Whether you want to change up the look of your walls or just touch up some spots, it’s fairly easy to get a first-class interior paint job. But there are some important steps to follow before you start rolling.
Clear out the space, remove hardware (such as window locks and lifts and doorknobs) and wipe down walls with sugar soap.
Prep the Walls
When painting a room, it’s important to take the time to properly prep the walls. This includes patching holes, sanding, and cleaning. If you skip this step, the imperfections in the wall will show through your paint job, creating noticeable bumps and ridges.
Before you start painting, hold a light up to the wall and rake over it, highlighting any dings or holes. Use a filler to fix these areas and then sand before priming.
It’s also important to clean the walls, as this will ensure that your new paint adheres well. According to 21 Oak, you can use sugar soap for a deep clean. It’s also a good idea to vacuum the walls and remove light switch covers and other wall-mounted accessories. This will make it easier to “cut in” around these areas with a brush and avoid sloppy lines.
Covering the Floors
Painting is a great way to transform your house into something that truly feels like your own. It is also an excellent way to save money on professional paint services and unleash your inner artist. However, before you can start painting, it is important to take the time to cover floors, furniture and hardware.
Professional painters use drop cloths to protect floors from spills and drips. You can buy canvas drop cloths at most home improvement stores, although old newspapers work just as well. They are inexpensive and available in a variety of sizes.
Plastic sheeting is another popular floor covering. It is cheap, disposable and a good choice for hard floors in areas of light foot traffic. However, it tears easily and can allow paint through where you may not notice.
Masking
Home painting is a fun and creative way to transform your house into a place that feels like your own. However, it can also be a time-consuming and messy project, especially if you don’t have the right tools or experience. The key to DIY wall painting is to prepare and plan ahead, so you can complete the job with confidence and minimal disruption.
Masking film is a handy secret tool that professional painters use to protect surfaces from getting paint on them. It’s a thin plastic sheet that either comes in rolls or in small squares. When placed on a flat surface, it grabs onto the paint surface without needing to be taped down, thanks to static electricity.
Taping the Trim
Taping is one of the most important skills to master in painting. Unless you have perfect tape lines that pull clean and leave no paint bleed, it’s impossible to achieve a professional looking finish.
Start by masking all flat surfaces around your work area, including the ceiling. Then, tape all the trim, making sure you have coverage around the edges of any door or window frames. This includes rosettes and plinth blocks on doors and any molding on windows.
Some painters prefer to forego the use of tape and instead use a technique known as cutting in. If you choose to go this route, make sure that you don’t remove the tape until the paint is fully dry. It may take longer, but it’ll guarantee that you don’t have to spend extra time and materials reworking your work.
Applying the Paint
Painting is a great way to refresh a room and bring in new color trends. However, it’s important to take the time to prepare your space for paint to adhere properly. Clear away furniture, lay down a drop sheet, and clean the walls with sugar soap to ensure that your paint job is as smooth and professional as possible.
If the room has areas that a roller can’t reach, such as corners and along trim, use a brush for a technique called cutting in. Begin by positioning the brush so that its bristles are about 1/2 inch below and nearly parallel to the adjacent surface. This creates a thin, even coat that won’t collect paint in corners and along woodwork. Continue brushing the wall until it’s covered, then paint with a roller.
