Surface preparation is the cleaning, scraping, sanding, patching, caulking, and priming that happens before paint is applied. It’s the single biggest factor in how long a paint job lasts, because even the best paint fails on a poorly prepped surface.
Prep also tends to be where shortcuts hide. It’s invisible once covered, and it’s the least glamorous part of the job, which is exactly why we treat it as the main event. The paint is only as good as the surface beneath it, so extra care is applied during prep to ensure smooth, long-lasting paint finishes.