How To Properly Prepare Your Walls For Paint

Before your interior walls can be painted, it's important to ensure they are properly cleaned. This will help ensure that the new paint job looks its best, and the paint adheres correctly. Washing interior walls is relatively easy and don't require special products or equipment. This is a service that Obringer's painting offers, but if you want to get ahead of the game before we paint your interior walls, read on!

How to Prepare Your Walls for Painting

First, you want to remove any pictures, mirrors, window treatments, soft furnishing from the walls, and any furniture sitting up against the walls. You can remove any dust or dirt from the wall with a vacuum or a damp cloth. Additionally, you will want to use a plastic scraper or putty knife to remove any loose paint or old spackle from the walls.

Once the dust, spackle and chipped paint are removed, fill a bucket with warm water and add a mild detergent or all-purpose cleaner. Avoid using harsh chemicals on your walls because this can cause damage. If you encounter tougher stains, you can use a mixture of a quarter cup of baking soda and warm water to help remove the more set-in stains.

Using a clean sponge, dip it into the water and wring it out so it's only slightly damp. Start at the top of the wall and work your way down in a circular motion, using overlapping strokes. Rinse the wall with clear water and wipe it down with a clean cloth or sponge to remove all the soap.

Additionally, any cracks in the walls will need to be repaired, and any rough spots will need to be sanded to prepare the walls for paint.

If you have any stained wood, it is important to prepare that properly as well. Hiring professional painters can ensure prep, and finished work is done properly.

Steps to Take To Begin Painting Your Interior Walls

Once you've cleaned your walls and allowed them to dry, you will need to determine what color you would like to paint them and what type of paint you would like to use. For walls and masonry work, we recommend latex paints. These can be applied easily, leaving a beautiful glossy finish. They are also easy to clean. Oil-based paints are also a great option for various surfaces throughout the home. They adhere to walls well and are also stain-resistant.

You can also opt for flat paints or satin or glossy finishes that complement trim well. You will need to use a primer on the walls that works with your chosen paint type. This primer will be applied before painting and will help colors look vibrant and ensure good adhesion to the wall. If you are going to have a wet room painted, you can check out our article to avoid mistakes when painting the bathroom.

Once you've chosen the color and the type of paint, you'll need the correct brushes for the best results. If you plan to use latex paints, you will need acrylic or acrylic-blend brushes. Oil-based paints work best with natural brushes. You will also need an assortment of brush styles, including wider and angled or narrow brushes. A roller brush is also useful to help you efficiently cover large areas with paint.

Be sure to have a sturdy ladder on hand to reach the higher areas of the walls. Lay down drop cloths to protect your rugs and furniture. Masking or painter tape can cover areas you don't want to paint, such as trim.

Before painting, ensure the room has proper ventilation with fans and open windows. Oil-based paints require special precautions, such as not using the pilot light on the stove and not smoking or having any electrical ignition or open flames in the area.

If you don't feel comfortable washing, preparing and painting interior walls yourself, you can always hire interior painters near you to do the job. They can properly prepare the walls for painting and finish the full painting job quickly and efficiently. Saving a dollar often creates more frustration. Getting the job done right by interior painters who paint walls in houses and business daily means you have more time to do what you want, and you get a better finished product.

Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire interior painters, cleaning your interior walls before painting them is essential for optimal results. Taking that extra step can make a big difference in how the room looks after all the hard work is done.

When searching for "interior painters near me," be sure to choose Obringers Painting & Remodeling for amazing results! Contact us today to learn more about our interior painting services.