7 ESSENTIAL THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR HOUSE PAINTING PROJECT
Painting a room, piece of furniture, or door is a great way to spruce up your home. And because almost everyone can use a paint brush, painting is also a popular DIY home project. But just because you have the ability to brush some paint on a wall, that doesn't mean you know what you're doing.
Know these quick tips before your next project.
1. Check the Weather Forecast
It's best to paint when the air is as dry as possible, so skip painting on humid or rainy days. Wait for relative humidity to be between 40% and 70%. Don't paint exteriors when it's raining. Open a window when you're painting inside, and allow the paint to dry completely before adding another coat.
2. Know Your Square Footage
You can derail your budget if you don't plan accurately for your project. Running out of paint mid-project just adds time and expense. Plan on one gallon per 400 square feet, but if you're painting a rough texture, you may need more.
3. Maintain a Wet Edge
If you paint over an area that has already begun to dry (which can happen in a minute or less in dry conditions), you'll end up with lap marks lining your walls. To avoid this, keep a "wet edge," meaning each new stroke should overlap the previous one. With a roller, paint up and down the full height of the wall.
4. Plan for Drying Time
Give the room at least 24 hours of drying time before you bring furniture and other items back.
https://youtu.be/78N6p4jupCg
5. Thoroughly Prep the Surface
If your surfaces are not carefully prepped before you put roller to wall, it won't matter how carefully you paint, and it won't matter if you spend extra money on high-quality paint. Your hard work and money won't stick, and you'll soon see cracking and peeling if your surfaces aren't adequately prepared.
To avoid this, sand and scrape any areas that are peeling, cracking, or flaking. Wash greasy spots with soap, and wipe your walls with a dust-free cloth.
New Life Painting takes the time to thoroughly prep each surface so that your paint can last for years to come.
6. Remove the Tape in the Correct Way
You're done with your painting job, and you can't wait to get the room back in order. So you yank the tape off the trim -- only to ruin all your hard work. If you remove tape too early, or without the proper tool, it will pull dried paint off with it.
Instead, wait for at least 24 hours before thinking about removing the tape. Then use a sharp utility knife to slice through the film. Pull up the tape at a 45-degree angle as you cut the paint.
7. Take Your Time
If you're not one for careful, thorough work, painting may not be the job for you. You can't rush a paint job without negative consequences. Take your time in prep work, and take your time in application for a beautiful finish you'll love for many years.
Not everyone is cut out for the meticulous, careful work of painting, and that's okay. If you're not sure you're the right one for the job, call Listol Painting at 928-899-6252, or contact us online, for beautiful results.
