DIY Interior Painting Tips

Interior painting is not as easy as it looks. Many who have attempted it know that there are all sorts of details that are easy to overlook and make it take way longer than they expected. Special tools, techniques, and experience make the job a lot easier and look a lot better. That’s where hiring professional interior painters comes in. If you decide that’s the direction you want to go, let us know!

But if you have the time and resources and are wanting to take on the challenge, here are a few tips to help you on your way!

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A Brief Guide to Painting a Room Like a Pro

During the winter, much of our business comes from painting interior rooms. This is a process that requires planning to ensure a positive outcome, especially if you haven’t done it much before. Jumping straight to putting paint on the wall has been the downfall of more than one homeowner. Here are the steps:

Prep

Including protecting, cleaning, repairing, and caulking all surfaces to be painted.

Tape

While this could go in the prep section, it’s enough of a process to deserve its own spot.

Prime

Especially if changing from a dark to a light color.

Ceiling

If applicable

Walls

As quickly as possible, one wall at a time

Trim

Do this last to avoid errors caused by getting carried away with a roller

Touch up

This almost always takes longer than you’d imagine

Clean up

When paint is dry and checked thoroughly

Prep

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. The very first thing you’ll want to do is move furniture and other objects as out of the way as possible. Then cover everything that might be in danger of getting paint-spattered with a drop cloth. While old bedsheets may work for this in a pinch and can stop small spills and spatter, ideally something more non-porous like a tarp or a professional drop cloth will be used.

In addition to covering and removing objects on the floor, remove any light switch and outlet covers that you can.

After everything is protected, it’s time to wipe or wash down walls using a soap and water solution. Clean surfaces help paint to bond better. Incidentally, this is why we pressure wash the exterior of a house whenever we paint it.

Next, repair any physical damage in walls, spackling, and trim. Use flexible caulking to fill in any unsightly gaps or transitions. The caulk will need time to properly dry before applying paint, which provides the time to…

Tape

Tape ensures clean lines can be quickly achieved and helps to protect wall fixtures, shelves, etc that cannot be removed. There are many different colors of painter’s tape which each have different applications where they shine. For the most critical of places, Frog Tape is a top-of-the-line choice. Any paint store associate should be able to guide you in the differences between tape varieties so you can make an informed decision.

While skipping the taping stage may seem attractive, in the end it usually means that you’ll be spending more – not less – time on the job, with results that are less than what they could have been.

Prime

Primer helps new paint to bond and reduces the number of coats you will have to apply to achieve a great outcome. Applying a good primer is especially important when transitioning from a dark color to something lighter. One such situation would be painting over a wall previously coated with chalkboard paint.

Ceiling

If you’re repainting the ceiling, start here. This always has a greater opportunity for mess and splatter and is more labor-intensive than painting walls. So get it out of the way first. Use a roller with an extension if you have one, after brushing the corners. If you have a popcorn ceiling, you may want to (a) change it or (b) use a sprayer or (c) use a roller with a thick nap.

Walls

There are a few things to remember when painting walls to get the best results:

1. Brush the corners and around fixtures/trim first to speed up the rolling process
2. Use a roller to achieve smooth and consistent results
3. Paint entire walls as quickly as possible – don’t allow different sections of the same wall to dry at different times. Humidity and temperature variables can affect the dried color of a paint, so don’t give those variables time to change

Trim

We are thinking here especially of shelving, floorboards, and window trim. After the wall has dried sufficiently so as to not contaminate your trim color is the time to tackle this part of the project.

While certain parts of the trim will require you to use a good brush to create the lines you’re going for here, you can also apply tape to difficult areas – just ensure your walls are dry before you do. Also, remember that some new paint is so good that tape won’t stick to it.

Use a small roller whenever possible to speed up the process and achieve smoother results.

Touch Up

No matter how careful you are, it seems there are always mistakes that need to be taken care of. Take some time off from staring at your room, get out of the fumes and take a break before coming back to look for spots that need some work. You can also use this break time to do limited cleanup – but don’t get over-eager.

Cleanup

Wash out brushes and any roller covers you want to keep with water until it runs clear. Get as much water out as possible. Using a mild soap can also help ensure that bristles remain flexible, especially if you won’t be using a brush again for a while.

If upon seeing this list you’re thinking “That sounds like something I don’t want to do,” that’s what our interior painting team is for. And you might be surprised how reasonable the cost is to get your rooms quickly and professionally painted. Get in touch with us today to get a free estimate.

Are you looking for professional painters? Contact us today for a free estimate.

When Should Primer be Used on Interior Painting Jobs?

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When it comes to deciding whether or not you should use primer for interior painting jobs, the question of “Why?” is likely to arise. After all, it does increase the money and time spent on a painting project – and for what benefit?

What Exactly Does Paint Primer Do?

The purpose of primer paint is to provide a stable surface or foundation which any subsequent paint layers can bond with. Additionally, paint primer is very good at hiding surface stains and knots in wood so they do not spoil the appearance of the finished job.

