5 Steps To Prepare Your Interior Walls for Painting

28 February 2023
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


Whether you're looking to freshen up your home or give it a full makeover, painting your interior walls is one of the best ways to make a dramatic statement. But before you start painting, you'll need to take a few preparation steps.

When done correctly, the steps can save you time and energy in the long run and help ensure that your paint job turns out great. 

Here are some tips on how to prep your interior walls for painting like a pro.

1. Protect Furniture and Floor

Before anything else, try to move as much furniture as possible out of the room you're painting. If you can't remove the furniture, try pushing it towards the centre of the room, and then cover them up with a tarp or paint drop cloth. Covers will help protect the items, so you won't have any worries about spills or drips on the furniture.

In addition to protecting furniture, pay close attention to carpets and rugs when prepping. If possible, also remove such items from the room altogether.

2. Patch Holes

If there are nail holes or cracks in the wall, make sure you fill them in. You can use spackling paste to patch the holes quickly and easily.

3. Sand Surfaces

Once you patch up the holes and cracks in your walls, inspect them closely for any imperfections, such as bumps in the surface. If imperfections are present, gently sand the areas to maintain an even texture. If any surfaces had paint on them before, you can also sand them lightly.

Sanding makes for better adhesion and helps ensure your fresh coat of paint looks even when it dries. Be sure to use fine-grit sandpaper rather than coarse-grit paper so you don't damage the wall too much as you sand.  

4. Clean Walls

To get the best results, clean your walls with a damp cloth to remove dust, dirt, and any other residue from the wall surface. Be sure to wipe down all surfaces, including baseboards, doors, and trim.

If your walls are particularly grimy or have stubborn stains that won't come off, try using a cleaner designed to remove smoke and grease buildup from walls.  Such cleaners are available at most hardware stores.

5. Prime Walls

Primer paint helps seal any porous surfaces while providing better coverage once you apply coats of paint later on. 

Primers come in two varieties, latex-based and oil-based, so ensure you choose one that's appropriate for your specific project. Ask a hardware store expert which primer they recommend for your project.

Making sure your walls are properly prepped before beginning any painting project is necessary to ensure you achieve a professional-looking finish that will last long-term. The process isn't always easy, but you can get the job done quickly and efficiently with the right supplies, tools, and instructions. A professional painter can assist you if you feel you cannot do the task yourself.


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