Many people assume they know how to paint a room, only to realize once they’ve begun that the job is much harder than it looks. In order to achieve a finish you will be happy with, it is important to use the proper techniques. Otherwise, you are likely to end up with spatters, roller lap marks, thin spots and other problems. Also, paint failure and a blotchy or marred surface can result from improper preparation. This set of two blogs will help you get going the right direction on the path to an excellent paint job.

The first step when painting a room is to protect all furniture and non-painted surfaces (see this previous post). Once this is done, the next stage is to prepare your walls for painting. While this process can seem tedious and difficult, it is very important, and cannot be overlooked. Painting contractors usually spend at least half of their project time on preparation. The goal is to turn your wall into a smooth, flawless, uniform surface that paint can adhere to.

Getting a good, clean surface is key when painting your home interior. Occasionally, the walls need to be washed before painting, and if the current paint has any sheen to it, this should be scrubbed with a light abrasive. A light sandpaper would do, or you could wash with a mixture of water and TSP, which will clean the wall and remove the sheen. This will allow the new paint to bond solidly to the current surface, preventing blistering or peeling in the future.

Next, examine your wall for any imperfections: old tape, nail holes, dents, gouges, old paint drips and nail pop-outs. Use a putty knife to scrape off anything that sticks up above the surface. Then use a lightweight spackle to fill in any scrapes, gouges or holes. Do not overfill the indentations, but use the putty knife to create an even surface right across the flaw. When the spackle has dried, sand it lightly with fine sandpaper until the surface is smooth.

If you are changing from a dark color to a light one, or if you have done significant patching on your walls, professional painters recommend priming the wall at this stage. If you are priming for a new color, you can have your paint store tint the primer to a half-shade of the final color.

Finally, if your baseboards and/or crown molding are not connected by a clean bead of caulk, apply a line of paintable latex caulk. This will close any gaps and give you a crisp looking finish.

Now that you have tarped and taped to protect your room, then filled and filed to prepare the walls, you are ready to start painting!

If you are planning some interior painting, but you are not sure you can paint a room with the fine results you desire, consider hiring a professional house painter. Jalapeno Paint Werx guarantees a spectacular paint job, and we stand behind our work with a 3 year warranty. Let our professional painters do the hard work so that you can sit back and enjoy the transformation!

Jalapeno serves the Chicago area, offering excellent painting services to Naperville, Hinsdale, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, Batavia, Burr Ridge, Lisle and more.

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