When it comes to painting your interior walls there are a few critical preparation steps necessary to achieve long lasting beautiful results.
The first step we take in preparing a wall surface is floor and furniture protection. Keeping paint off areas not scheduled for paint requires a through and complete masking job. Drop-cloths coated with butyl rubber will ensure a leak proof barrier of protection. 10 oz canvas will do the job but make sure to put down 1 mil painters plastic first. Make sure to tuck the drop clots under the baseboard with a putty knife. The next step is blue painters tape or frog tape. Run the tape accross the top edge of the baseboard making sure it is on smooth and revealing only a “hair” of where the enamel meets against the wall.
The next step is to use a damp rag or sponge with a mixture of TSP and water to remove any surface oils and dirt which can cause adhesion problems for the new coat of paint. Make sure to fill the holes which will not get used again when the wall hangings go back up. Lightweight spackle will do just fine for small nail and screw holes. Larger holes and cracks will need a more heavy duty Spackle like DAP Wall Patch. In most cases we skip the primer step on previously painted walls. Self-priming paint like Benjamin Moore Aura line will off the best adhesion and coverage combination. The Matte product line is amazingly durable for a low sheen paint which makes it ideal for textured walls where higher sheen’s are less than desirable. If you would like professional painting help in Seattle help fill out the short form here.
