When it comes to interior painting, preparation is the key to good-looking, long-lasting results. Sherwin-Williams shares the following tips and tricks of the painting trade.
A properly prepared surface is clean, solid and dry, without cracks and imperfections. For previously painted surfaces, you want to wash off dirt, grease, soap and oil buildup and rinse thoroughly. Remove all loose paint and powdery substances before you go in to patch holes and cracks with spackling or patching compound. Allow the compound to dry and sand the surface smooth.
Once you’ve prepared the walls and everything is wiped down and clean, make sure to prime all bare areas. Before painting, it’s also important to remove fixtures, including wall plates, light plates, and any other room hardware. This will save time in the long run and will make your paint job look more professional than cutting around everything. This step gives you that high-quality look.
It’s helpful to use masking tape to make cutting in easier when it is necessary. That could include masking around trim work, cabinets, wall sconces and other fixtures. Use a high quality painter’s tape that can later be peeled off without damaging the underlying surface or leaving a sticky residue. This tape will also deliver cleaner, sharper edges when separating one painted area from another.