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Best Techniques for Prepping a Surface Before Painting

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Mastering the Best Techniques for Prepping Surfaces Before Painting

Many people underestimate the time and energy it takes to paint a room or an entire building. Each painting job is unique and requires different skills and supplies. But the one thing that is true for all painting projects is that you will need to prep your surfaces before picking up that roller or brush.

This article will explore why properly prepping surfaces is so important and what you’ll need to do to get the professional results you want.

Why Do I Need to Prep My Surfaces Before Painting?

Paint pros know that the difference between a fantastic paint job and a major disappointment is preparation. Failing to prepare your surfaces can result in spotty coverage, streaks, and ugly lumps and bumps. Instead of a smooth, clean-looking wall, you’ll see imperfections and uneven coverage.

When you are excited about a fresh coat of color, or you’re in a rush to finish the job quickly, skipping the prep and getting straight to the painting part can be tempting. But ignoring this essential process may cause the project to take even longer or require more energy because you’ll need to paint more coats–or even start over from square one.

Don’t skip the prep. Learn how to prepare your surfaces and take the time to do it well. A little investment of time can save you much more down the road, and you’ll be much happier with the results.

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Prepping a Surface For Painting

Most people don’t paint every day, and many don’t know how to prepare a surface for painting properly. Taking a little extra time in the beginning can save you a lot of time and stress later on. Here is a step-by-step guide to getting your walls ready for a fresh coat of paint.

Step 1:Clean

Cleaning is an essential first step that you absolutely should not skip. Even if you believe your walls are clean, dust, cobwebs, and oil from being touched can build up over time. Painting dirty walls means paint can’t go on smoothly, won’t dry as evenly, and is more likely to show imperfections.

The way you clean depends on whether you’re painting interior or exterior walls. When painting inside, begin by using a duster or dry cloth all over the wall. Pay special attention to corners and where the wall meets the ceiling and floor. This step will remove a lot of the dust and cobwebs that can accumulate over time.

Next, wipe down the walls with a damp cloth or soft sponge soaked in a mixture of warm water and mild detergent. Don’t skip this step–you’ll want to ensure you’ve removed as much dust, dirt, and buildup as possible. Kitchen walls may need special attention because they are often exposed to more smoke, oil, and splatters than other surfaces. Use a grease-cutting detergent to remove tough buildup if necessary.

For exterior surfaces, cleaning is even more critical. Outdoor surfaces are exposed to all kinds of environmental debris, from leaves and insects to pollen, dander, and dirt. Power washing is generally the quickest and most effective way to remove outdoor buildup.

Step 2: Remove Mildew

Mildew is a type of fungus that can multiply in moist places, such as damp basements, under sinks, and in your bathroom fixtures. Mildew smells terrible and is believed to make people sick, so you should remove it whenever you find it in your home.

Mildew can also grow on walls, especially in rooms where there is a lot of moisture, such as a bathroom. If you plan to paint in an area where you have mildew, you’ll need to remove it before getting started. Painting over the mildew will not eliminate it, and it can still grow and spread.

Before painting a mildewy wall, wash it with warm water and antibacterial dish soap. You may also use vinegar to kill the mildew. Simply mix a solution of vinegar and water for light mildew coverage, or apply undiluted vinegar onto areas where the mildew is thick.

If you have mold or mildew on your exterior walls, use a store bought mildew remover or make your own by combining 1 part bleach in 3 parts water. You can use this mixture when power washing before you paint. This will kill existing mold and prevent it from returning.

In some cases, mildew can be so heavy and pervasive that you’ll need to sandpaper it away. You should use 150-grit sandpaper to remove the mildew, then wash the entire surface with a mixture of warm water and mild detergent.

Step 3: Sand

Sanding is an essential step in prepping walls for painting because it ensures that the surface is as smooth as possible, allowing the paint to go on smoothly. Even if your walls have been painted in the past, you must sand any rough or uneven areas.

