Painting Tips From Mr. Home Repair: Preparation is Imperative

You’re thinking of applying a fresh coat of paint to one or more rooms in your home. Maybe you want to brighten things up, or just change the color or a new look. How hard can it be to slap a coat of paint on the wall? The answer; it’s not that difficult at all, but there is more to a quality paint job than just applying the paint. Proper preparation is the key to a quality finish with results that look like you hired a professional to do the job.

Begin by gathering the tools and supplies you need in advance. Clear the room of all small furniture and cover the larger, more difficult to move items. Paint drips; the last thing you want is to have to replace your couch or other furniture damaged by paint drips. Paint can also splatter; consider the danger zone to be at least 6 feet horizontally from the area you are painting.

Take the opportunity to smooth out your walls. Remove any unnecessary protrusions, like nails or old paint drips. Caulk areas around trim, doors and base board. Fill small holes with joint compound, spackle or wood putty. Sand the wall flat and remove bumps and ridges.

Remove any hardware that you do not want to paint over including door handles, cabinet handles, electrical outlet covers, etc. Use blue painters tape to cover anything you don’t want painted.

Clean and remove all of the dust that may be in the room; you do not want it to get into your paint. Dust can make paint bumpy and nasty. If there is mold or mildew present, you can remove it with a mixture of bleach and water (50% of each). Be sure rinse with plain water. Some molds can be hazardous to your health; be sure to protect your self by using a mask or filter. Some primers and paints are mold and mildew-resistant; if the area you are painting has a lot of damage I recommend using this type of product.

All surfaces being painted must be adequately prepared. Your walls must be completely clean and free of dust bunnies, cobwebs, smoke residue and then allowed to dry completely. You should be able to wipe the wall down with a sponge without having anything come off. If there is existing paint which is chipping, it will need to be scraped off with either a putty knife or wire brush. If you have grease residue on the walls, it will hinder the application of paint. Use a household detergent to remove any residue.

Read the label before you begin, so you know how long a coat of paint will take to dry and how much area a gallon will cover. Paint drips may cover the label once you begin painting. This way, you will know how much paint to purchase and how long the job will take, so you can schedule your time appropriately.

Apply your masking tape to the edges of areas that will not be painted (cabinets, windows, woodwork, floor, ceiling, etc.). I recommend blue painters masking tape so you do not damage the surface when removing the tape. Use no more than 2-foot strips of tape for accurate placement. Lay the tape down nice and straight. A small error will stand out, resulting in a crooked paint line. Smooth out air bubbles that could allow paint to seep under the tape. Even experienced painters will take the time to mask areas where they do not want to paint. It’s well worth your time to mask the area rather than wasting time cleaning up mistakes later. Some surfaces can be easily damaged if you have to clean up paint smears from them.

Cover your working area with a drop cloth. Walk carefully on the drop cloth to avoid tracking paint drips to other areas. Keep your work area completely covered because it will be more difficult if not impossible to clean up drips and splatters. Avoid tracking paint into other rooms. Wipe your feet thoroughly before leaving the room you are painting or use additional drop cloths in other rooms. You are now ready to paint.

Preparation is very important. Though it often takes more time to prepare than it does to apply the paint, preparation is a major part of the job. How would you feel if previous stains were to bleed through on your freshly painted room a few days later? It would be a shame if your new carpet, coffee table or furniture were covered in paint flecks from dripping and spattering paint. What a shame it would be if you were to damage the veneer finish on your cabinets when scraping paint smears that could have been avoided with painter’s tape. The time it takes to properly prepare the room and the surface to be painted is far less than the years of disappointment every time your eye is drawn to the flaws caused when you cut corners.

This article was written by Mark Maupin, aka Mr. Home Repair 248-818-2590. Mark has been in the home remodeling business specializing in paint, drywall and brick repair for over 13 years. Mr. Home Repair services all of South East Michigan, the Metro Detroit area in Wayne and Oakland County. He is happy to answer questions and provide free written estimates. For more home remodeling tips, read Mark’s blog at http://michiganpainting.blogspot.com/