Room Prep For Paint
When it comes to painting a room there is more to it then just popping open a can of paint and going at the walls with a paint brush. In fact, the key to nice looking paint is not done in the application of the paint itself, it is done in the prep work. A room that is not prepped properly won't look nice, no matter what paint technique, quality, or brand you use. There are some things you should do before you ever crack open the paint cans to ensure your room is ready for paint and will have phenomenal results. What? The following is a list and explanation of what should be done to prep a room for paint:
First, you need to ensure you have good circulation and airflow, as well as ventilation. This will do two things, one it will help you breathe easier as you paint, and two it will help the paint to dry faster.
Next, you are going to want to remove all hardware and turn off the electrical breakers etc. to the room. If you are going to paint the ceiling, make sure you remove the fixtures there as well.
After the ceiling fixtures are removed you want to remove any wall hardware, and anything hanging on the walls. Such as the following:
- Electrical switch plates and receptacle plates
- Cable TV outlets
- Phone jack covers
- Curtains
- Art/pictures
- All decorations
- Nails/screws
Next you want to clear out the room, and remove any furniture that you can from the room. All other furniture should be pulled away from the walls, and moved to the center of the room. Then, once you've removed everything that can be moved, protect all areas that won't be painted. This includes floors, trim, and anything left in the room.
Protect these areas using painter's tape and plastic sheets; you will want to use these to cover electrical receptacles and switches. And you will want to cover all of your furniture and floor area with drop cloths. Even if you think your furniture is far enough away from the wall, it is better safe than sorry. Paintbrushes sometimes drip and rollers emit a fine spray of paint that settles over the room like dust, so protect your furniture.
Next, you will want to take the time to prepare all the paint surfaces to perfection. Even the smallest defect shows up on a painted wall or piece of trim. So, your job when you are preparing to paint is to get rid of all cracks, bumps, nicks, scratches, and rough areas-make the surface as smooth as possible. You do this through repairing drywall, "Spackle"-ing, and sanding. Be sure to wear a mask if you are going to do a lot of sanding.
Once you are finished repairing any blemishes you will want to wash the walls from the bottom up using TSP (tri-sodium phosphate). Then rinse the walls with clean water and a sponge.
After the walls are washed you will want to let them dry before taping. So, after they are dry, you will use tape to protect molding trim, etc. You should apply the tape in a straight line along the bottom of the crown and along the top of the base molding. Make sure the lines are level and smooth so that paint does not seep under the tape.
Next you will want to prime, especially if your walls are new, or if you have repairs in the drywall. You will find that using the right primer can also reduce the number of coats of paint that you will have to use.
Once your walls are primed and everything is ready to go, you can paint the room. You should paint ceilings first, then walls, then windows and doors, and then trim. This will give you the best results.
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Tags: paint prep room pre-paint cover protect painter's tape outlets switches
