How to prepare walls before painting
Preparing walls before painting is an essential step towards achieving the best paint finish. If you don't do this, it could result in peeling paint and uneven surfaces or cracks that show through the paint.
No matter whether you're painting a plastered new wall or an old wallpaper-covered wall, preparation is essential.
Clean the Walls
Before you can paint, it is important to clean the walls. This is important to prevent damage to your paint and ensure a great final result.
This step is easy to forget, but if your intention is to seriously renovate your home you will need to do everything to ensure that the walls remain in good condition for the job ahead.
You can wash your walls with water and mild detergent if they have been painted. This will remove all dirt and debris.
It's important that you note that if your walls have been particularly filthy, you may need to use a more aggressive cleaning method.
White vinegar can be used to clean grimy or stained walls. However, it is also possible to use warm water with dish soap. If you have stubborn stains that are not easily removed by regular cleaning products, you might consider making a paste out of baking soda water.
All debris must be removed
Remove all debris from your walls if you want your paint job look great and lasts a long while. This includes dust and dirt.
You can often use a broom, or a vacuum with an extension wand in rooms with little use to get rid off any accumulated grime. To reach tight corners or difficult-to get to areas, attach a microfibercloth to the end.
After you've removed all debris, it's now time to wash your walls. This is often done with just water and soap.
If you have walls that are extremely dirty, it may be necessary to create a cleaning agent. TSP or other similar cleaner might be necessary if you have grease on the walls of your kitchen or crayon marks on your kids' rooms.
Fill Cracks & Holes
If you're painting walls, don't forget to fill in any holes or cracks. These imperfections can easily be fixed quickly so your project is perfect.
Use a putty blade to apply some joint compound to the crack. Then drag the compound down into the crack and push it in. Removing any excess material, tape the cracks with mesh tape.
You can use spackling to create ceilings. This will ensure that all filler is distributed evenly and prevents it slipping back into holes.
Sand the repaired cracks or holes before you paint. This will help the repaired crack or hole blend in with the wall, and it will keep the painted finish looking great. You should always use a dust mask when you sand so you don't inhale any particles.
Sand the Walls
Sanding walls before you paint them will give them a smoother texture. Paint adheres better to them. This step is required regardless of the wall material or the old paint texture.
The result you are looking for will determine which grit level of sandpaper to use. Grit 220 can give you a rougher look, while Grit320 can smoothen most surfaces.
Be sure to thoroughly clean the walls before you begin sanding. This will remove any dust or hair that may have been accumulated.
Use a sanding tool and 80-grit sandpaper for sanding the wall. Make circular movements to eliminate any large ridges.
Once walls have been sanded they are ready to be primed. Primer will protect your walls from bleed-through. It will also ensure that your paint sticks well to the wall and lasts for a long time.
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Preparing walls before painting is an essential step towards achieving the best paint finish. If you don't do this, it could result in peeling paint and uneven surfaces or cracks that show through the paint. No matter whether you're painting a plastered new wall or an old wallpaper-covered wall, preparation is essential. Clean the Walls…