10 Interior Painting Tips
for a Flawless Finish
Interior Painting in Ann Arbor
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When it comes to interior painting, not every homeowner likes to tackle the project by themselves. Some people hire a professional painter for their home or office, so how do you make sure that your interior painting project gets done perfectly the first time? It’s challenging to learn how to paint from someone else. The only way to truly learn is through trial and error, but this can take years to perfect your skills. This guide will give you 10 tips on how to properly paint your interior so you don’t waste money or your time.
Properly prepare the area for painting
The first step to a professional paint job is proper preparation. If you want your walls to look great, you need to start with a clean and smooth surface. So, before you even consider picking up a brush or roller, give yourself some time to prep beforehand.
First, clean the walls thoroughly with warm water and soap. Then rinse them down with clean water, followed by wiping them dry with a lint-free cloth or paper towels. Next, remove any light or outlet covers from the surface as well as any other debris like cobwebs or dust particles that might be lingering around the area. You should also cover furniture with old sheets so they don’t get damaged by paint splatters or drips. If you plan on painting trim around windows, doors, or other areas that are hard to reach, use painter’s tape to mask off the area around them first so you don’t accidentally get any paint on them while working on other parts of the room.
Repair cracks and holes before painting
A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your home’s interior, but only if it’s applied correctly. One of the most important steps in prepping for a new paint job is repairing cracks and holes in the walls. To do this, start by sanding down the rough edges of the damaged area.
Then, wipe the area clean with a cloth dampened with a little bit of detergent to remove any dirt or grease. Once the surface is clean and dry, you’re ready to apply a patching compound. Use a putty knife to apply the compound for small cracks and holes, then smooth it out. Larger cracks may require a mesh patch to be applied first, followed by the compound. Once the area is patched and dry, sand it down one more time to ensure a smooth surface before painting.
Measure the area to know how much paint you need
Before you head out to buy any supplies, measure the area you need to paint. Knowing how much paint you need will allow you to purchase everything in one trip and avoid running back and forth between stores.
Don’t forget to account for ceilings that aren’t square (most are not), which will affect your measurements. If you have an irregularly shaped room, use a tape measure to calculate the area of each wall and ceiling separately, then add them together to get the room’s total area. If you’re unsure about how much paint is needed for your project, contact your local hardware store or interior painting experts at Paint it Right in Ann Arbor, MI for more information.
Use the right paint for the interior
You might think that all paints are created equal, but that’s not true. Use only high-quality interior latex paint for your walls and trim. Low-quality paints can give off an odor during application, which will linger in the room afterward.
They may also start to yellow over time and leave behind streaks or spots on your walls and trim when it dries, which makes it look like you painted yourself into a corner (literally). Some paints even contain toxins that can be harmful to you and your family’s health if breathed in at high levels over time — not something you want in your home.
The type of paint used can affect how quickly it dries and the quality of finish it creates. When choosing a color, consider whether you want an opaque or semi-gloss finish. For example, if you’re painting a bathroom that gets plenty of natural light during the day, opt for semi-gloss white for your trim. It can handle high levels of moisture and is easy to clean.
How to ventilate for interior painting
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are gases emitted from certain liquids or solids. Paints can contain VOCs, and the level is usually listed on the paint can’s label. Low-VOC and zero-VOC paints are available for those looking to avoid exposure to these chemicals. It is important to have proper ventilation to rid your home environment of airborne paint residue. Without proper ventilation, it can be harmful to breathe in the area.
Buy quality rollers and paint brushes
If you’re going to buy just one new tool for your painting project, make it a quality paint roller or brush. A good-quality roller will cost slightly more than an off-the-rack version, but it will last much longer and produce better results with less effort on your part. A great brush will cost even more than that, but it’ll hold up over years of use if maintained properly, so it’ll pay for itself in the long run. Also, opt for the right type of roller brush for your project. For example, use a lambswool roller for a smooth, even finish on walls and ceilings. A microfiber roller brush is best suited for painting large areas and is also ideal for painting cabinets or other surfaces.
Paint and fully dry your first topcoat
If you don’t let your first coat dry thoroughly before painting on another layer, you’ll end up with drips and uneven coverage. This is especially true when it comes to painting ceilings and trim work because they receive less airflow than walls do. It takes several hours for the paint to dry completely on both sides of a surface, so allow plenty of time between coats. In general, you should wait at least 30 to 90 hours before applying a second coat of paint to a surface. If it’s hot and humid outside, or if the surface you’re painting is in direct sunlight, it could take longer for the paint to dry completely.
Is it better to paint the ceiling or walls first?
Trim, Ceilings, Walls. When painting the interior of a home, always start with the trim and work your way inward toward the center of the room. This is because walls tend to be painted last and are usually painted using a higher-quality paint than what’s used on the ceiling — so applying it first ensures it’s fully dry before you apply your base coats on walls and ceilings. It also makes for an easier cleanup process at the end of each day: After you’ve finished painting all of your trim pieces, just wipe them down with a damp cloth instead of having to scrub dried paint off them later on in the project (which could result in damage to the trim).
Ceilings are usually painted white, but they can be painted any color you want. Just make sure to use ceiling paint that’s designed for the job — it’ll have a higher level of a sheen than wall paint and will resist yellowing over time. When painting ceilings, start at the edges and work your way in toward the center of the room.
Walls are the last surface you’ll paint, and they can be painted any color you want. Just make sure to use paint that’s appropriate for the type of surface you’re working with. For example, if you’re painting over drywall, use latex paint. If you’re painting over wood, use oil- or alkyd-based paint. When painting walls, start at the top and work your way down. This will help you avoid leaving paint drips on areas you’ve already painted.
Use drop cloths for interior painting
Drop cloths are essential when painting walls, baseboards, and trim. These thin sheets of fabric protect furniture, floors, and other surfaces from paint splatters and drips. When working with latex paints, choose cotton drop cloths because they absorb excess moisture from the paint. This helps prevent paint from creating a mess and getting on areas where it is not meant to be. Using plastic drop cloths is also an option, but they can be slippery and don’t always stay in place as well as cotton drop cloths do. Plus, they don’t absorb paint drips as well, so you’ll likely end up with more cleanup at the end of your project.
Cleaning up after interior painting
Once you’ve finished painting and are ready for cleanup, make sure all tools are put away safely in preparation for disposal later on. It’s also important that all leftover paint be disposed of properly. Your local hardware store or paint store can give you information about where you can dispose of excess paint. Don’t forget about cleaning up after yourself, too! Remove any used brushes and rollers from your work area and allow them to soak so that they can be used again in the future.
Interior painters in Ann Arbor
When you’re ready to paint, whether it’s walls, ceilings, closets, or other rooms, use the tips above to help ensure your interior painting is a success. The more prepared you are to work as you begin your project, the better the results will be.
And remember: No matter how good an artist you are, it’s nearly impossible to turn a dull room into something exciting without adding some sort of color. So take plenty of time deciding what type of mood you want to convey in your newly painted room. And once you’ve decided on the color scheme you want, become familiar with all the best interior painting techniques so that you can have a flawless finish. By following these 10 tips mentioned above, you can successfully complete an interior painting project from start to finish. If just so happens you opt to hire a painting contractor, feel free to contact Paint It Right in Ann Arbor for a free estimate!
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