Paint your Walls like a Pro!

A great weekend project is to paint your walls. It is one of the most inexpensive ways to freshen up a room or add some color when you become sick and tired of the walls around you. While painting is a very good DIY project, there are certain wall painting tips and tricks that Handyman Connection of Kelowna thinks you should follow to ensure you don’t end up with a wall that looks like paint was just slapped on. Keep reading to ensure that you receive professional results.

Prepare Before You Paint:

To receive flawless looking walls, begin by removing any wallpaper or scrape off peeling paint with a putty knife. You can then use the same knife to fill any large holes with spackle and sand the same areas. If you are going from dark to light or light to dark, make sure you apply a primer to keep the new color stagnant. If the existing paint is oil based, sand the surface completely before the primer is applied. Lastly, cover windows, doors and furniture with plastic to protect your surfaces.

Prep Surface:

Even if you don’t have many holes to be filled, it is a good idea to sand the wall down anyways to create the smoothest wall possible and allow the paint to adhere better. Use 120-grit sandpaper and sand from top down.

Plan of Attack:

Plan for adequate ventilation while working as depending on the type of paint, the fumes can become quite overpowering. As you start, work your way down – ceilings first then one wall at a time from the top down. Apply two coats for optimal coverage and more if required. Use a roller with appropriate nap thickness meaning the more textured your wall, the thicker the nap needs to be to cover all the small spaces. For the detailed areas, dip your brush no more than one-third of the way into the paint to have more paint for your project in the long run.

Finish the Trim:

Once your walls are dry, you can paint your trim. First protect your wall-trim edge and push it down firmly with your putty knife to ensure the paint wont seep under the edge of the tape. Once you complete this, you can paint the trim! When removing the tape, do not wait too long or the paint will dry and peel off along with it.

Clean-up:

Congratulations! You have now professionally painted your own walls! Store any remaining paint, remove all plastic and clean out the brushes and rollers. A water based latex paint cleans up nicely with warm, soapy water while an oil based paint will require a cleaning solvent. Re-shape your brushes and hang to dry along with roller covers in an upright position to ensure they can be used again.

Call for Professional Handyman Services

If you don’t feel confident about the finished product you may complete, call Handyman Connection of Kelowna. A quick call will get you a free, no obligation estimate and a professional painter who will complete the job right from start to finish!