This image shows a man preparing a wall putty.

Many homeowners are undergoing the process of renovating and painting their homes, but they are not exactly sure what the process entails. DIY projects are certainly manageable and don’t necessarily require professional assistance, but it will benefit you to know how to go about it the right way. We want to inform you about the many different techniques and methods that will help simplify the process. When it comes to home painting projects, you always want to ensure that you are bringing about the best possible results. 

Here are several tips and tricks that will benefit every DIY painter:

  • Don’t paint your home when it’s humid outside. Home painting projects take time to complete, so you want to complete them as quickly as you can. What we recommend is that you wait for dry weather to arrive before you decide to paint your home. Why? All of the moisture will cause the paint to dry very slowly. If you have to paint your home on a humid day, then don’t rush the process or else it will show when everything is finished.
  • Perform a thorough inspection of your home. In other words, you will need to repair areas in your walls that are peeling or flaking. If you fail to do this, then you are making things a lot more difficult than they need to be. The finish won’t come out the way you want it and you will need to start over from scratch. Also, wipe down the walls with a damp rag so that the paint will properly adhere.
  • Invest in high-quality brushes, rollers, and painter’s tape. You are already splurging on the equipment, so you might as well purchase the items that will produce the best results. Quality paintbrushes and rollers are going to provide you with the best coverage. This allows you to avoid having to re-apply any paint, which can be extremely time-consuming. 
  • Protect the items in your home that you don’t want to receive any paint. This includes your furniture, decorative fixtures, and various other possessions. Drop cloths are something you should have if you plan on painting your entire home. They absorb any paint that drops onto your floor which will make things easier on you during the cleanup phase of the project.
  • You should always use a primer. A pant-and-primer product will work fine if you clean off the surfaces of your walls and properly prepare them. However, if it’s been over eight years since the last time you painted your walls, then you should consider buying primer and paint separately. This will ensure that the paint properly adheres to your wall and it will optimize your finish. 
  • Let your roller do the work. In other words, don’t try to do too much and overcomplicate the process. Most premium paints will do all the work for you as long as you have a good roller. Make sure that you have an extension pole so that you can reach every area of your walls without having to exert a lot of energy. 

Begin painting at the top of your wall and work your way down. Once you seal off the trimming and can begin painting, you will want to apply your paint to the ceiling first. Working your way down the wall will minimize sloppiness. Once the paint begins to dry, leave it alone until you can apply another coating.

Painting Techniques:

  • Paint the trim first, then focus on the ceilings and walls. Most professional painters follow a specific agenda, which involves painting the trim before anything. That’s because it’s easier and it takes less time to complete. Painting the trim doesn’t require you to be neat or efficient. Just focus on bringing about a smooth finish. And don’t worry about paint getting on your wall because you are going to paint over it soon anyway.
  • Prime and texture wall defects to avoid an ugly finish. Freshly painted walls tend to look blotchy. Why? The finish is inconsistent even though the color is all the same. Drywall filler and compounds tend to be very noticeable when light hits those dull spots. It creates a contract with the rest of your wall that makes your paint job look sloppy. A primer will go a long way in eliminating those inconsistencies. It seals off the patch so that it won’t create any dull spots in the painting.
  • Roll paint along the edges for consistent texture. Paint the areas that are directly adjacent to the trim with a regular brush, then immediately roll it out before the paint dries. A professional interior painting service will do this to establish greater consistency in these areas. Roll as close as you can without bumping into the wall next to you. 
  • Feather out paint where you can’t maintain a wet edge. You have some areas that are larger than others, such as extra tall walls and stairwells. You want to minimize lap marks as much as you can, so you will need to feather out the areas along the edges. Overloading your walls with paint will create unnecessary buildup. 
  • Sand down the trim to give it a smooth finish. One coating of paint usually won’t cover the underlying layer on your trim. If you don’t sand it down in between coatings, then the trim will have a grainy appearance. Always sand the trim before you apply another coat of paint.

Undergoing a DIY home painting project can be overwhelming if you don’t have any previous experience. In some cases, depending on the scope of the project, you will be a lot better off hiring an interior painting service. They possess all the training and qualifications to ensure that your home painting project will turn out exactly the way you want it. A professional painter also offers a level of craftsmanship that most of us cannot achieve on our own. 

Are you searching for a residential painting service in Missoula? If so, then feel free to give us a call! One of one our technicians can tell you everything you need to know about interior painting procedures. We can also provide you with information on pricing and scheduling service.