Look carefully at your walls and use your hands to feel for rough spots or raised imperfections. Once you’ve found areas that require smoothing, use a sanding block or sandpaper to even out the surface. Then use a damp cloth to remove the dust and allow it to dry completely.

If you find cracks in the existing paint, do not simply paint over them. Cracked or flaking paint can cause unsightly lumps and imperfections. Take the time to scrape or sand any areas of cracked or chipped paint before applying a new coat.

Step 4: Protect

Protecting nearby surfaces and furniture is one of the most critical steps in preparing to paint. Move anything you can into another room, including furniture and rugs. Lay down canvas drop cloths over floors and any furniture you can’t move. Remove decorative light fixtures, light switch and outlet covers, and any vent and return covers in the room.

Use painter’s tape to protect molding, baseboards, around windows, and any other features you don’t want to paint. Taking these steps will make sure you get clean lines and minimize mess.

Step 5: Patch

You’ll need to patch any holes or imperfections to get the smoothest coverage. Use drywall patching compound to fill in nail holes or to repair large scuffs. You may also need to provide texture after patching to match the existing surface.  This will allow your paint to go on smoothly and get the clean, professional look you want.

Step 5: Prime

The color and finish of your paint are clearly an important part of how your new paint will look. But the primer you use will also significantly affect your overall results when painting.

Primers cover up imperfections, allow the paint to dry uniformly, and create a smooth surface for your paint to adhere to depending on the surface, using a separate primer may be the best way to get professional-looking results.

Giving your surfaces a coat of primer can actually save you time, energy, and money in the long run. You’ll spend less time painting and re-painting multiple coats and be happier with the results.

Step 6: Check the paint

After you’ve sanded, filled, taped, and smoothed your walls to perfection, it’s almost time to get those rollers to work. But before you can get painting, it’s essential to check your paint one last time. Open a can and make sure the paint is mixed completely. You should see uniform color with no streaks of saturated pigment.

Do a small test patch to ensure the color and finish are correct. Choose an inconspicuous area of the room and apply a little paint. Let it dry completely to get a sense of how the color will look. If you’re satisfied that the color and finish are correct, you may finally begin to paint.

While taking these steps may require more time and energy, you’ll appreciate the effort when you get the professional results you hoped for.

