Three Crucial Tips for Preparing Your Interior Walls for Painting

Posted on: 9 February 2018

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If you are planning on painting your interior walls, you should hire an experienced painter for the work. While painting is not a complicated process, you will be assured of better aesthetics and longevity of the coating with expert assistance. However, if you are concerned about the costs of the project, you can carry out the pertinent tasks as a DIY project. If you are taking up interior painting for the first time, you should consider using these essential preparation tips for ideal results.

Clean Old Paint Coating

You will need to prepare your interior walls by cleaning if they were previously painted or varnished. The level of preparation required will depend on the type of painting products and the condition of the coating. In general, if the wall has an old matte or low sheen coating, it will only need light cleaning. You can use soap and water to remove the dust and grime which might compromise adhesion. Glossy surfaces will not support the adhesion of a new coat of paint. Therefore, you might need to sand the wall to create a dull finish. Sanding is also valuable if the old coating is not intact.

Remove Wallpaper

If your interior walls have wallpaper, you will need to remove it before proceeding with the project. Fortunately, there are multiple methods for removing the wallpaper with ease. You can purchase a special remover solution from your local stores to ensure smooth peeling. Alternatively, you can hire or purchase a steaming machine. Some wallpaper products are water-resistant and will resist penetration of the moisture. If this is the case, you should sand the paper lightly to allow wetting. If you have a vinyl covering on your walls, you can directly peel it off. If this process leaves a backing residue, use some water to soften the material and then scrape it off.

Patch the Damage

Interior walls often have different forms of damage such as cracks, holes and scratches. If you apply a layer of paint while the surface is in poor condition, you will not achieve ideal appeal. Therefore, you should perform repairs to create a flawless base for the fresh coating. In general, if you want to repair the walls, you will need to clean the damaged area and then fill the fractures and holes with fillers using a putty knife. You can choose a filler to match your wall material from local stores. If the damage is present in a joint which might experience shifting, you should use flexible fillers.