Do's of Interior Painting

• Wash all grease and dirt off walls and woodwork: Even though you are painting over the dirt and grease it will show up, paint is not a cover up, if you want to cover these things you should use fabric, not paint. Paint enhances walls, but blemishes that are existing will show through, so get those walls as clean and smooth as possible BEFORE painting begins.


• Patch cracks in walls and ceilings before painting: You want to patch the walls and ceiling well, and sand them down so that the repair job does not show through the paint. Your goal is to have blemish free, smooth walls, even if the colors of the patch job don't match the wall, a blind person should not be able to tell it has been patched. Your paint can fix color, it can't fix an uneven and poorly done patch job.


• Seal all new surfaces with a primer: by doing this you do a few things for yourself. First you ensure that your surfaces withstand water and other items better, as they will likely take some abuse if you actually live in the room, Second, by priming first you use less paint. You do not have to use nearly as many coats, so you save time and money.


• Scrape off all loose paint and sand the surface to a smooth finish: Once again we are back to the make your walls as smooth and clean as possible part. If you are going to paint over existing paint, you won't want it ruining your paint job because it starts to peel and flake off, so avoid the problem by scraping existing paint off, and sanding the surface down so that you have a nice canvas to work with. However, if you scrape and sand wear a face mask to protect your lungs from the dust.


• Stir paint thoroughly before any applications: Paint is made up of a base and pigment, and it tends to separate, especially if it has been sitting for a while, so after you pop the lid off your paint you will want to use a stir stick to ensure you mix the paint well, make sure you get all the paint mixed, especially the paint at the bottom of the can. By mixing your paint well you ensure that the color will be the same for the whole paint job.


• Allow new plaster to dry before painting: Your paint surfaces should be as dry as possible, but when it comes to plaster, a little damp is not an option. So, make sure you allow sufficient time between plaster application and paint, and make sure the room has good ventilation so that it dries appropriately.


• Properly ventilate area to be painted: this helps the paint dry faster, but it also protects you from fumes and other hazards.

• Don't expect good results on dirty surfaces: the quality of your paint job is found in the preparation of the room, not in the paint itself (although the paint quality will have an affect). So, if you want the best results possible, use a clean, dry, smooth, surface.


• Don't paint over a damp surface with oil-base paints: oil-base paints are non-porous, and repel water, so if you want the surface to ever dry, and you don't want it to rot, or mildew to form, make sure it is dry before beginning painting.


• Don't apply the second coat of paint until the first coat has dried properly: This will help you reduce problems with bubbling, cracking etc. It helps your paint go on smoother and better.


• Don't sand woodwork across the grain: while this is common sense it is important to remember, otherwise you will have a very rough surface that is difficult to fix, and all the blemishes will show through.


• Don't change cans of paint in the middle of a wall area: sometimes there are slight differences in color due to how well you mix the paint, etc. Also, your paint might not have the same thickness and consistency at first, so to ensure the best looking results, use can changes in nonconspicuous areas.


• Don't add thinner to the product unless directions call for it: If it is too thick, find out what can be done, or what the best solution is, paint thinner is not always the best solution, and could cause your paint to not work as well.