The more porous the surface of a wall – or the more slick and smooth – the more benefit a paint primer will bring. With a porous surface, paint is easily sucked into a wall. Alternatively, if the wall was previously painted with a glossy coat, new paint is unlikely to stick. The application of a paint primer can resolve both of these issues by filling in holes and producing better adhesion. If you are concerned about the quality of the wall surface, then a general rule of thumb would be to prime it.

Four Situations when a Paint Primer Should Be Used

There are certain projects that essentially require a paint primer in order to ensure the quality of the final job. If you find yourself faced with any of the following conditions, prepare your walls properly like the painting pros do – use a primer. 

Highly Porous Surfaces

A highly porous surface will always need to be primed. Some examples of this will include newly installed drywall, bare wood, and masonry such as retaining wall blocks and bricks.

Underlying Glossy Paint

Think of a glossy wall surface as a well-waxed car. When the water hits the car, it rolls off the surface. This is similar to what happens to paint when applied to a surface previously coated with glossy paint. The preferred solution is to lightly scuff the gloss with sandpaper before applying one or two coats of primer. You could try to skip the sandpaper step, but the result may be affected.

Discolored Surface

If the surface you intend to paint is badly stained, or if you are painting wood which has knots – our advice would always be to use a paint primer and depending on the severity of the staining, possibly use two coats.

Changing from Dark to Light Colors

Changing the color of a wall from dark to light can be frustrating because it seems like the coats just never end. Naturally, darker colors will permeate through lighter ones, meaning you have to put on more coats. In these situations, it is often more cost-effective to use a light-colored primer first, which will likely run cheaper than the colored paint you are using.

Schedule a quote today!

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Types of Interior Paint and their Uses

When the time comes to change the decorating in your home, it can be very easy to get carried away with the color scheme. After all, that is where the fun begins, choosing your colors, maybe taking home little buckets of paint, and trying to imagine how your room would look once the work is completed. However, what many people do not realize is that color is only one piece of the puzzle. Other elements that are equally important are the sheen and base of the paint.

The reason these properties are so important is that your choices will have a direct effect on the character of the room. Depending on the size of the room, the overall effect may not become apparent until the completion of the work, which is why customers must understand the complexities of their paint when making a choice.

Paint Finishes

The sheen option of paint refers to the final shine of the paint once it has dried. There are essentially four different types of sheen – matte, gloss, eggshell, and satin. Some clients might ask us to experiment with combinations of different sheens. When mixed professionally, with a little bit of creative thinking and inside knowledge, it is possible to create dynamic, original, and striking looks.

Matte

Matte paint is the least reflective sheen available and is the best option for anyone who needs to hide imperfections in walls or ceilings. It is by far the most popular choice for walls and benefits from a great depth of color, with a creamy, velvety texture. On the negative side, the velvet texture can be challenging to clean in certain circumstances.

Eggshell and Satin

Eggshell and Satin are very similar. Perhaps the best way to think of them is eggshell is more similar to a matte finish, while satin is slightly glossier. Both types of sheen offer improved durability when compared to matte, which makes them an excellent choice for more challenging environments, such as the kitchen or bathroom. Although a more glossy finish makes cleaning up easier, not everyone wants a glossy finish in their bathroom or kitchen. These two types of sheen offer a good compromise.

Semi-Gloss and Gloss

Easily the most reflective sheen, gloss paint is exceptionally durable and can be cleaned easily. This is why gloss tends to be the preferred sheen for baseboards and doors. Just be aware that gloss paint can tend to highlight any imperfections in the surface you’re painting.

Water-Based Paints

As well as choosing the sheen, it is also essential to consider the base of your paint. Water-based paints are by far the most popular type of paint sold today. This is because water-based paint is quick and easy to apply. However, if your wall has previously been painted with oil-based paint, then this can present problems: water-based paint can sometimes struggle to stick to oil-based paint, so this could impact on your choices.

Water-based paints don’t usually require any pre-treatment and reduce mildew growth. Because they are water-based, they are easy to cleanup and have low amounts of harmful fumes. They can be used on virtually any surface, and deliver a flexible finish which is resistant to cracking.

Oil-Based Paints

Oil-based paints are not as popular as they used to be, partly due to the strong fumes that they emit when being applied. During the painting process, oil-based paint must be cleaned up with paint thinner. But after the job is done, oil-based paints provide the benefit of being highly durable and suitable for virtually every type of surface. They offer a beautiful gloss finish, which makes them perfect for any rooms that have high exposure to moisture, such as bathrooms.

As you can see, choosing the right type of paint for your project is much more complicated than picking a color that appeals. If you have any questions, or are interested in an estimate for your interior paint work this winter, call Chris with Mt. Hood Pro Painting at 971-332-9520.

We offer residential painting services to the Lake Oswego, Oregon City, and Gresham areas. Contact us for a free estimate on your winter painting project!