If you are investing your own time and money into a project, wouldn’t you rather do it right the first time? Good preparation is proven to help paint last longer, look better and prevent problems such as chipping, peeling, and mold growth. Follow the guidelines below and your project will sure to be worth your time and money.
Step 1: Prep the Work Area
Interior: For interior projects, the first thing you want to do is either remove all of the furniture from the area or place it in the center of the room and cover it with drop cloths. Take a separate drop cloth and cover the exposed floor area. Make sure to remove all fixtures, switch plates, outlet covers and window coverings from the walls and use painter’s tape to protect all areas you don’t want paint to touch.
Exterior: For exterior projects, also use drop cloths to cover any areas that you don’t want to be exposed to paint. This can include cars, outdoor furniture, plants, driveways and walkways. Make sure to remove all window and door screens, light fixtures, electrical covers, and plumbing outlets. Then cover all signs and/or lettering on your building with either plastic or painter’s tape, depending on the size.
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Step 2: Clean and Repair Surfaces
Interior: Since paint does not adhere to dirt or damaged areas, surface repair is a vital step in the painting process. With that being said, at least a day should be dedicated to this step in your project schedule, especially if you have repairs to make.
When preparing interior walls, wipe down any dirt that is present by using a sponge or a cloth with water and a mild detergent; the surface must be dry before moving on to the next step. Then, search the whole area for cracks or holes. If damage exists, apply spackle to the surface with a putty knife. When the spackle is dry, sand it smooth with fine-grit sandpaper.
Exterior: When preparing exterior walls all peeling and flaking paint should be removed with sandpaper and scrapers. Initially, scrape with a large scraper, then use a disc sander to smooth out any imperfections; begin sanding with coarse paper then finish with a fine one. Different levels in the surface will appear when painted so make sure that all surfaces are smooth and even.
To clean the surface, use a mixture of water, trisodium phosphate, and bleach and scrub down the surface with a long-handled brush. Then spray the surface with a pressure washer to remove any and all dirt and mildew.
When the surface is dry, start preparing it by using an exterior spackle to repair any damaged areas. With wood surfaces, joints and cracks in the trim and window frames should be filled with paintable caulk. This will keep moisture out of your building and will prevent further cracking.
Step 3: Prime
Interior: Priming your interior surface is not necessary, but doing so will allow the paint to adhere and wear better. Primer is necessary, however, if your painting surface is stained or you plan on using light-colored paint. Make sure to spot prime all of the spackled areas. When applying the primer use a brush or roller and paint widthwise in 6 inch sections. Move vertically from right to left and back, in zig-zag patterns that overlap each other. Make sure the primer is spread out evenly and that there are no drips.
Exterior: Priming your exterior paint job is important for staining and weathering purposes. Make sure to use a special stain-blocking primer when priming nail heads and knots in the wood to inhibit rust bleeding and wood resin. Also make sure to prime cracks and trim. Even out the primer by using long brush strokes and once again, check the surface for any drips.
When priming or painting the exterior of your building, it is advised to avoid doing it with direct sun. The heat can dry the primer and paint before proper penetration and can cause oil-based paints to develop blisters.
Step 5: Paint
Interior: When painting the interior of your building, the main concern you should have is ventilation. Make sure to open windows while priming and painting so that any pollutants are circulating out of the room. When rolling on the paint, use the same method as applying the primer. Look for any drips and make sure the paint is evenly distributed to the surface. To reach the paints full color and coating effect, apply two coats of paint to the surface. Make sure the first coat is dry before applying the second.
Exterior: Before applying any paint to your exterior, make sure to check the manufacturer’s temperature requirements. If the surface or weather is under 50ºF, effects such as cracking and improper film formation can occur. If the weather is too hot, the humidity can highly affect oil-based paints by turning the paint blotchy or showing color-variations in the film. Condensation can cause bleed or shadowing in the surface which may cause dark streaks, blotches, or glossiness on the paint film.
