Have your home’s interior walls seen better days? Is the paint faded, discoloured, cracked or peeling? If so, it sounds like it’s time to give your walls a refresh with a new coat of paint. Painting the walls affords anyone the opportunity to update a home’s atmosphere for the better. For optimal results, you’ll need to properly prepare the walls beforehand. There are essentially five primary steps in the wall preparation process.
Remove All Obstructions
The obvious first move in any interior painting project is clearing away existing obstacles. Start out by moving out all of the furniture. Then, remove any heating and cooling hardware like vent shields. Be sure to remove every electrical outlet faceplate. Lastly, prepare for the actual grunt work by laying down drop cloths and plastic sheeting to catch the inevitable paint and primer spills that will occur.
Get Down to the Bare Essentials
Next, you’ll need to create a blank canvas that’s as uniform as possible. If your walls are already painted, strip off any peeling paint with a putty knife or paint scraper. Once you’re down to drywall, inspect the surface for any gouges or holes. Fill them in with plaster and sand it down with a 220-grit or finer sandpaper. Lastly, clean the walls with a mild detergent solution and allow them to dry completely.
Tape Off Your Margins
One of the most criminally neglected portions of the painting process is taping. To avoid a sloppy finished product, use painter’s tape to mark off the areas to be painted and create crisp lines. Keep in mind that not all kinds of tape are created equal. Some are designed for textured surfaces while others are meant for smooth walls. Be sure to firmly affix the tape and seal the edges to avoid any unwanted bleeding.
Apply a Layer of Primer
In order for paint to properly adhere to drywall, it needs a primer to bond with. Primer also seals a wall off from the elements and can inhibit the growth of mould. Use a water-based primer on fresh drywall and an oil-based primer for older walls that feature stains, smoke damage and plaster patches. A tinting primer that’s similar in color to your final topcoat can really help your chosen hue to shine.
Smooth Out the Surface
You’ll need to perform one last sanding after the primer’s been laid down to finish the prep work. Use a fine sandpaper that’s not overly abrasive to avoid stripping off too much primer. The idea is to completely level the surface in case any primer has accumulated in one area more than in another. Clean the walls once more, allow them to dry and proceed with the actual painting schedule.
Reap the Rewards of Preparation
If you lay the proper groundwork, your painting will take on a professional look that most amateur renovators never achieve. Naturally, selecting superior primers, paints and brushes will play a significant role in any successful painting expedition. However, there’s no substitute for attention to detail and a steady hand. Take the time to prepare your space well and your efforts won’t be for naught.
