Painting a wall may seem like an easy task, but to achieve a professional standard is a different matter altogether. Here are a few top tips from those in the know:
Paint the ceiling first
When painting a room, we suggest you start at the top and finish at the bottom. By painting the ceiling first, you remove the risk of drips or splatter landing on to you newly painted walls. After you have painted the ceiling, move on to the walls and finish off with the skirting and door trim.
Prepare the surface
You want to make sure your surface is as smooth as possible, so make sure you clean it, fill any holes and finally give any small bumps a sand, wiping off any residue. We suggest using 120 or 180 grit, depending on the surface.
Use quality products
We all love a bargain, but unfortunately using cheap brushes and budget paint doesn’t necessarily mean value for money. Cheap brushes and rollers don’t apply the paint as well and can result in fibres and hairs breaking free onto your surface. Budget paint is only cheap at the time, but when you need numerous coats of paint to achieve reasonable cover, it makes sense to invest in a quality paint for long term gains.
Remove switch covers
Masking light switches and sockets is a long and laborious task. Simply unscrew them and refix once you are done painting.
Apply 2 coats
Whilst you might be ready to hang up your tools after one coat of paint, think again. To get the best out of your paint and to unleash the full colour potential, add that second coat. The second coat is always quicker as you are starting with a base of the same colour.
Paint in good light
Ideally you should paint in bright, natural light. When painting in poor light the surface may look fine, but in brighter light, imperfections will start to show. Avoid this by setting off on a good foot and choosing the best time to paint your room based on the available light sources.
Don’t overstretch
Get yourself at eye level to what you’re painting. Overstretching when painting can result in a poor finish, as you aren’t able to apply the same pressure to the roller or brush when leaning too heavily. So, if you’re cutting in at the ceiling or painting the skirting, get yourself right in there, the finish will be better, and your body will thank you later!
One wall at a time
Avoid any unsightly lines around your walls by cutting in and then rollering the wall straight after. This allows for a seamless join before the paint has a chance to dry in the corners. Once one wall is finished move on to the next one.
Don’t overpaint
When painting try to avoid brushing the same area over and over, especially after the paint has started to dry. This can cause unsightly brush marks. Instead, load your brush and quickly cover the surface using only a stroke or two. When using a roller work from the top of the wall to the bottom, but don’t keep going over the same area.
Clean your tools
Always take the time to clean your tools, not only will your brushes and rollers last much longer, but you will also prevent any unnecessary waste. If you are using water-based paint, remove as much paint as possible from your tools first, then wash them in warm soapy water. Dry with a clean cloth and store them in a dry place for future use.