Proper preparation is crucial to any painting project, whether you’re adding a splash of color to an old dresser or revamping your living room with a fresh color. Taking the time to prepare the surface correctly not only helps ensure that your paint job looks seamless and professional but also helps it look great for longer.
So, while wall preparation for painting is a tad tedious, it pays off in the end. Here’s how to properly prepare walls for painting.
Paint Preparation Steps: 7 Steps to Achieve a Beautiful Result
If you’re planning to tackle a painting project, such as revamping an entire bedroom or adding an eye-catching accent wall, it’s important to prep the surface properly. This way, you can ensure the final result looks just as crisp and seamless as you want it to be. Here’s how to prep walls for painting:
Remove Loose Paint
First up in surface preparation for painting is getting rid of the old and peeling paint. If the paint on your walls is still in good condition, you can skip this step (for obvious reasons). However, if areas of paint are beginning to peel away from the wall, get rid of those first. They’ll prevent the new paint from adhering to the wall and create a not-so-cute look in your freshly painted room.
You can use a scraper to gently lift the peeling paint away from the wall. Be careful during this step so you don’t accidentally damage the wall. Alternatively, use a wire brush or 100-grit sandpaper to kick the loose paint to the curb.
Repair Existing Damage
Once the peeling paint is gone, examine your walls for damage. Are nail holes, dents, divots, and other imperfections marring your walls? If so, repair them accordingly. Small holes and imperfections are typically fixable with spackling, but you may need to replace the drywall if there are larger holes.
Removing damaged drywall and replacing it can be somewhat tricky if you haven’t done it before, so if that’s the case, it might be a good idea to enlist the help of an experienced pro. Oftentimes, you can hire a local handyman to take care of these problems. Or, if you want to pass off the entire painting process to the pros, you can place the task of repairing drywall into the capable hands of a full-service painting company like Image Painting.
Sand (As Needed)
After repairing any damage you find, sand the areas to smooth them down. Bumpy and uneven dried spackle can detract from the finished product, so take a few minutes to sand those areas down.
If the walls are currently coated in high-gloss paint, scuff sanding the surface can help the new layer of paint adhere to the walls. Of course, if you have textured walls, such as popcorn or orange peel walls, you won’t need to do much sanding.
Wash and Dry
Next, clean the walls. Dust, dirt, and similar debris can interfere with the paint’s adhesion, so thoroughly clean the walls in the space. Use a damp rag to wash away any dirt and debris. Don’t use a soaking wet rag—you don’t want to get the area all wet (that can lead to moisture issues). Thoroughly wring out the rag you’re using before wiping the walls.
After you’re finished cleaning, let the surface dry completely. Paint doesn’t stick well to wet walls, so you’ll need to wait until the walls are completely dry.
Tape and Cover
After you’re done cleaning, tape and cover any surfaces you don’t want to paint. If you’re leaving the ceiling alone, tape off the edges. Of course, if you have pro-level cutting-in skills, you don’t have to do this, but it’s a good idea if this is your first time painting.
Throw drop cloths over any furniture you can’t remove from the space to ensure that wayward paint splatters don’t end up on it. Tape off trim, doorways, and any other areas you don’t want to paint. Make sure you use painter’s tape. Other types of tape may peel away the paint when you pull it off the surface, so choose a tape designed for this purpose.
Prime the Surface
You might be tempted to dive headfirst into painting. After all, there’s quite a bit of prep work involved in achieving a seamless result, so you’re probably more than ready to tackle the fun, transformative part. But before you do, make sure you prime the surface.
Priming can help the paint bond better to the wall, which is ideal if you’re changing paint types. It can also serve as an extra blocking barrier to blot out darker colors if you’re switching to a lighter hue.
So, while you might want to skip this step and go straight to painting, take the time to prime the surface properly.
Start Painting
And now (drumroll, please), it’s time to paint! This is where the magic happens. All of your hard work in preparation has paid off. You can start transforming your home with a fresh coat of paint! If you’re new to painting, check our beginner’s guide to painting for help getting started.
Set Yourself Up for Success With Proper Preparation Techniques
With the proper preparation techniques, you can tackle your painting project with confidence, knowing that you’ve taken the necessary steps to achieve a stunning result. While the process of preparing walls before painting is somewhat (okay, it is) tedious, it’s an integral step in ensuring a professional-looking finish and a longer-lasting result.
Of course, if you’re not too keen on spending hours prepping, priming, and painting, you could always hire a painting pro. At Image Painting, we take care of the entire process, from repairing drywall damage to painting. You won’t have to worry about a thing—we’ll take care of every step from start to finish. Contact us today to get an estimate!