4 Safety Tips to Consider When Painting

A fresh coat of paint gives any room an instant facelift. If you are thinking of painting the interior of your home to give it a new anesthetic, there are a few safety tips you should know. Handyman Connection is happy to help you with painting services in Brantford, but here are four safety tips you should consider for the project.

1. Cover All Electrical Outlets

Painting around electrical outlets is the most dangerous aspect of painting a room. It is safest to turn off the power to the room you are working in. If you drip bright paint onto an outlet, this prevents you from having an accident. However, this is not always a practical task. If you can’t shut off the power for any reason, carefully remove the electrical outlet covers from the room. You can then cover the outlets with painter’s tape to protect the wires within. The tape will remove easily once you have finished the project, and you can reinstall the covers with minimal effort. The key is to protect the wires from dripping paint so that you can avoid an accident that would delay your project.

2. Make Sure You’re Not Using Lead Paint

Lead is a toxic substance that was discovered to be potentially lethal in the 1970s. Although it is most harmful to children, it can also cause health problems in adults, so it is best to avoid any type of lead-based paint. New paint does not contain any lead, but if you have an older home that was painted before 1978, you may need to test the paint to ensure it isn’t contaminated with lead. If your home tests positive for lead paint, you should never attempt to remove it yourself because of the potentially dangerous consequences. The only way to safely remove lead paint is to soak the wall with water and scrape the paint particles off of the wall. This job is tedious and time-consuming, and because you can’t afford to leave any of the contaminated material behind, it is best to leave the task to licensed professionals such as the team at the handyman connection.

3. Clean Up Paint Properly

It’s best to wipe up any minor paint spills immediately when they happen. If the paint has time to start drying, it will begin to harden and may stain the surface it landed on. You should keep a damp cloth on you while painting the interior of your house so that you can easily scrub up any drips. Once you are done painting, remove any trim tape and run a damp cloth along the trim pieces to remove any traces of paint.

4. Dispose of Paint Properly

You can’t dispose of wet paint safely. You must let leftover paint dry before you can get rid of it. The best way to do this is to leave the lid off of your paint can and place it in a well-ventilated area. You should stir the paint every few days until it has hardened. Once it has hardened in the container, you can throw the entire thing away safely and not worry about it emitting harmful VOCs.

Hire a Reputable Team for Your Painting Project

If you are ready to rejuvenate the interior of your home with a fresh coat of paint, you need high-quality residential painting services in Brantford. Handyman Connection has a team of skilled craftsmen who are ready to bring your vision to life. We are experienced painters and take all safety measures seriously to ensure that your project is completed quickly and efficiently. Contact us today to discuss the scope of your project and get an estimate.