Painting a home can be a big undertaking. Even a small home can take a day or two to paint if you don’t prepare yourself for the job. A lot of preparation goes into painting home and it all starts at the beginning of the project.
Before you paint your home, there are several things that need to be done before you even start slapping on primer or rolling on your first coat of paint. Proper preparation can protect both yourself and your home from causing damage while ensuring the best possible result in the end.
Here are some things you must do in order to ensure your residence is well prepared for a new paint job.
1) Find out if Your Home is Ready for a Fresh Coat of Paint
Find out whether your home is ready to be painted or not. Look for cracks, missing chunks of plaster and peeling paint that you can patch up before starting on the big task. If you have an older home it is likely that the walls are in need of retouching before you apply the new paint.
2) Take Down Family Photos and Artwork
Before painting your home, take all of your family photos and pieces of artwork off the walls to protect them from splatters, drips and even chips in the paint. Purchase protective sheets that can go over these items so they are stored safely while you work on the walls.
3) Clean the Walls Thoroughly
After you have removed all of your pictures and artwork from the walls, it is time to clean them thoroughly. For a large project such as this, hiring a professional cleaning company to do the job for you may be necessary. You can also try renting a steam cleaner from your local hardware store; this will make your job easier.
If you want to do the work yourself, then fill a bucket with hot water and mix in some laundry detergent. Dip your sponge into the sudsy water and start scrubbing away at all of your walls. Rinse off the sponge frequently to remove most of the soap suds, but don’t worry if a few remain as they will make your home smell nice and fresh. Work from the top to bottom, using a ladder or an elevated workstation to access those high spots on the wall.
4) Patch up Cracks & Holes
If you haven’t already patched up any cracks in the walls with spackle or plaster, do so now. This is a necessary step before you begin painting because patches will make your walls smooth and prevent any paint from seeping into the cracks, which can cause unsightly marks or discoloration. Holes should also be covered up with plaster or spackle; make sure they are dry and sand them down to smooth them out and remove debris before you paint.
ALSO READ: When To Decide Your Home Needs A Fresh Paint Job
5) Sand the Walls Down
You can’t simply roll or dip a roller into your paint and start rolling it on the wall; this will leave behind an uneven surface because the paint will sink in too far to cover properly. Take sandpaper and run it up and down all of your walls, smoothing out any rough patches leftover from the spackling process. Depending on how beat up your walls are, you may need to sand down more than once.
6) Hire a Professional Painter
If you aren’t confident in your painting abilities, or the extent of damage to your walls is extensive, you should consider hiring a professional to do the job for you. A professional will have all of the proper equipment and expertise needed to get the job done right, so don’t be afraid to hire one.
At Budget & Save Painter, we have professional painters in Vancouver that can take care of all your exterior or interior painting requirements. We will make sure that your walls are prepared accordingly & are ready for the paint job. Call at 778-737-8989.
