Whether you’ve stayed in your condo for years and you want to spruce it up, or you’re getting tired of the color of your walls, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to achieve a successful paint job. From planning to cleaning up, we’ve gathered important tips from Boysen paint experts to help you transform your condo.
Get on the right painting track!
Start off on the right foot.
Check with the condo property manager or your landlord if it’s allowed to repaint your unit. Some condos prescribe a specific paint type or finish that you have to follow. They may have standards and restrictions for condo repainting. Also, talk to the management about the history of the condo unit. If it was pre-owned, research how many times it was painted and what kind of paint they’ve used so you can buy a compatible paint type.
Inspect your condo unit to see if there are other issues you have to address before you repaint. When you see large cracks, dents, gaps, or holes, consult with construction professionals or contractors so they can suggest the best method to repair your walls. Watch out for common painting problems so you can properly plan how you’ll deal with them later.
Get inspired.
Do some research and read up before anything else. Our blog has produced various Boysen tutorials to help you accomplish your painting goals. You can start by downloading free apps about painting.
Since you’ll be painting in an enclosed area, try to pick a paint with low VOC. Decide on the paint finish too. Take note that flat finishes are perfect for hard-to-reach areas like the ceiling. On the other end, high gloss finishes are for busy areas like the kitchen and living room because the higher the sheen, the easier it is to clean the surface.
Finally, choose the right color for your condo. Browse this blog to get color inspirations for your living space. If you still can’t pick what color you should try, take our fun paint color quizzes.
Still hesitating? Watch Krafty Kriz to get a glimpse of how fun and easy it is to try DIY painting.
Buy the right paint products and tools.
You need the right tools and paint products to help you pull off a successful renovation. Before you head over to a depot, make a list of everything you need. Click on the image below to see the 12 essential painting tools for DIY painters.
Remember to calculate the amount of paint you’ll use throughout the project so you’ll not waste paint and you’ll save money. Recall basic math concepts. You can estimate how much paint you’ll need by getting the paintable area. To get the paintable area, get the length of all the walls and then multiply it by the height (from floor to ceiling) of the room. Then, subtract the surface areas of the doors and windows from the product. The difference is the total paintable area.
After measuring the total paintable area, download the Boysen app from the App Store or Play Store. Open it and look for the Paint Calculator. Then, input the total paintable area in square meters. The Paint Calculator will show you the amount of products you will need in liters.
Do the prep.
Cover all the bases! You’ll have to prepare yourself, your work area, and the surface. The reality is that you’ll allot more time to the preparation than the actual painting. Boysen paint experts recommend that you dedicate one whole day to the preparation. You can start painting the next day during the daytime.
Prepare yourself.
Protect yourself. Wear a cap, gloves, and safety glasses to shield yourself from accidental paint splashes.
Prepare the room.
Aside from the right painting tools, you’ll need grit and elbow grease. Clean the entire room. Sweep the floors and wipe dusty surfaces. Move all the furniture and appliances to the center of the room. Use drop cloths to protect floors and furniture from paint splatters or sanding dust. If drop cloths are not available, you can also use old newspapers, tarpaulins, or plastic covers. You can also start putting a painter’s tape or masking tape on baseboards, moldings, and trims to prevent paint from bleeding on the edges.
Make sure that there’s adequate lighting in your work area when you paint later on.
Prepare the concrete walls.
Before you apply anything on the walls, you have to check the condition of the surface. If the paint film on the walls is still in good condition, lightly sand the surface so the topcoat will adhere to it. Next, wipe it clean with a damp rag and let it dry. You’re ready to finish it with a topcoat.
However, some previously painted walls may have an existing problem that needs to be addressed first. Look closely at your walls. Is the old paint peeling? Does the surface have mold or mildew? Are the walls chalking? If your walls have one or two of these issues, you have to treat the surface before repainting. Ahead, you’ll find some of the most common painting troubles and steps on treating them.
Those dark unsightly patches on your walls are mold and mildew. You will usually spot them on the surface of moist areas like bathroom concrete walls, kitchen tiles, or wash areas because they feed on moisture to survive and thrive. If there’s a mildew infestation, apply a bleach solution (one-part laundry bleach to three parts water) to the surface using a clean rag or a brush. Let it stand for 24 hours before washing it off. Let it dry completely before repainting.
If the paint film does not adhere to the surface anymore, we suggest you scrape off all the loose, scaling, peeling, or flaking paint. Sand the surface to get a smooth finish. Then, wipe the sanded surface with a clean damp rag. Let it dry before priming bare surfaces.
The old paint on concrete walls is chalking when the powder comes off and sticks to your hand once you touch it. Before applying anything, get a clean damp rag to wipe the surface and then let it dry. Apply Boysen Chalk Blocker B-7304 with a brush or roller to treat chalky surfaces. Wait for two hours for it to dry before applying the putty and topcoat. If the chalking is severe, Boysen paint experts suggest that you scrape off the old paint.
Get ready to roll!
Do nothing by halves! Roll up your sleeves and follow the recommended system of painting. After the prep, apply Boysen Permacoat B-701 Flat Latex as a primer on bare surfaces. Then, cover minor surface imperfections and hairline cracks with Boysen Masonry Putty B-7311. Apply painter’s tape or masking tape on the edges and corners before painting the walls with a topcoat.
Water-based Topcoat for Concrete Walls
When painting concrete walls, you can try out the cutting-in technique. It’s an easy technique that even DIY painters can do. You simply have to paint the corners and edges before rolling. Grab a paintbrush and start painting outside in, starting with the ceiling cut, corners, and baseboards. Finally, fill in the walls with rollers. Always remember to follow the M-pattern application, which lets you spread the paint evenly and go over any drips during the paint job.
Check out other Boysen tutorials so you’ll know how to spruce up your condo’s ceiling, floors, doors, interior window frames, and trims. Click on the image to see the step-by-step painting process for each surface.
Clean up nicely!
After finishing the painting job, it’s easy to feel carried away and sleep the night away without cleaning up. The work is not yet done. You have to do the cleanup at once. Don’t let the painting tools dry up because it will be harder to clean up. Read up on our more comprehensive cleanup guide here.
Subscribe to this blog to get more Boysen tutorials like this. If you need help with your painting project, ask us anytime online and write us an email at ask@myboysen.com. You can also call us at (02) 363-9738 local 417 to 418 for urgent painting problems.
