What are the steps to preparing your walls?

  1. Purchase quality supplies
  2. Cover your furniture
  3. Remove wall imperfections
  4. Clean the surface
  5. Use tinted primer
  6. Finish walls one by one

 

Wall paint prep is very important if you want to get the best results. A good paint job requires the right tools and adequate surface preparation. Once you have perfected the method of preparing your walls, you can breeze through it quite easily. However, if it’s your first time tackling this project, you can follow this guide to help you out.

Purchase Quality Supplies

Anyone can purchase cheap brushes and tools, but does it last? If you choose to save up on costs, the ferrule of your brush may fall apart while painting. The brush hairs could also fall off and stick on the walls. It’s best to invest in quality brushes and supplies. You’ve worked hard to prep your walls, don’t let subpar tools ruin the overall look.

With that in mind, good quality paint is another supply worth investing in. High-quality paint ensures that you need fewer layers for more coverage. It’ll go on smooth and easy, with the bonus of having your paint job last longer than average paint. If you’re in doubt about how much paint you need, you can use online or manual tools to measure how much you require. A safe bet you can do is to buy an extra can just in case. Remember to take note of the color and product code. The whole painting process will become much easier when you choose quality products.

Cover Your Furniture

Kitchen furniture and equipment covered with a plastic wrap

To prevent paint splatters from landing on your furniture, move them all out of the room. Or, you can also choose to move most of the furniture towards the center of the room. Cover the furniture with plastic sheets and secure the plastic with masking tape. Alternatively, for the sake of the environment, you can also use old bedsheets or drop cloths. Besides protecting your furniture from paint, these also protect your furniture from the dust coming from walls you have to sand to make them smoother.

Remove Imperfections

It may be tempting to slap the paint on immediately, but imperfections may be highlighted because of it. Before you start painting, patch any visible holes or cracks with wall putty. Smoothen the wall putty with a flat tool. Add a little bit at a time to ensure that it doesn’t create a messy build-up. After this, let the putty cure a little bit on each layer you make. This makes the drying process much easier.

Once you have enough putty on the surface, let it fully cure before proceeding to sand it. Start off with rough grit sandpaper such as 200 or 300 grit. Once you’ve sanded off the excess, switch to a fine grit like 600, 700, or 800 grit.

Clean The Surface

A hand with a yellow glove wiping a wall with a cloth

After sanding, don’t ignore the accumulated dust. Take out your vacuum and remove the particles that may have landed on your surfaces. After vacuuming it away, take a damp washcloth and wipe the wall. Start at the top of the wall and go in one direction, preferably towards your floor. If you have a lot of dust, you may need to change your washcloth frequently. This tedious process will ensure that the dust doesn’t mix with the primer and paint. It also creates a creamy, smooth finish anyone can appreciate.

Use Tinted Primer

You can use simple primers, but to make your job easier, check if your favorite brand has a tinted primer that you can use for your walls. Most of the time, tinted primers have the right formulation in similar colors to the actual paint you’ll use.

Why do you need to prime your wall? If you paint directly over the wall, once it dries, the moisture of the paint will be absorbed. This can result in a flat surface or a flashed surface. The difference can become immediately obvious once you finish painting everything. This is where a tinted primer can help you out. Not only is the surface prepared for paint, but it can also help you lay down a vibrant color that lasts. You’ll require fewer coats and you’ll be able to finish your project faster. Just remember to let the primer fully dry before painting over it.

Finish Walls One by One

A man in overalls holding a rolling brush in front of a wall that he is about to paint

Be patient with your project. It’s tempting to finish everything in one go, but you can make a lot of mistakes if you rush it. Take your time and focus on perfecting one single wall each time. Let everything dry before proceeding to the next wall.

Key Takeaway

To get the best results, it’s important to start with wall paint prep. All of these steps ensure a seamless, clean look for your wall paint. From painting new walls to old walls, you can get professional results with the right preparation.

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