Are you planning to apply a fresh coat of paint to your interior walls? Before you crack a can of paint open and start with interior wall painting, take the following steps to achieve a professional-looking paint job.
Five Steps to Achieve a Professional-Looking Paint Job
1. Clear the Area
You have probably already picked your interior wall color after consulting a professional.
To start your painting project, clear the work area. Remove mirrors, picture frames, clocks, and other objects on your wall so you don’t have to paint around them. Also, take down curtains and blinds. Relocate movable furniture and appliances outside or to the middle of the room. It’s important to clear the working area so you or the painter you hire can access all areas of the wall, ensuring even paint coverage. Removing obstructions will also reduce the risk of accidents like tripping over objects.
2. Inspect and Repair Damage
Wall damage will compromise the quality of any paint job. Check the wall for cracks, holes, dents, and any other damage so you can fix the issue first. You may ask, “Can I just paint over cracks and other minor damage in my wall?” You can, but that does not mean you should. If you paint over damaged walls, you’re just temporarily hiding the issues. The problem will eventually get worse and may even damage the paint prematurely. And while the cost to repaint interior walls isn’t comparable to something like a full roof replacement, you still don’t want to pay for it often.
3. Prepare the Surface
Surface preparation is a critical part of the painting process. It’s the cornerstone to achieving a flawless, long-lasting finish, so don’t make the mistake of skipping this step. Otherwise, the paint may not adhere to the surface, and the finish can look bumpy, uneven, or streaky. Failure to prepare the surface properly may ultimately cost you time, money, and effort.
After completing wall repairs, clean the surface to remove dust, grime, and stains that may prevent paint from adhering. You can wash the walls manually using a sponge, warm water, or grease-cutting detergent. If you are repainting walls, scrape off old paint.
Once the wall surface is free of grime, dust, and debris that could affect paint adhesion, the next step is sanding. Sanding makes the surface smoother and helps the new paint stick better, resulting in a better bond and a longer-lasting finish. With the right tools, sanding will only take a few minutes.
4. Protect Surrounding Areas
After preparing the surface, the next step in painting interior walls should be protecting the surrounding areas from paint spills and splatters. Cover furniture, appliances, or other items in your room with a drop cloth or lightweight plastic sheeting. Do the same with the floor, countertops, and cabinetry.
With painter’s tape, mask off any areas you do not want to paint. These areas include door and window casings, base and crown moldings, and trim. For outlets, remove their covers and apply painter’s tape. Be sure to press the painter’s tape firmly to prevent paint from seeping underneath.
5. Prime Your Walls
A primer is a preparatory coating applied onto surfaces before any interior painting activity. Priming may seem unnecessary, but the time and effort you’ll spend on it will pay off in the long term. A primer provides a strong surface to which the interior wall paint will bond. It also acts as a seal, preventing moisture from penetrating the surface. Additionally, it can hide hard-to-remove wall blemishes and make it easy to achieve the true color and sheen you’re looking for from your selected paint.
Wait for the primer to dry, then you’re ready to start painting.
Hire Professional and Reliable Painters Today!
Preparing a wall for painting can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. But don’t worry—All Decked Out Services is here to help. When you entrust your interior wall painting project to our friendly and skilled painters, we’ll also take care of surface preparation and do it thoroughly and properly. We understand the importance of never cutting corners just to save time and effort.
Do you have more questions about how to repaint interior walls? Feel free to talk to one of our staff. And when you schedule a wall painting service today, you’ll receive 10% off.