Every DIY home improvement enthusiast tackling a house painting in Danville project wants nothing less than the best results possible. To achieve a professional-looking finish, do what the experts do.
The following tips will make your next painting job a fantastic success, whether you’re painting one wall or the entire room.
Don’t try to get everything done at once
Unless you have a team of expert painters, it is impossible to get the job done all at once, especially if you have a big painting task at hand. So, don’t try to get everything done in a day. Instead, it’s better to plan one task each day.
For example, plan a day for cleaning the walls, another day for repairing and priming the surface, and then another day for painting them. You will also have to let the primer dry first before applying paint, and then the first coat will have to dry before applying a second coat if needed. Depending on the complexity of your project, it will take you a couple of days or a week to complete it.
Get the best paints
When buying paints, you know what you want to get the best value for your money. Don’t try to cut corners by buying cheap but inferior paints. Cheap paints usually won’t last long. They fade quickly and can even make it worse for your walls.
Instead, buy the best-quality paints your budget can afford. Choose among the reputable brands like Kelly Moore, Sherwin-Williams, or Behr.
It’s better to buy paints with low-VOC or zero-VOC content. They emit fewer to no odors that can otherwise put your and your family’s health at risk. If your concerns are more about making an environmental impact, there are commercially available “green” or eco-friendly paint products. These paints use natural ingredients and are safe for both health and the environment.
Know what’s the best paint finish for your project
Knowing the best paint finish for a specific area you’re painting is also important. People generally use flat finishes for interior walls and ceilings. Eggshell and satin finishes are also ideal for use throughout the home, and they are more durable and stain-resistant than flat paints.
You may want to use semi-gloss or glossy paint for accents and woodwork. For high-traffic areas like the kitchen and bathroom, the most recommended finish is eggshell or satin, though you may also want to use semi-gloss or even glossy paint.
Buy high-quality tools
Quality tools will lead to a quality finish. You won’t want to pinch pennies on the application if you’re splurging on high-quality paint.
You don’t have to spend all your money on quality. Here’s a tip that will help you save money while getting you good tools: splurge on quality brushes, rollers, roller covers, painter’s tape, and a sandpaper or sanding block. Using these tools can directly impact the outcome of your paint job, such as excellent coverage.
Then you can scrimp and save by buying cheap items such as a five-gallon bucket, paint stirrer, paint tray, plastic sheets, and cleaning rags. While these items are also essential, they do not directly impact the results of your paint job.
Devote one day to preparing the workspace
Before cleaning and preparing the surfaces to be painted, get the entire workspace ready first. Move pieces of furniture out of the room. Or if you can’t move these pieces of furniture out of the room, push them to the center of the room and then cover them with drop cloths or plastic sheeting.
Cover the flooring with canvas drop cloths to protect them from paint. Remove framed photos or artwork from the walls and curtains, drapes, or blinds from the windows. Remove the doorknobs, light switch, and outlet plates, too. Store all the removed and detached items in a safe place.
Devote another day for cleaning and preparing the walls
Start by cleaning the walls with regular soap and water. To get rid of stubborn scuff marks and stains, prepare a solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP) with water. TSP is also an excellent degreaser that will effectively help remove oil and grime. After cleaning and washing the walls, allow them to dry completely.
Once dried, check the walls for any flaws like cracks, gaps, and nail holes. Fill them with paintable and quick-drying spackling compound. Use paintable and fast-drying caulk to fill the gaps between the trim, baseboards, crown molding, etc., and the wall. Allow these fillers to dry completely, and sand off any excess dried filler to smoothen the surface.
Protect other surfaces you don’t want to paint – such as trim and baseboards – with painter’s tape only.
Prime the walls when necessary or desired. A primer helps the finishing paint to adhere better to the surface. It is also used when you want a drastic color change – for example, painting a new light color over the current dark color. A primer can also hide stains and patch marks so that they won’t show through the new paint.
Box your paint
Get the paint sales clerk or contact professional local painters in Danville to help you with a realistic estimate of how much you will actually use. It will allow you to buy all the recommended gallons of paint at once.
Then, instead of using one gallon of paint at a time, grab a large bucket, pour all your paint into it, and give it a good stir before starting to brush or roll. This process is known as boxing your paint, which keeps the color consistent throughout the room.
Let the roller do the work
Using the roller, apply paint to the surface with a large “W” pattern, about 3×3 feet. Then, paint over the “W” to ensure that no empty space is left without lifting the roller.
Continue painting in the same area until it is completely covered. Repeat this process until the whole area is entirely painted. Let the paint dry, and apply a second coat when needed.
Use the paintbrush like a pro
If you’re using a paintbrush, start at the top of the wall and make long, downward strokes to the middle. Or start with a horizontal stroke along the ceiling or baseboard. Then, erase brush marks by gently sweeping the brush back over the painted area. Use a paint pad or an angled brush to paint corners without making a mess. Repeat until the whole area is covered.
Remove the painter’s tape before the paint is fully dry
Carefully peel off the painter’s tape while the paint hasn’t completely dried yet. You don’t want dried paint to be pulled off with the tape.
Once the paint is dried, remove the drop cloths and return the furniture and decor to the room. You will also want to replace the curtains or shades you removed with new ones.It takes time and patience to achieve your desired results, but quality paints and tools are available, as well as painting tips and tricks online, that can make your job easier. If you are unsure of your skill or seek professional results, hire only the best house painting in Danville contractor.
