It may seem easy, but in reality there is a lot behind painting a room like the pros, and a lot of it takes place before the painting even starts!
If you don’t want to hire a painter and need or want to do it yourself, read on for some tips from the pros to make your next paint job something to be proud of.
Preparing the room
Clear everything out, cover what’s left
Start by moving everything out of the room if possible. If you must, put larger pieces of furniture in the middle of the room, but cover them completely with canvas or plastic sheeting – bed sheets won’t work as the paint may bleed straight through.
Prepare and/or repair surfaces
Lay out plastic canvas or paper-backed plastic. Canvas may be more costly up front, but it’s more cost efficient because it can be used multiple times, and won’t slide around like cheap plastic sheeting can.
Next, inspect the walls carefully, looking for any cracks or dents that need repair. For shallow cracks and dents use painter’s putty, a lightweight spackle or paintable acrylic-latex caulk to smooth out the wall. Deeper cracks (more than 1/8th inch) may need a more substantial fix such as Plaster of Paris.
Pros sand the walls to help with adhesion. If you’re sanding trim that’s coated in a glossy paint, use a sanding sponge which molds to the shape of the trim and lasts longer than sandpaper.
To be certain that all traces of gloss have been removed follow up your hand sanding with liquid sandpaper.
Clean surfaces
Wash down the walls with trisodium phosphate (TSP) or a mild cleaner. If the walls are stained from smoke, clean them with a 50/50 solution of bleach and water.
Use two buckets, putting clean water in one and cleaning solution in the other. Load up your sponge or rag with the solution filled bucket then scrub the walls. Then rinse your sponge in the bucket of clean water before using the solution again.
Tape off
Let the walls thoroughly dry before taping them off. Some pros forgo tape, but if you’re uncomfortable, use blue masking tape to prevent painting areas you don’t want painted.
Remove the covers from light switches and outlets – it takes just minutes but you’ll be glad you did once you start painting.
Preparing your equipment and materials
You wouldn’t expect an artist to create a masterpiece using the paints and brushes from a “paint by numbers” set, right? Well don’t expect great results when you use substandard equipment and materials either!
Pros are particular about the tools they use…they’ve learned through experience what tools deliver the best results time after time. And when you’re a professional painter, time really is money!
Some pro tips:
- ⬧Always use a primer; it creates a solid, even base for your paint to stick to and will also help your paint to go on more smoothly.
- ⬧Use only quality paint that’s designed for the room you’re painting. For example, in hallways, kids’ rooms, baths and kitchens, eggshell gloss is a good choice.
- ⬧Keep in mind that while glossier paints do tend to be more scrubbable, they also tend to highlight imperfections in your paint job or the wall itself.
- ⬧A good, quality latex paint is a good choice for most homes.
- ⬧Two coats of paint will give you the best results, but you can tint the primer and knock that down to one coat of each.
- ⬧If you’ve ever painted you know that paints seem to dry out quickly, which can be a problem if you’ve missed a spot and only notice it after moving on to another section. When you try to correct the issue with dry paint it only tends to highlight the problem. There are additives you can use to slow down the drying time, which can help make the paint easier to work with.
- ⬧Choose the right roller. A longer nap will let you hold more paint, but it will also create more texture. Choose a lamb’s-wool roller with a 1/2 inch nap for good results. While less expensive rollers can work, experts recommend washing them first in dishwashing liquid to remove any loose fibers.
- ⬧Instead of a paint tray, opt for a 5 gallon bucket with a roller grid. It holds more paint and isn’t as easy to tip over as a tray can be.
- ⬧To reach ceilings, use a painter’s rod or pole, preferably one that telescopes to save space.
- ⬧As for brushes, the pros recommend synthetic brushes – made of nylon, polyester (or a combination of the two) for best all-around use.
- ⬧Look for softer brushes that have tapered bristles and flagged tips to help you cut into edges more easily. When painting, start with a 2 or 2 1/2 inch sash brush, then opt for something smaller if needed.
- ⬧Choose canvas drop cloths over plastic…you won’t regret the purchase.
The process
Painting tips
Load up your paintbrush with as much paint as you can comfortably use without it dripping everywhere. Do this by dipping your brush into the paint, about 1 1/2 inches, then tap each side against the bucket. This will force the paint in deeper and it knocks off any drips into the container.
When cutting in close to edges, follow the same process, only scrape the brush against the bucket too – leaving less paint on your bristles, but still enough to do the job.
While it’s common to cut in the edges near the ceiling and trim-work first, some pros will use a roller first, getting within 1/2 inch of the edge of the surface, then follow it up with their brush. For baseboards, use a wide taping knife as a paint guard, wiping it off to prevent drips from slipping past the edge and onto the trim.
Work from the top down, starting with the ceiling, then the crown molding, the walls and then around windows and doors, ending with baseboards.
Check between coats to sand off any bumps or deal with any imperfections before moving to the next coat.
Pro clean-up trick
Save time and don’t clean your brushes and rollers until you’re completely done. If you’ve still got a lot to do and are running out of time, wrap up your brushes and rollers in plastic grocery bags and store them in the refrigerator.
The latex paint won’t dry as quickly in colder temperatures. The next day, let your tools return to room temperature before using them again.
More pro tips for best results
- ⬧Humidity slows down drying time. Wait for dry weather before painting to save yourself a lot of headache.
- ⬧Use only quality brushes, painter’s tape and roller covers.
- ⬧Know what kind of nap works best for the job. Textured walls need a thicker nap to get into the crevices and give you better coverage, but be careful about going too thick as it will create texture where it’s not wanted.
- ⬧Don’t use a lot of pressure on the roller…a quality paint will flow easily, so let the roller do its job.
- ⬧Use a cheap sponge brush to blend any spots that you missed, dabbing on the paint to copy the look of a roller.
While it’s common to cut in the edges near the ceiling and trim-work first, some pros will use a roller first, getting within 1/2 inch of the edge of the surface, then follow it up with their brush. For baseboards, use a wide taping knife as a paint guard, wiping it off to prevent drips from slipping past the edge and onto the trim.
Work from the top down, starting with the ceiling, then the crown molding, the walls and then around windows and doors, ending with baseboards.
Check between coats to sand off any bumps or deal with any imperfections before moving to the next coat.
Pro clean-up trick
Save time and don’t clean your brushes and rollers until you’re completely done. If you’ve still got a lot to do and are running out of time, wrap up your brushes and rollers in plastic grocery bags and store them in the refrigerator.
The latex paint won’t dry as quickly in colder temperatures. The next day, let your tools return to room temperature before using them again.
More pro tips for best results
- ⬧Humidity slows down drying time. Wait for dry weather before painting to save yourself a lot of headache.
- ⬧Use only quality brushes, painter’s tape and roller covers.
- ⬧Know what kind of nap works best for the job. Textured walls need a thicker nap to get into the crevices and give you better coverage, but be careful about going too thick as it will create texture where it’s not wanted.
- ⬧Don’t use a lot of pressure on the roller…a quality paint will flow easily, so let the roller do its job.
- ⬧Use a cheap sponge brush to blend any spots that you missed, dabbing on the paint to copy the look of a roller.
Finally, take your time, paying attention to every little detail. You may want the room painted “yesterday”, but when you prepare the room and the walls for painting, choose the right paint and materials and take your time to do it right you’ll have a finished room to be proud of.
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