Paint a room, and suddenly you’ve pulled the room up and made it look fresh and inviting. If you want that professional “finished” appearance—to look as if you’ve carefully chosen a great color and diligently applied the paint without splattering all over the place—then it’s not just a matter of picking a good color and getting to work. But there are certain paint application problems you can steer clear of if you’re a tad more cautious, such as waviness of coverage, brush strokes, paint drips, bottom-of-the-roller edge, and flaking.
The beauty of the finishing process is that whether you are just finishing up in the bedroom or you need to change the entire house, the appropriate prepping as well as using the correct techniques makes all the difference. It may be the difference between a few extra touch-up jobs and getting it right the very first time.
We have come up with a few suggested rules of thumb to go about your next job a little more successfully, advice to get you out of sticky situations when you can’t live with it anymore, and advice on when to call in a professional. Read on for some tips to ensure you get the best you can out of your next paint job.
1. Prepare Your Walls Before Painting
Preparation is where every finished professional look begins. No matter the quality of the paint and stain, it won’t hide every imperfection, dent, blemish, or crack in the surface, and when you paint over the dirt and imperfections, you can end up with a paint finish that peels and streaks.
Pre-cleaning: Surface powder, cobwebs, grease, etc. can be removed in the beginning with a degreasing wall cleaner and then dried. Fill cracks along with small openings with a wall surface joint compound and sand until you think the surface is smooth. Take away loose paint if you find any. If your home was built before 1978, test for lead-based paint before sanding or scraping, as the EPA’s lead-safe renovation guidelines explain.
Check the Surface Before Painting
Touch the wall gently with your hand to test for lumps and surface roughness; they are not always apparent from afar. Watch out for furniture marks, marks near light switches, and marks in corners.
Prime patched areas, stains, bare surfaces, and surfaces that may not adhere well to the new coating. Follow the instructions on the manufacturer’s label to determine whether or not it is necessary to prime the whole wall.
One other house painting suggestion that might be worth following is getting the floor prepared earlier than you paint. This will not only give a better-looking end result for the painting, but it can additionally reduce your work in the long run.
2. Use Painter’s Tape for Clean Edges
Lines that are uneven at the top near the ceiling, at window or door trim, or at the bottom at the baseboard take away from a good paint job. Painter’s tape will help you in those places—and it will help you get a clean line!
Use a clean, dry surface. Use consistent pressure when applying to help prevent paint bleed under tape.
Remove Tape at the Right Time
Novice painters often wait until the paint is dry to peel away the painter’s tape. This may also result in peeling paint on the walls.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions before you take it off. Best practice: remove the tape when the paint is still wet or just beginning to dry, pulling it slowly away from the wall.
3. Picking Your Roller and Brushes
Using the wrong tools for a painting job can make your project a pain. Paint can go all over the place, it takes more time than it should to get the paint on, and who wants to tape all that off again?
A shorter nap roller will create a smoother wall. Medium and longer naps are better for textured surfaces and rough surfaces, as the longer nap will reach into the grooves. Angled brushes work well for corners, trim, and more detailed small work.
Match Your Tools to the Surface
Assess the texture of your walls before purchasing roller covers. If you use a thick nap roller cover on a smooth surface like a wall, you’re going to get some of that texture spread around. Short nap rollers don’t perform well with textured walls.
You should also consider having a small brush to handle edges and corners. Tool selection is one of the easiest aspects of painting to get right so that you can avoid all of the pain!
4. Mix Paint Properly Before Starting
In some cases, paint can settle if you store it, and the pigments, in addition to other additives, will likely sink to the bottom of the can. You will not be getting the color or consistency of the paint when painting with this settled version. Stir the paint thoroughly with a paint stick before you start, and again from time to time while you work.
Keep the Color Consistent
If you are using more than one can of the same color, mix them together in a larger container first. This helps you get the same color and consistency across the whole wall.
