Interior Painting Tips: Paint like a Pro!

Thinking of changing the look of a room in your home?  Painting is often one of the easiest means of giving new flavor and character to a room.  The expert repairmen at Mr. Handyman wanted to share some tips for painting the interior of your home.  This article is an excellent resource to consult before embarking on any painting venture.  

PREPARATION

• ·        Choose Paint Finish Wisely

The finish of the paint is an important factor that is often overlooked.  Is the wall in good condition?  Does the room receive large amounts of traffic?  Are you painting a room for a little one? High-gloss paint is durable and easy to clean, but will make imperfections in the wall more apparent. On the other hand, a flat finish will help to hide flaws but is easily damaged.

• ·        Color Never Hurt Anybody

Colors can completely change the atmosphere of a room.  They add depth, texture, and personality.  The best part is – if you don’t like it, you can paint over it!

• ·        Test First

Instead of splurging on a whole gallon of paint to test at home, look for sample cans.  You can get a good idea of how the paint will look on the wall (much better than a swatch!) and not waste too much money if the color is not what you are looking for.

• ·        Size Isn’t All That Matters

When you go to buy your paint, you have to know the square footage of your room. There are many other factors that contribute to the amount of paint you will need, however. Always consider the surface you're painting, whether you're priming walls and the number of coats you are going to need. All of these things will affect the amount of paint you need to purchase.

• ·        Always Be Prepared!

About 80 percent of your time should be spent doing prep work. Contrary to popular belief, paint will not hide all imperfections. Take the proper steps to make your walls as flat as possible, and make sure you clean them before you start to paint. Any dust or debris left on the wall could cause your new paint to peel.

PAINTING

• ·        Don’t Forget Primer

Primer is essential to the quality of any painting work. It acts as a seal on the wall surface and helps the color to “grab” onto the hard surface.   

• ·        Corners First

It is easier to do brushwork in the corners first before you start rolling any paint.  Using the rollers after the corners have been hand brushed allows you to cover any remaining brushstrokes and maintain an even surface finish.

• ·        Prep the Rollers

Most rollers have excess fibers that end up on the wall with the paint.  To avoid this unwanted shedding, use masking tape to remove any extra fibers before you begin to work.

• ·        Don’t Overextend

Extension poles are excellent tools that help you decrease time and effort while painting.  With a pole, a ladder is probably unnecessary and you can maintain a safer work environment.

Mr. Handyman of Gilbert can help you redesign the interior or exterior of your home with a few coats of fresh paint!  Our professional technicians will produce quality results no matter the size of the room.  Give us a call today and let’s get the job done right!