Home owners should pay considered attention to planning a project to be successful, you have to prepare properly. It is easy to get ahead of yourself and just move a few things quickly to get the job done. But if you take the time to prepare the room and the walls properly, things will not only go much smoother, but you'll be done before you know it.
The first thing you want to do is prepare the room. Start with the furniture. Move all light pieces and decorative items out of the room. Push heavy pieces to the center and cover with plastic. Next take off all electrical faceplates and tape over switches and receptacles. If light fixtures cannot be removed, cover them with plastic bags. Lastly, cover the floor with some plastic and then canvas drop cloth.
Next, you want to start preparing walls. If there is wallpaper, the best thing to do is to remove it. Some paper can be painted over, but it needs to be in great shape and not pulling away from the wall. When you are finished removing all adhesive from the walls, use an abrasive cleanser to wash them down and then rinse well. You'll need to let them dry for at least 24 hours.
If painting over a painted wall, prepare by scraping or stripping. If the old paint is peeling or chipping, it must be scraped first. You want to scrape hard enough to remove old paint but gentle enough not to nick the wall surface. Use a broad scraper in large areas and a hook-blade in small ones. A wire brush is good for lightly flaking paint.
With walls bare, you need to start repairing any holes, cracks, and surface blemishes. Small holes and cracks can be filled with joint compound, but brush them clean and wet the surface before stating. After you have patched all areas, Let them dry and then smooth them over. If you discover extensive damage to the walls, a professional should be called in.
In most cases, sanding needs to be done, especially if you patched areas and did a lot of scraping. This will not only give the wall a nice smooth surface, but it can help the paint to adhere better. Make sure you use fine-grade sandpaper. If the walls have a glossy surface, you can use a liquid deglosser, but rinse the wall thoroughly afterward and let it dry for a day.
With the walls in perfect painting condition, you will want to make sure they are free of dust and any greasy film. So first, run a cloth over walls to remove any dust. Then use a sponge and wash them down. Allow them to dry thoroughly, which depending on the size of the room can be up to 24 hours.
If you are going to take the time to do some interior painting on your walls, you want it done right. Trying to rush things by pushing things to the side and just starting will make your job harder and the results less than perfect. Taking the time beforehand to prepare the room and walls properly will guarantee that things will go smoother and faster than if you didn't.
