Painting the walls is often the first step in refreshing the interior, but the key to achieving a beautiful effect is proper preparation of the surface. Let’s check how the preparation of walls for painting affects the work and its smooth course.
Preparing Walls for Painting
1. Wall Condition Assessment
Before you start painting, assess the condition of the walls to look for holes, scratches, dirt and other damage. Small surface cracks can usually be filled with acrylic filler, but larger defects, such as holes or deep scratches, will require filling with filler, which may be cement or gypsum, depending on the type of plaster.
2. Surface Cleansing
Make sure the walls and ceiling are clean. If there is any dirt, wash it off with warm soapy water. Difficult to remove stains can be neutralized with dirt neutralizing paint. Remove greasy stains with a detergent that does not contain lanolin and polishing substances, or with a special preparation for removing greasy stains.
3. Priming the walls
Paint manufacturers recommend priming before painting, especially if the substrate is very absorbent or there is a concern that it may absorb moisture from the paint. New plasters, especially gypsum plasters, and plasterboard cladding require priming. Walls already finished with paint usually do not require priming. It is also worth remembering that the surface must be completely dry before painting, so fresh plaster should wait about 2 weeks. It is recommended to leave at least 24 hours between priming and painting the walls, as the primer may not have achieved its full effectiveness yet.
4. Painting Order
Painting should start from the ceiling. Apply the paint in strips perpendicular to the wall with the window. The strip of paint on the ceiling should overlap by about half its width. If the ceiling is uneven, it is worth leaving some margin between the paint and the wall. Never start painting from the top or bottom of the wall. Start working in the center to avoid lumps of paint at the top or bottom of the wall. Paint the walls with alternating vertical and diagonal stripes. After painting an approximately 1.5-meter section, use a roller to smooth out the surface, removing any streaks.
5. Painting in Hard-to-Reach Places
To paint around electrical sockets or light switches, use a small flat brush. If you are concerned about precision, protect sockets and switches with painter’s tape. If you are painting the wall behind the radiator, protect it with foil to avoid paint staining. Thorough preparation of walls for painting will allow you to achieve a lasting and aesthetic effect. Remember that proper priming, filling of gaps, and precise painting translate into the final result. Therefore, it is worth spending time to properly prepare the walls before painting.
