8 Tips To Prep Your Surface For Paint

Proper prep is the most important step when it comes to painting. Whether you are painting an interior wall, exterior siding, or another surface, there will always be some prep work involved. Simply sanding and slapping on paint will not yield the quality you desire. Rosewood Paint and Remodel take prep work seriously. We ensure that your surface is healthy and will hold paint for many years. If you want to avoid chipping or damage to your home or business, follow these tips to prep your surface for paint. 

Tips For Interior

1- Fill In Cracks And Chips

Uneven surfaces are difficult to paint because they make it hard to get an even coat. These cracks or peeling paint can lead to bubbles and lead your new paint to chip faster. Continuing to redo a paint job over and over because you refused to do the prep work ahead of time is exhausting. If you prep your surface for paint with some sanding and filler, your paint job will flow much smoother. 

2- Wash Previously Painted Walls

Smooth and non-damaged interior painted walls can often be painted with little to no prep work. The one exception is that they should be washed before applying more paint. Dusting along creases, outlet covers, and window sills, and washing the wall with a damp cloth and light washing liquid should set your surface up for a fresh coat of paint. 

3- Turn Off Electrical

If you are painting the ceiling or walls with lights or fans that need to be removed, make sure to shut off the power to that room. While this tip is not necessarily to prep your surface for paint, it will save you from trouble while painting. Covering electrical wires, shutting off electrical, or sanding down sharp edges will all help prevent unnecessary injury. 

4- Invest In The Right Primer

Using a quality primer can help prep your surface for paint and help it to last longer. The primer you will use can change depending on the type of surface you are looking to paint. Primer is especially important for wood surfaces, surfaces that are damaged by water and smoke, or a newly constructed interior wall. 

Tips For Exterior

5- Consider A Scaffolding Setup

When you are painting the entire exterior of your home, the safety precautions you take can help improve the results of the paint job. Scaffolding, quality ladders, and other safety equipment can help you reach all areas of your home with ease and save you from serious falls. When homeowners forgo the services of a trusted painter, taking every safety measure is important. Setting up safety precautions will help to prep your surface for paint.

6- Repair The Surface First

The exterior of your home is exposed to the elements constantly and is more prone to damage. Siding, decks, windows, and exterior rock can start to chip or break apart through different seasons. Fixing splintering wood, missing materials, or removing damaged materials will help prep your surface for paint. 

Repairing the surface before you begin painting will save you time while painting and wasting paint on a surface that is going to fall apart. 

7- Prepare For Spills

When you are painting a high area, gravity may start to take over and drip paint on other parts of your home or landscaping. Putting down tarps or clothes around areas that you don’t want the paint to touch will save you clean up. Some surfaces are hard to remove paint from, so protecting them from the start will stop frustration from occurring. Plants are also hard to remove paint from and can actually cause chemical damage to leaves. Keeping paint only where it really needs to be will keep your home looking pristine.

8- Thoroughly Dry

Different surfaces will require different moisture levels in order for paint to adhere properly. You will want to wash the surface of your home before you begin painting to ensure that debris and old chipping paint are cleared. Make sure that the surface is properly dry, especially wood before you apply primer or paint. 

You will also want to paint in the right weather conditions. Too hot and your paint may cure too quickly and look streaky, but painting on a rainy day will cause the paint to run or not dry at all. Direct sun is not ideal, so if you have to paint on a particularly sunny day, start on the shadiest side of the house. 

Painting Your Home Or Business With Rosewood

Our team at Rosewood Paint and Remodel wants to help give your home new life without breaking the bank. Each member of our team has a variety of skills that can make your home stand out among the others. Contact us to get started today.