There are lots of painting tips for DIYers, and some of them are pretty useful. While a fresh paint job can dramatically improve the look of a room, a messy or poor application will draw attention for all the wrong reasons. Preparation, including repairs and cleaning, is essential for a high-quality finish. Following a few essential painting tips will help ensure a successful outcome.
Follow These Tips for Your Next Painting Project
Make Necessary Repairs
If you’re painting over previously painted surfaces, look for rough, peeling, or chipped areas. Layers of old paint may create flaws in the surface. Scrape away cracked or peeling paint with a metal putty knife. Caulk or patch any holes or imperfections, then sand your walls to create a smooth surface before you apply new paint.
Clean Walls, Ceilings, and Baseboards
Paint will not stick to dirty or dusty surfaces. Wash away old stains, dust, and grime before painting. Kitchen walls often have a greasy build-up that needs to be removed with a mild detergent solution. After your walls are clean, thoroughly mop or vacuum the room to remove as much dust and dirt as possible. This helps keep stray dust particles from settling into your new paint job.
Put an End to Paint Bleeds With a Putty Knife
Painter’s tape is indispensable when masking wood trim. To avoid the hassle of scraping off paint that has bled underneath the painter’s tape, ensure the tape has properly adhered to the trim before you begin to paint. An easy way to do this is to run a putty knife over the tape and firmly press it down, creating a good seal. Make sure you use painter’s tape, not masking tape. Masking tape tends to leave a sticky residue that’s hard to remove.
Paint One Wall at a Time
Brush the corners before you roll. Most DIY painters cut all the room corners, go back and then roll paint onto the walls. For a seamless finish, it’s best to cut in one wall and immediately roll on the new paint before the cut-in sections have dried. The roller will flatten out any brush marks that have gone further out than the depths of the corners. This will leave you with a smoother, more professional-looking finish.
Avoid Paint Holidays
A “paint holiday” is when you miss an area without realizing it. When painting with similar colors or in rooms with poor lighting, it is common to miss painting an area unintentionally. Use a bright work light to check your work as you go along or, at the least, when you finish a section. It’s easy to miss areas around the edges of a room where a brush is used instead of a roller. Paint holidays are easy to correct when found early and before you’ve finished painting for the day.
Use High-Quality Tools and Supplies
Another vital painting tip is to invest in high-quality tools. Cheap brushes and rollers are a false economy. A cheap paintbrush or roller will not create professional-looking results. Purchase the best brushes you can afford, take care of them, and they will last for many years. Use high-quality painter’s tape (not masking tape) to protect the trim around windows and doors.
Prep Your Rollers and Brushes
Paint rollers are made from fuzzy materials that can leave lint and fibers in your new paint job. It’s essential to remove any loose fibers from the roller before you use it. Rinse the roller in warm water, and then rub the roller with your hands to remove excess water. You should also check your new dry paint brushes for loose fibers. Rub them against your hand and gently tug the bristles to remove loose fibers.
Buy the Right Amount of Paint
Always buy a little more paint than you think you’ll need. That way, you’ll avoid running out of paint in the middle of the job and have some left over for touch-ups. If you have to buy another gallon, the paint color may not be an exact match. Highly porous surfaces like bare plaster or new drywall are “thirsty” materials and will require more paint. Use an online calculator to estimate the amount of paint you need and buy a little extra.
Invest in Premium Paint Products
For the best results, buy a premium paint product recommended by a reliable paint retailer. Premium paints are easier to apply, offer the best coverage, and last longer than cheaper products. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a common component in paints. They help make a product more durable but can give some people nausea or headaches weeks or even months after a room is painted. Choose low or no-VOC paints to avoid these issues.
Choose the Right Paint Finish
Thanks to modern technology, there is a paint product for every surface type. Choosing the right finish or sheen is essential. In most cases, professionals choose a flat acrylic paint for ceilings, a low-sheen acrylic for walls, and a semi-gloss or gloss acrylic for woodwork. High-traffic areas should generally have a higher gloss or sheen. Satin is a good choice for most interior walls because it is easier to clean.
DIY or Hire a Professional Painter?
We hope these painting tips are helpful. It may seem easy to paint a few rooms in your home, but the reality is that painting takes a lot of time and skill. Unless you have the time, tools, and expertise, hiring a professional may be the best option – especially if you have several rooms to paint. This is especially true if your walls are in poor condition, there is wallpaper to remove, or you have high ceilings to navigate. Safety should be your top priority – if you can’t reach everything easily with a stepladder, it’s a project best left to the professionals.
Trust the Local Painting Professionals
The benefits of hiring a professional paint contractor are numerous. Save time, energy, and money by hiring an experienced painting company. By hiring local painting professionals, you’ll benefit from their expertise and support your local community at the same time.
Mr. Mole’s Painting LLC offers interior and exterior painting services for commercial and residential properties. We provide a full range of commercial painting services for properties of all sizes. We provide in-person and virtual quotes for your convenience. Contact us at (218) 368-2560 to discuss your next painting project. We look forward to working with you.