The success of a painting project, just like any other project, lies in the amount of preparation that goes into it. It doesn’t matter how much talent you have or how many years you’ve been painting. If your preparation is not adequate, you will have a project that does not entirely turn out as you had planned. Most professional painters spend a good deal of time ensuring that the setting for the job is correct and safe prior to kickstarting the project. It’s also widely agreed that preparation is vital if you want to see premium painted walls. This article will take a look at how to prepare walls for painting so that you can achieve a professional-looking finish.
Preparing new walls
New walls are the most straightforward walls to paint. They have no old paint covering them; they are smooth and can be very easily cleaned. To prepare new walls for painting, all you have to do is make sure that they are clean, use a primer to ensure no oil in the walls, and then apply the paint of your choice.
Preparing old walls
Old walls are the most challenging walls to paint. They could have multiple layers of paint on them, they could have uneven surfaces, and they could be covered in dust and grime. Read below to find out how to prepare old walls for painting.
1. Scrape cracked paint off the walls
If there are any areas on the walls with cracked paint, you should take them off. The easiest way to do this is with a utility knife or scraper tool. Start by scraping away loose flaking pieces of paint, then work your way up until all the loose flakes are removed.
2. Sand the walls
Sanding the walls down to a smooth surface is the best way to ensure that the walls will look great when the paint is applied. You must get rid of all the old paint and coatings on the walls before painting them. You can do this by sanding the surface. There are a few ways of doing this. You can rent a belt sander if the walls are big and you want to save time. However, if you have just a few walls to paint and don’t want to spend your money on a belt sander, you can use high-quality sandpaper to do the job. Make sure to wear a respirator when you use sandpaper.
3. Patch holes and cracks
If there are any holes or cracks in the walls, fill them in. You can use plaster, joint compound, or spackle to patch the holes. You may need to apply several layers of the patching material to ensure that the holes are perfectly filled. After that, allow the fillings to dry completely and sand the areas to ensure no rough, ugly patches.
4. Clean the walls
For a perfect paint job, all traces of grease and dirt must be removed from the surface before painting begins. This is one of those things you have to do even if there are no cracks or holes in your walls. You can use cleaning solutions like TSP (trisodium phosphate) or a chlorine bleach solution to clean the walls. Follow all instructions on the label on how to use these cleaning solutions as they are very effective but also highly corrosive and flammable if not appropriately handled. Keep children out of the room as well while cleaning is being done, and wear protective gloves while applying the solution to your walls.
Once you have cleaned your wall with this potent combination of TSP/bleach, rinse well with water to remove any residue. After cleaning, you will have what is referred to as a “dead” surface that’s ready for painting right away.
5. Prime the walls
If there are any small holes and cracks that remain after you have patched them, prime these areas before painting to ensure better coverage of paint on walls and a more uniform finish overall when the finished painting is done. Use an oil-based primer for this step; it will be easier to apply and more effective at filling the smallest of holes. When this step is complete, you will have a smooth surface ready for painting.
To achieve professionally painted walls, you need to take the time to prepare the walls correctly. There are many ways to prepare your walls, and the preparation depends significantly on the type of wall you are working on. Sometimes, it is possible to clean the walls and paint them; however, you will need to do a lot of preparation before applying the paint.
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