5 Steps to Prepare a Room for Paint

The key to a successful paint job is the amount of prep work you put in on the front end. Our experts here at Handyman Connection of Mountain View have put together some recommended steps to take to help you prep your room when it’s time to paint.

One thing to keep in mind throughout the prep process is that your goal is to keep the room as protected as you can and to not get paint in places you don’t want paint to be.

1. Take Down Items from Walls

First off, remove any decorative pieces or other items like light switch covers or outlet covers off the walls. Make sure all items are removed and put in a safe place so that you can easily re-install them after your paint has dried.

2. Dust and Clean the Room

All sorts of dirt, dust and grime can accumulate behind furniture and  Before laying on a coat of paint, it’s important to remove anything that might prevent the paint from properly sticking to the walls. Using a natural, all-purpose cleaner on your walls beforehand can be a big help. 

3. Patch Up Any Holes

Cover any nail holes or other small holes with spackle evenly. This is also important so that the paint doesn’t bubble up or look awkward with an unpainted nail hole if you want to change the design of the room down the road.

4. Sand the Walls

Give the walls a very light sanding before moving on to any primer. This will ensure that the paint is absorbed evenly. 

5. Tape the Ceiling and Baseboards

Apply painters tape to areas of the ceiling, floor, or other areas that you want to protect from the paint. Take your time when doing this to ensure that the lines are straight and look professional.

There are a few other steps you can take to help prep your room for paint, but these are the basics. For questions or to schedule one of our professionals to handle it for you, give our crew at Handyman Connection of Mountain View a call.