Preparing Your Surface for Painting

 Preparing the surface to be painted is the single most important factor to any paint project. If you paint a clean, continuously filled, sound surface with a high quality paint, chances are high your work will last for many years to come. Following are the steps for preparing a surface properly:

Cover anything that can't be moved such as furniture, carpet or shrubs.

Remove any objects in your way such as curtains and electrical outlet covers.

Make sure walls are clean, dry, dull, smooth and sound. Anything on the walls will keep the paint from adhering properly, resulting in uneven texture and poor color distribution.

If the walls are dirty, wash them with soap and water or with a trisodium phosphate solution (TSP) or a biodegradable alternative. Start at the bottom, then rinse and let the surface dry completely.and rinse well, then let it dry. To remove mildew, apply a solution of one part bleach to three parts water and allow the solution to stand for about 20 minutes. Scrub away the mildew with a soft-bristle brush, rinse and dry.

Lightly sand finishes, especially glossy ones, before applying paint. The paint will go on more evenly if the surface you are painting is dull.

Fix bumps or dents in the wall prior to painting. To discover dings, shine a bright light at a low angle across the surface. Fill any holes or marks with spackle and remove peeling flakes with a paint scraper.

 

Use a Primer

Seal the surface and achieve one-coat coverage by using a primer.

Latex primers generally work best over drywall, plaster and concrete surfaces because they dry quickly and are water-soluble (so they can be cleaned with soap and water).

For raw wood, use an alkyd primer, but realize it will take a long time to dry and requires mineral spirits or paint thinner for cleanup.

If you have water stains on the walls, use a stain-killing primer-sealer.

Use the Correct Applicator

Higher quality paint applicators will do a better job.

Natural bristle brushes are recommended for thin-bodied coatings such as varnish, enamel and shellac or any oil-based paints. Because natural bristles absorb water, a top-quality synthetic brush is best for applying latex-based paints to ensure optimal coverage and to avoid brush marks.

Use a 3-inch brush for general painting, a 2-inch brush for cutting-in corners and a 1 to 2-inch, angled sash brush for woodwork.

Rollers work better than brushes for walls, not only because they are faster, but because they leave a smooth matte finish. Invest in a roller with a hard core that doesn’t yield. It may cost a little more than a cardboard-cored roller, but it cleans easier and offers more painting mileage in the long run.

Choose the Right Paint

For interiors, water-based or latex paints work best and the leftovers are more convenient to discard.

Choose from gloss, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell and flat finishes depending on the use and condition of the room and the desired look.

Flat finishes tend to conceal minor imperfections, avoid light reflection and have a more formal appearance. Flat paint provides a regal finish for the dining room, living room and bedroom walls. Ceilings are typically treated with flat paint, as well.

Semi- or high-gloss finishes are resilient to scrubbing, chipping and mildewing. They are commonly used in hallways, bathrooms, children’s rooms and kitchens to resist dirt, grease and moisture. A glossier finish also helps preserve trim, cabinets and doors that take a beating.

Buy the Right Amount

Use a paint estimator that allows you to enter the room dimensions and determine exactly how much paint is needed for a given project.

Remember that textured surfaces use more paint than smooth surfaces and deep, dark colors may require multiple coats, if mixed incorrectly.