Painting the interior of your home is the quickest way to transform a room, but painting projects can quickly turn into nightmares if you do not follow all of the proper techniques. You too can paint your home like a professional. Follow these paint application tips and techniques to make your interior paint job easier:
- Wash your walls from top to bottom. Paint forms a stronger bond and sticks better to a clean surface, so be sure to coat and clean your walls with a sponge, warm water, and a light detergent and allow it to dry thoroughly.
- Remove outlet plates. For the most professional results, remove the outlet wall plates around the room and tape light switches and electrical outlets to keep them from being painted.
- Scrape off peeling paint chips and use sandpaper to dull down glossy surfaces. Paint does not always adhere well to a glossy surface. Also, peeling paint will cause the finished job to look uneven. By removing the shine with a sander and any rough paint chips with a scraper, paint will stick to the surface for a smooth look.
- Tape along the edges of the windows and door frames. Save yourself time in detail work by lining the trim and any other necessary areas with painters’ tape. You could also utilize an edge pad. Start around the edges of the room to create a consistent texture. Use an edge pad to create clean lines around tricky areas such as windows and door frames.
- Prime before painting. If you are thinking of skipping out on primer, think again. Primer provides a good surface and brings out the true color of the paint. One gallon of paint is recommended for every 400 square feet. Covering rough, unprimed areas may take even more paint than that, not to mention add even more time to your project.
- Cut out in sections. Some people cut out (paint the edges of the room by the ceilings and floorboards) first, and then come back to roll the whole room. This can result in uneven paint application. Concord painters recommend you start with one section of the room – cut it out, then roll it completely, before moving on to another section.
- Be patient. Once an area is dry, leave it alone. Painting over an already wet area will cause it to streak and leave marks on the wall. Lap marks occur from uneven layers of paint that build up in certain areas on the wall. Allow the paint to dry completely before you cut the edge and peel away the painters tape.
Interior painting is a popular home improvement activity and it is no surprise why it can be a fun experience if the proper techniques are followed and the end result looks amazing.