5. Protect Floors, Furniture, and Fixtures
Cover floors and furniture with drop cloths, and overlap the sections so that no gaps are left uncovered.
Put on gloves, and wait until the first coat dries (if stated in the instructions) before applying the second. Some colors and kinds of surfaces require a few coats to show up properly.
Prepare the Entire Room
Take down switch covers, outlet plates, and any other removable fittings when it’s not difficult and when you are ready to paint. Shut off the circuit that supplies power to the electrical fittings you will be working on. Don’t paint in the electrical outlet or switch.
Cover the face of the fixtures with masking tape. Have a moist cloth or cleaning products available in case of spillage. Keep the room well ventilated while you work, as paints can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into indoor air.
With a protected workspace, you can move around freely and focus on your painting without worrying about your belongings.
6. Paint From Top to Bottom
Start with the ceiling, then the walls, and finish with the trim, working from the top of each wall downward so that any drips are caught and smoothed out as you go.
Work in the Same Pattern All the Time
Stopping in the middle of a wall: It is too easy to stop halfway, particularly on a long wall. Use natural stopping points such as doorways and corners.
Work in sections to a wet edge. This helps to keep laps down. When stopping for a period of time, it is better to take a natural break rather than stop at a definite spot partway through the job.
This is one of the handiest professional painting tips and tricks to keep the room looking uniform all over.
7. Choose the Right Paint Finish for Each Room
The gloss of the paint you select will affect the appearance of the wall and ease of surface care. Eggshell has a touch of shine and is a good choice for the living room and bedroom. Semi-gloss and satin (or sheen) will have a shinier finish that also makes it easier to clean—two paint choices that are good for a few dedicated spaces (especially the trim and areas with heavy use).
Consider Room Conditions
Kitchens and bathrooms need special coatings that can withstand regular cleaning and moisture. It is a good idea to buy products that you know have been designed to be used in the kitchen or bathroom.
In the corridor and children’s rooms, high durability and washability may be more important than an absolutely smooth surface.
When Should You Hire Professional Painters?
Do-it-yourself painting is possible, but certain projects might require the skill level of a professional painter along with their professional paint sprayers. For larger homes, high ceilings, walls that are damaged, textured walls, and color schemes that are intricate, a typical DIY painter’s experience doesn’t cover all the bases.
Professionals have the skills required to prepare a surface, select the most suitable products for application, apply them with a correct finishing standard, and promptly address any concerns that are likely to hinder the adhesion of the paint, potentially saving you significant money and time or preventing deterioration of the surface.
If you’re a homeowner who wants the final result to be more predictable but doesn’t want to take care of each aspect of the job yourself, SD Custom Painting can help you keep your interior or exterior painting job a little more organized—particularly if you need consistent, professional results across several rooms or surfaces.
Conclusion
Achieving the perfect paint finish goes beyond the color. Surface prep, equipment, application, and attention to detail all make a difference. From protecting the furniture to painter’s tape, fewer coats, and the right finish for your particular paint, these tips and techniques will help ensure your next project runs so smoothly you’ll be looking for jobs to do!
If you are trying to avoid any of these mistakes, these easy house painting hacks will allow you to do so. In the more complicated or larger applications, it may be best to seek out a seasoned professional, but in any case, with the right planning and assistance from SD Custom Painting, you can make your house a standout with a clean, fresh, and long-lasting finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use primer before painting?
Apply a primer on new or repaired walls, or walls that have been soiled during use, and on raw surfaces where you want to improve adhesion. It is also useful when you are going to change color significantly. Check with the paint brand to know if you need a primer.
Can I extend the life of my paint job?
Yes. Preparing the area properly, selecting the right paints for the chosen area, and applying the appropriate coats of paint will all help your paint job last longer.
Is professional house painting worth the money?
If you have large projects or designs with large areas that are hard to get to and high ceilings along with detail work, you may want to hire a professional painter. They can come in and speed up prep work, paint more evenly, and cut down on costly mistakes.
