The Right Way to Prep a House for Painting

Learning proper paint preparation after you’ve already started the job will cost you time, money and will lead to a sub-par finish.

Paint is messy, so you’ll need to prep a house before start painting it by drop sheets all along the walls and floors.

Tape them down so that they stay in place. Next, you’ll need to apply painter’s tape around all moldings, window frames, and door frames to prevent stray paint.

Also, any furniture should be removed if possible and if not then tightly covered to protect them.

Any furniture that can’t be removed should be organized in the center of the room to keep the areas around the walls clear.

• Many people make the mistake and start painting after removing hardware and laying drop sheets and tape. But preparing your home for painting ha not finished yet.

• It is very important to prepare the walls to ensure imperfections are fixed and you get the most durable hold for your paint.

• Whether you’re tackling a house painting job yourself or hiring someone, always ensure that proper paint preparation is executed before starting any house paint job

• Inspect walls for cracks and holes. Repair any damage with a spackling compound using a putty knife. Spread the compound over the defect several times and scrape off the excess.

• Allow it to dry according to the product’s instructions. Then use fine-grit sandpaper (150-200 grit) and smooth it out until there is a seamless transition to the original wall.

• Wash the walls. Washing the walls is very important to remove grease and dust which will seriously compromise the life of your paint if you ignore this step. If the walls are very dirty you may need to start with a chemical cleaner like Tri-Sodium Phosphate.

• After, rinse all walls with clean water and a sponge. Allow your walls to properly dry before applying your primer or paint.