From forums to articles, blogs and vlogs – everywhere you search online you have advice on what to do when thinking about doing a painting job or if you are finally getting that renovation project going, and all these articles prove helpful and insightful.
But what about the big no-no’s. It was from this train of thought that we decided to share some of our do-not-do’s that we’ve seen over the past few years, because if years on the job has taught us anything, it’s what not to do.
Myth: You don’t need to prep
Correction: You must do prep, especially on the wall that you will be working on. You’ll need to assess the surface to figure out what exactly you’ll need to do before you even think of painting. Is the surface clean? Are there cracks in the wall that need to be filled? Are you removing nails and need to fill those holes? Is the paint bubbling from damp?
All these factors will show you exactly what you need to do to prepare your surface before painting. If you want to do a good job once off, prepare; or else you’ll find yourself redoing it all again in a few months. At the very least, you need to wipe the walls down. Whether you can see it or not, there is a build up of dirt, dust and oils on the walls, and for the paint to adhere to the wall properly, you will need to start with a clean surface.
Don’t forget to prep your brushes and rollers too, by gently tugging on the paint brush hairs to ensure that there are no loose fibers that could end up in the paint and on the wall and do the same with the rollers. As with all things in life, prevention is better than cure.
Myth: Drop cloths are an unnecessary expense
Correction: Although it may seem tedious, if you are painting a room that is furnished, start by moving all the furnishings out of the room, and for the larger pieces such as couches or tables, place them in the center of the room and cover them with drop cloths or old sheets. Then take the time to line drop cloths along the floor next to the walls that you will be painting. As much as you might think that you are a wizard with a paint brush or roller, paint is a liquid after all, and a drop or splatter can happen. Rather take precautions and cover the flooring and furnishings. You’ll be grateful that you did.
Myth: Sampling paint colours is a waste of time
Correction: As much as that colour swatch you held up against the wall looks great, it is still hard to determine exactly how a particular colour will end up appearing in the room alongside your lighting and décor. It is always a good idea to buy a sample of the paint, test it out on a section of the wall and observe how the colour speaks to you in both day and night light.
Myth: Any old paint brush will do
Correction: If you are going through the effort of painting your walls, then extend that towards purchasing quality supplies. Buy good quality tape that will stick properly, buy rollers and brushes that are high quality, and if you don’t have a step ladder, then be sure to get a good solid sturdy one as well. Try make sure that you have not only all the required supplies that come with painting, but that they are quality so that once you start your painting project, that you don’t need to stop halfway and run back to the hardware store to buy more.
The overarching point to take away from all of the above, is that there is no amount of prep that you can do that can be considered to be a waste of time and money. In fact, allocating a decent amount of your project time to do prep will save you time and money in the long run. Take your time to consider all that you need to get and to do before starting.
And if all of this has made you a little hesitant and if you’re unsure of how to proceed, well then that’s where we come in. If you’d like a quote for your next project, get in touch with us today. Our team is always ready to make your day easier.
