A fresh coat of paint is the surest way to make a space look presentable and updated. If you’re a homeowner, interior house painting in Dublin can increase your property’s value and be a cost-effective way to redecorate.
You know how to paint, but producing a flawless finish is not as easy as it looks. To help you paint like a pro, you may want to consider the following tips, gathered from no less than paint experts:
Get off to a good, clean start.
The secret of a good paint finish on the interior walls is not a secret – it’s all in the prep.
Just get a clean rag or tack cloth, preferable a lint-free fabric, to wipe out all the dust and dirt from the surface. Run the cloth over walls, ceiling, trim, baseboards, or any other areas that you plan to paint.
Use painter’s tape.
Painter’s tape is made specifically for painting materials and structures. It is made for easy application and peeling. Unlike other adhesive tapes, painter’s tape doesn’t shrink. It usually comes in the standard blue color – that’s why it’s sometimes called blue tape – but it’s also available in other colors.
So, take your time with your painter’s tape – putting in the effort will save you from future headaches. You can tape areas ahead of time. Use a putty knife to press and run across the tape to ensure a tight seal and prevent the paint from seeping under it.
Make sure to gently peel off the tape just before the paint fully dries to avoid ruining your hard work.
Use the correct primer.
You’ve probably heard that you can skip the primer and go straight to painting. Priming is not necessary for every paint job, but there are instances where it is required. Priming, for example, is essential when you’re painting new drywall or when you’re going to paint a light color over the existing dark color.
For most surfaces, one coat of high-quality water-based primer will do. If painting a textured surface, you might need to let the primer’s first coat dry before applying a second coat.
Use a modified paint stirrer.
Punch or drill holes in your wooden stirrer to help mix the paint more evenly—the holes in the stirrer act as an aerator to allow stirring paint more evenly.
Use the right tools.
Your job will be easier, and your paint finish smoother by using the right tools. If you’re brushing paint on, use a synthetic paint brush with soft filaments, such as a poly-nylon paint brush, for minimal to zero brush marks. If you’re rolling it on, use a roller cover with a soft and fine material, such as a microfiber roller cover, to get the smoothest finish. Cheap rollers will likely leave fuzz on the surface, which will cause ugly bumps and streaks.
Keep a wet edge to prevent overlap marks.
Those ugly overlap marks will surely ruin your paint job. To prevent them from appearing, always keep a wet edge as you paint and work slightly away from the wet edge to avoid them. Paints with moderate-to-high gloss are more prone to overlap marks. Thus, you want to pay close attention to maintaining a wet edge. But if you’re using flat matte paint, there’s little likelihood of creating such marks.
Keep your tools clean.
If your brushes or rollers have dried paint on them, don’t expect that you’ll have a smooth and spotless finish. Spend on brand new tools or clean your old brushes and rollers thoroughly before using them.
Cleaning previously used tools with latex paint on them is relatively easy – all you need is hot water and a gentle liquid detergent to take the paint off.
Cleaning tools with oil-based paint is a little more work, requiring solvents like turpentine or mineral spirits to get rid of the paint. Soak your brush or roller cover in the solvent, work off the paint with your fingers or other tools, then rinse. Shake the water off the bristles or cover, allowing them to dry completely.
Want to know more interior house painting in Dublin tips? Check Custom Painting, Inc.’s articles for more information on cleaning and preparing surfaces, painting, and choosing the right colors for your interior walls.