Preparing Walls for Painting – Step-by-Step Guide

Preparing Walls for Painting – Step-by-Step Guide

How to prepare walls before painting for professional results? What are the details that many overlook, ending up with average results instead of a top-notch finish? How do you repair wall damages? What are the tricks for perfectly smoothing a wall? Why is washing the wall of special significance?

Painting an apartment is one of those tasks many decide to tackle on their own. At first glance, it doesn’t seem too complicated – what can a professional do that I can’t? There is some truth to that, but to achieve truly professional results, attention must be paid to the details that are taken for granted by professional painters.

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For the final result to be at its highest level, high-quality wall preparation is crucial. And by that, we don’t mean protecting window frames and moldings…

Even a perfect wall needs cleaning before painting

Before starting to paint, thoroughly remove dust from the walls. It’s best to use a vacuum cleaner first and then a well-squeezed damp cloth. Check all the corners to make sure no cobwebs are left anywhere. They may be invisible at first, but once they stick to the paint roller and start spreading across the walls, they become quite noticeable. The same applies to the baseboards – that’s where most of the dirt accumulates that can soil the roller and the paint.

However, it’s rare that walls will only need cleaning. Before painting, check the quality of the previous paint. If it’s peeling in some places, it needs to be scraped off to reveal a healthy surface.

When is plastering necessary and why is it a job for a professional?

If when scraping off the old paint you notice that the plaster underneath is also coming off in large quantities, it means the walls are in pretty bad shape and require complete plastering. These are more serious plastering jobs, and if you’re reading this text, it’s quite certain that your painting experience isn’t enough for you to achieve good results plastering entire walls on your own. In that case, it’s advisable to hire professionals.

Light at a sharp angle reveals even the smallest irregularities

If the plaster on your walls is in good condition, minor repairs will probably still be necessary. It only takes a little effort to turn an average result into an outstanding one. Before painting, you need to repair all damages. You can easily do this with a wide spatula and plaster.

Plaster is made by mixing plaster powder with water in the ratio recommended by the manufacturer. Making plaster is another challenge, as it needs to be neither too runny to avoid dripping and losing shape, nor too thick for better application. If you’re unsure and it’s just a few minor repairs on the walls, it’s best to buy pre-mixed plaster in buckets.

Once the damages are repaired, the walls need to be sanded. This is done with sandpaper of P150 or P180 grit, using large circular motions without much pressure. To check if the unevenness has been fixed, it’s best to shine a light from a room lamp or LED lamp at a sharp angle to reveal any shadows.

Washing the walls before painting shouldn’t be skipped

Finally, professionals advise washing the walls before painting. Many skip this step, but it might be a good idea to do it, if nothing else, to remove dust from previous repairs.

Washing is done with a sponge soaked in water with potassium soap diluted in it. You can buy it at hardware stores. After that, a second round of washing with a sponge is done, occasionally rinsing it in clean water. Only when the walls are thoroughly dried from washing can you start painting.

Foto: Freepik

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