6 Tips to Painting Your Apartment from Professional Painters
Painting your walls may look like an easy way of giving your home a quick makeover. But in reality, it takes a bit of work and technique.
To help you get the best results, below are six quick painting tips that professional painters approve of that you should keep in mind for your project.
1. Protect your room
Before painting, protecting your room and furniture should be your first priority before starting the first step.
Move as much furniture as you can from the room and remove light switches and fixtures to prevent paint from splattering over their surface.
Next, cover the floor and big furniture with drop cloths to keep them safe. Make sure to overlap the drop cloths to prevent them from moving apart as you work and to ensure the paint won’t get into any openings.
2. Prepping is key
To mimic a professional finish, prepping your walls is absolutely necessary. This entails cleaning and repairing the surface to ensure the paint has a clean and smooth surface to adhere to.
To clean your walls, use a damp cloth to remove stains, dust, and grime. You can also use a mild soap if you’re dealing with stubborn stains. Make sure to wipe or wash them off with water after.
Once your walls are dry and clean, locate holes, cracks, or dents and repair them with a spackle or joint compound. Don’t forget to fill in any cracks with caulk to seal any gaps.
3. Don’t forget to sand
Sanding your walls may take a bit of elbow grease, but it’s worth it since it provides your paint with a smooth and blank slate to adhere to. This step is especially important if you just repair your walls since it smooths out uneven and rough surfaces.
According to Soho Painters, it’s also a great way to strip off accumulated layers of old paint so you don’t end up with thick and rubbery walls. Sanding is also the best method when switching from a glossy finish to a less glossy one (i.e. satin, eggshell, or matte) to scuff up the surface and allow the new coat to adhere to the surface.
4. Invest in high-quality tools
If you want a flawless finish on your walls, it’s best to invest in high-quality paint brushes and rollers since low-quality ones tend to shed bristles and fuzz on wet paint, which are also noticeable once it dries.
A hot tip for keeping your brushes and rollers pristine is not to wash them at the end of the day if you’re still going to use them tomorrow. This way, they won’t harden up from leftover paint and prevent excess water from mixing into your color.
Instead, place your rollers and brushes inside a plastic bag, seal it, and store it in the fridge until you need to use them.
5. Don’t skip the primer
Although there is currently a range of paint selections with state-of-the-art formulas available in the market, pros still recommend you use a primer before applying your paint color.
This ensures the paint has a flat surface since primer fills in any porous textures on your walls. This is especially important if you’re painting bare wood or new drywall since they tend to end up splotchy if you don’t prime before painting
A good quality primer can also extend the lifespan of your paint because it creates an extra layer of protection against moisture and mildew.
6. Consider using a paint sprayer
If painting a large area with one color, you should consider using a sprayer. The great thing about it is it provides a smoother finish because it doesn’t leave any brush strokes compared to using paint rollers or brushes. If you’re working on a tight deadline, it’s also a more efficient method since it can cover a larger area in a shorter period of time.
It’s also handy for painting crevices or intricate details on your walls or trims since it just sprays paint on the surface rather than going back and forth with a small brush to ensure every surface gets covered.
If it’s your first time painting your house by yourself, a sprayer is also more forgiving for beginners since it’s designed to apply an even layer of paint, so you won’t have to worry about blotches or uneven colors when the paint gets dry.
Need help with painting your home?
To ensure your house gets a professional finish, Soho Painters is the best painting contractor in New York. They have a team of experienced painters equipped with the best tools, materials, and training to guarantee you get the home makeover you deserve. They also offer wallpapering, exterior, and commercial painting to cover your painting needs. For questions and inquiries, contact them now and book a free estimate.
