How to Prepare a Room to Be Painted

A new coat of paint is a great way to refresh a room! With a little extra effort to prepare, not only will the process go more smoothly, but the results will be seamless. 

Whether you are tackling a DIY project, or hiring a professional painting contractor, here are some tips on how to prepare your space to be painted:

Clear the Room

The very first step to any painting project is to make lots of space. Despite your attempts, paint can get everywhere and, the more cluttered the space, the more opportunity for an accidental spill. Make sure you have plenty of elbow room!

Remove everything you can from the room, and push anything left (such as heavy furniture) into the middle of the floor so you can easily maneuver around it while painting walls.

Remove Cover Plates & Fixtures

If you are thinking about just painting around outlet cover plates and fixtures, think again. 

Even the steadiest hand can end up with wiggly lines or drips. By taking an extra few minutes to remove these fixtures, you will be left with a professional finish. Be sure to shut off power to the room before working with electrical hardware.

If you are painting a ceiling with a fan, you should be able to remove the trim and slide the fan down the fixture away from the ceiling. Wrap it with a plastic bag to protect it from paint drippings. Never let a fixture hang by its wires! Wires are not made to support weight and it could cause an electrical issue later.

Create an Even Surface

You will want to paint on a smooth, even surface, so now is the time to patch up any nail holes and dents, and scrape off any peeling paint. 

Holes and dents can be filled with a spackling compound and then sanded so that they are level to surrounding areas. Don’t forget to sand or fill where you scrape off peeling or cracked paint!

If you’re having a professional crew come in and paint, they often offer this as part of their services. Double check whether the crew offers this before you spend the time tackling the task yourself.

Clean Your Walls

Now that your walls are nice and smooth, it is time to clean them. 

Thoroughly dust your ceiling, walls, trim, and baseboards from top to bottom so that you don’t have dust, hairs, or fibers ruining your paint job. 

Afterwards, you can spot clean with mild soap and water or TSP to get rid of grease, oily residue, and mildew. Rinse with water, and let dry thoroughly before painting.

Vacuum any carpet or dust your hardwood floors as well, to avoid kicking up debris onto your surface.

Protect Areas You Don’t Want Painted

If you are painting your trim and ceiling a different color than your walls, or leaving them alone, use painters tape to keep edges clean. Get a few different sizes for different areas. 

While you’ve got the tape out, be sure to protect light switches and outlets from rogue paint drops as well. Just place a piece of tape right over them.

If you are painting doors, remove or cover all knobs, locks, and other hardware. Plastic bags and painters tape work well.

Cover any furniture with drop cloth. Plastic is fine. Avoid using plastic drop cloth under your feet, however. Instead, use a canvas drop cloth with a leak proof liner on the back to avoid slipping.

Professional Interior Painting Contractor in Holly, MI

For quality interior painting from prep to finish, look no further than Armor Tough Coatings. Since 2014, we have served the residents of the Detroit Metro with our superior painting services and quality customer service. We offer interior and exterior painting services, as well as epoxy flooring installation for home and business! Call us for a quote today!