros insist that cutting along the edge of the tape with a knife will avoid this issue.

Choosing primer

Whether or not you choose to use primer, it can sometimes be the difference between I-did-it-myself and wow-this-room-looks-great. The primer will make a solid, even base and seal out stains before you even put color on the walls.

There are primers available for nearly any use and kind of paint. To choose the right one, talk to your local paint store when you get your color paint. They can help tell you what kind of primer is best for your job.

Go for gloss

Understanding the room you are painting will make the difference in what sheen you choose for your job. Flat paints are great for ceilings and rooms of little use.

If you’re painting a messier room, like a kitchen or bath, it’s a good idea to use an eggshell or gloss finish. This will protect your paint and allow you to scrub the walls every so often.

Paint additives

Manufacturers make paints formulated to dry quickly. This can impede rolling or brushing it on if you are not quick like a pro.

There are additives available for paints that slow dry time and makes the paint easier to manipulate. It will give it a smoother roll or brush application and allow you more time before it gets too dry to work with.

Picking a roller

More than likely, you’ll be painting vast, flat spaces in your room. The ideal tool will be a roller. Keep in mind when shopping that the longer the nap of the roller the more paint it will hold, but it will also leave a texture behind. To get a good amount of paint without too much texture, our pros say a ½-inch lamb’s wool roller will be best for your job.

Cheaper rollers can leave fibers behind, but if you wash the roller with dish soap before use, you should be ok.

Grab a bucket

Using a 5-gallon bucket with a roller grid is the tool of choice to hold your paint. It holds more than a pan will and is more stable (read: won’t move around) on the floor. Most likely your job will require more than one gallon of paint.

There can be slight variations in the color mixes of each can, so mixing them together before starting will allow a single color to be painted.

Good brushes

Good brushes can make your paint look professional. Our experts strongly advise to pay attention to what the bristles are made of.

For finer work, aim for nylon, but polyester are great for interior work. Go for tapered, stiff bristles. Use your judgement for the size of the brush for the job. If you are painting tight spaces, go smaller, if you’re needing to cover more ground along trim, go bigger.

Do windows first

Take on windows first thing in the morning when you’re clear and energized. Standard windows can take our pros up to an hour to paint. There are a lot of little corners and crevices to attend to, as well as intricate inside and outside work to be done. You will need to be early on in your day to make sure you hit them all.

Close cutting

Cutting in on a wall, it’s important to load your brush and create a line close to the trim that you’re working around. Spread out excess paint out the cut in a feathering pattern. Rolling over the edge of this will make the lines virtually impossible to see after the paint dries.

Ceiling to floor

As you work through your project, start at the top and work your way down. If you are painting the ceiling or crown molding, begin there. Follow that with the walls, and finally the baseboards. Keep in mind you’ll need to allow dry time between each step to avoid smeary messes.

Check your work

Just like math class, you’ll want to check your work. While the walls are drying, check on any bumps, drips or other imperfections. Sand them down and cover them in the next coat of paint.

Use a bright light to check for areas that have not been fully covered. Make sure you do this before you pack up and begin putting the room back together. A missed spot will draw your eye in – mocking you.

Do doors

You can try to paint doors in place, but it has tripped up more than one homeowner painter. Our pros recommend removing the door and working flat on saw horses. If that’s not possible, work on one side of the door, then the edges that close, finally the other side. You’ll need to let each area dry between projects, otherwise you’ll paint-glue yourself in the room.

Skip daily cleaning

Your project may take longer than one day, if that is the case, our pros say you can skip cleaning brushes and rollers at the end of the day. This is especially true if you are using latex paint. It dries more slowly in cold temperatures.

Put your paint tools in plastic wrap or grocery bags and stick them in the refrigerator until morning. Allow them to come up to temperature before using them again.

Touch ups

There will be touch ups. Even professional interior 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.

Need Some Help?

If you decide to choose a color scheme yourself, great! We hope it works out perfectly.

If you would rather call a professional for the job, we’re here for you too. Call CertaPro Painters® of Pittsburgh – South Hills at 724-941-5762 or click here for a free estimate.