6 Procedures To Prepare To Paint & The Supplies That We Recommend

Since the paint color is chosen and you have bought the paint. What’s next? Let’s view a few processes or steps you can prepare to paint. A paint supply store such as Malone Home Center in Greenville can assist with your questions on techniques and supplies to get you entirely and suitably prepared for the project.

 

Six Processes to Prepare for Painting:

First, remove all nails, electrical covers, and picture hangers from the walls you wish to paint. Clean and dust the walls and ceiling earnestly with a damp sponge or rag, except in the kitchen or bathroom, where grease, oil or dirt tends to compile on walls…these walls should be cleaned with detergent or a household cleaner that removes oil before re-painting. Leave the walls to dry all the way.

  

Second, analize the walls and ceiling for holes and cracks. Carefully fill hairline cracks with spackling material or caulk, using a putty knife. If you don’t have one, you can use a butter knife, or even your fingers to flatten it out. Bulkier holes or cracks have to be filled with appropriate patching plaster, that you can buy from your local Malone Home Center store. Remember to look at to see if there is any joint separation on the moldings around the walls, door, and windows. Fix it by re-setting the strips or filling in the cracks with spackle.

Tip: To establish proper adhesion of the plaster filler, carve out a triangular channel in the wall, narrow on the surface and wider inside. Then feed the plaster into the channel through the narrow opening. Remember to remove additional spackling with a putty knife or flat knife. When the patching material has thoroughly dried, sand the surface smooth with sand paper or a sanding sponge. Then apply undercoating or primer to the patched areas as needed.

 

4 basic kinds of scrapers you can use:

Hook scraper: This is suitable for scraping down uneven surfaces and can be used with paint remover or a blowtorch. Hook scrapers consist of a steel blade, with a hook at one end. Some hook scrapers have removable and reversible blades.

Razorblade scraper: Especially handy for scraping paint from mooth surfaces or glass. May come in different styles.

Wall scraper: Knife-type wall scrapers are for removing paint and general cleaning. Available in size from 1 ¼” to 5” wide. It can have both flexible and/or a stiff blade. Generally a 2” to 4” width with a stiff blade works best, depending on the project.

Putty knife: A knife with a bending steel blade used for putting on putty. This is also handy for cleaning, scraping, filling other things as well.

2. Remove Hardware & Add Painter’s Tape

 

Note: Wait at least one hour after painting until you remove the masking tape. Run a razor blade along the edge of the tape first, so when you pull the tape up – it doesn’t pull any dry paint with it.

3. “Cut in” and Paint the Outlines of the Room with Primer

After finishing all of step 2…paint around and by the painter’s tape and edges next. Use an angled or flat brush for accuracy. Paint 2 inch or 3 inch bands around edges, corners, and frames. Try to do one wall at a time so the paint matches when you fill in while rolling the paint on.

 

4. Don’t’ Forget to Prime

Primers are designed to help seal the wall and prevent mold. It is the most needed part of the painting, specially if going from a darker color to a lighter color. Some of the paints we offer have a paint and primer in one. Call us with questions on primer.

  

5. Don’t Forget to Sand the Primer

Once the primer has totally dried, go back over it with sandpaper or a sandpaper sponge. This will help get rid of any undesirable bumps and ridges that you didn’t see before and “seal the deal” before getting the “real” paint on. Be certain to clean the walls again with a moist towel or sponge before moving on to “the paint”. 

 

6. “Cut in” and Paint

Finally, working from highest to the lowest point, take the tips from above on “cutting in” and then fill in by rolling on the paint. Using a “V” or “W” stroke pattern until each section is paint covered. Wait 2-4 hours to completely dry before applying a second coat.

Get to painting!

Got some paint questions still? Visit our local Malone Home Center location in Greenville to talk to one of our department specialists. Have a unique project and don’t know which paint to choose? Our paint person can help with that too! While you are here – find out if we have any paint or supply deals going on to help you save.