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Robert TRobert T ★★★★★ Very easy to work with and expert results. I was impressed that they did the whole job in one day including some serious prep work. Lots of scraping and caulking. The house looks great with all the boards tightened up and the new coat of paint. Would recommend CCRP without hesitation.William K.William K. ★★★★★ Our experience with Colorado Painting could not have been better. From the prompt and friendly communication surrounding the estimate for the exterior paint job, to the efficient and quality painting on the finished product. All aspects of the experience were top notch, fairly priced, and completed in a professional manner.Matthew M.Matthew M. ★★★★★ Impressive work for painting the entire interior of the home. Minimal touch ups needed at the end. Company has the ability to resurface uneven areas with sanding and texture. Pricey but worth the end result.alison B.alison B. ★★★★★ We had a great experience from the beginning to end of our painting project! The original sales/quote process was so professional and the painting went quickly and was done very professionally. This is our second very successful experience with Colorado Commercial & Residential Painting. We'll use them again!Peter H.Peter H. ★★★★★ Colorado Painting provided an excellent quality of work for our exterior and interior house painting projects. The staff and painters were professional, friendly and very easy to work with during the projects. We are very happy with the final painting project. We recommend the company.C C.C C. ★★★★★ Colorado Commercial & Residential Painting recently painted the exterior of our house. We received competitive bids from other companies, but Colorado Painting stood out from the rest with their professional, knowledgeable, and courteous service.Hayden provided a comprehensive project plan of what repair work needed to be done and what materials would be use. Osman and his paint crew did an impeccable job making sure all surfaces were well prepped and taped off to catch any overshoot. When doing the inspection after the painting was completed we could not find any missed spots or places that needed paint reapplied. They also painted our rod iron deck railings and they look brand new.We would definitely not hesitate to hire Colorado Commercial & Residential Painting for any future painting needs.Holly G.Holly G. ★★★★★ The team was a pleasure to work with and the job was very well done. I couldn't be happier. The whole process was smooth, and they were very communicative throughout the whole process. I highly recommend them!Dustin B.Dustin B. ★★★★★ Great communication, execution, cleanup and follow-up. Highly recommended.Taylor L.Taylor L. ★★★★★ We are very happy with the paint job they did on the exterior of our house! From the initial quote and scheduling, to the prep, painting, and then the follow up quality check at the end, everyone at Colorado Commercial & Residential Painting made what felt like a daunting task a very seamless and enjoyable experience. The quote was reasonable and the team was professional and friendly. We have already recommended them to neighbors and friends!Patricia W.Patricia W. ★★★★★ Colorado Commercial &Residential Painting took on my project to paint my home. It had not been painted in 15 years, was dirty, peeling and chipping. They bid a competitive price without upselling. They did a beautiful job of washing, refurbishing and painting my home. It looks brand new and I would strongly recommend them!Mike B.Mike B. ★★★★★ I hired Colorado Commercial and Residential Painting to repaint my townhouse from top to bottom. The work was AMAZING. The final walkthrough was so great that I had nothing on my punchlist for them to fix! If you are considering a makeover, hire them!Todd V.Todd V. ★★★★★ Colorado Commercial and Residential Painting recently completed painting nearly 100% of our house’s interior. As the original owners of our 1999 home, we felt it was time for a change. Before the painters arrived, I decided to upgrade all our doors to solid core for a more high-end feel. I purchased pre-primed doors, installed them myself, and did some preliminary prep work.The painting team assured me they would make the doors and woodwork look amazing, and they delivered on that promise. They sprayed all the trim and new doors and rolled the walls with a new, lighter color. Even though I had prepped the doors, I noticed them improving some of my workmanship. They weren’t going to mention it, but I’m glad they did. The woodwork and doors now look like they belong in a 5-star hotel.Honestly, our house looks brand new and even better than the day we moved in back in 1999. Before selecting this company, I did some research with friends. While you can find cheaper bids out there, I believe you get what you pay for. Spraying the trim makes such a significant difference that it’s worth the extra work, additional cost, and minor inconvenience it causes.The team was highly communicative, very professional, and responsive to our needs throughout the five days they were here.I would definitely use them again and plan to do so for some exterior updates this summer.Pamela S.Pamela S. ★★★★★ Leo and his team did an amazing job painting our main level - ceilings and all! Colorado Painting is so helpful and friendly. The color they helped pick out with me is perfect. They are friendly, helpful, and neat! Thanks Colorado Painting!Josh SJosh S ★★★★★ We have completed several projects over the years with CCRP including basement and bathroom remodels involving tricky finish, texture and paint work, all of which were great experiences - fast and high quality work. I love finding locally owned and operated businesses that are a part of the community - you won't regret working with this company.Collin “.Collin “. ★★★★★ These guys were great! Responsive, in time and very professional. Highly recommend.Tracy S.Tracy S. ★★★★★ Colorado Residential and Commercial Painting repainted our home as well as our pergolas and I can’t say enough great things about them. The whole process went smoothly. So easy to work with as well as professional and just did an amazing job. If you need your home or business painted I would definitely give them a call!Jessie A.Jessie A. ★★★★★ They do a great job and everyone is friendly and helpful!Matthew F.Matthew F. ★★★★★ Excellent work, good communication and very quick. Highly recommend!Jessica T.Jessica T. ★★★★★ We have worked with the team at CCRP twice now and will definitely hire them again. The company is great to deal with- everyone is friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, and the work is wonderful. They took the time to address extra details which were so appreciated. Highly recommend for both interior and exterior work.Monica J.Monica J. ★★★★★ They were great! I hired them for a big job -- the entire main level of my home and an upstairs bedroom, including two sky-high walls near my entrance. Everyone involved was professional, punctual and tidy. I made a mistake in not reading the quote carefully enough, but they worked with me to get the job done the way I envisioned it.js_loader
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