3 Steps To Prepare For An Interior Paint Job
One of the fastest ways to give the interior of your home a makeover is painting the ceiling and walls. Are you planning for a painting project around your home? Do you know how to properly prepare for the project? Here, you'll find a few tips that can help prepare the walls and ceilings for paint.
Step 1: Mark the Damage
Before paint can be applied, each surface must be checked for damage and all damage must be repaired. This includes all of the holes from hanging pictures, the dents from smashing the back of the chair against the wall, the scratch marks from the cat — anything that is imperfect must be fixed before the paint goes up or it will all be clearly visible through the fresh paint.
Make your way through each room with a flashlight and a pencil. Use the flashlight to inspect each area that will be painted. When you find an area that needs repair, use the pencil to mark it so that you can easily find it later.
Step 2: Repair the Damage
In most cases, small dings, dents, and holes can be patched using joint compound. Simply skim the compound over the damaged area and allow it to dry. Then, sand it smooth. Repeat until the damaged area is flush with the surrounding surface.
Larger holes will need to be repaired using drywall mesh. You can pick up a hole repair kit at your local home improvement store that includes everything that you'll need to patch the hole — even step by step instructions.
If you have brush marks in the existing paint, you'll want to go over the surface with fine-grit sandpaper. It shouldn't take much effort to smooth the brush marks out of the paint but it will make a huge difference in how the fresh paint looks when it dries.
Step 3: Wash the Surfaces
Now that all of the repairs are done, it's time to get the walls and ceiling clean. You don't want to use a heavy detergent to wash the walls – it will leave residue. Add two cups of white vinegar to five-gallons of very warm water. Use this mixture to wipe down the ceiling and walls and it will dry free of residue and ready for paint.
Talk with the residential interior painting professional that's doing the painting work for you. He or she will help you with anything that you may need — they may even do the prep work for you.