When it comes to interior painting, unless you are pretty proficient at doing it, it is best to leave it up to the professionals. Speaking of professionals, they will know all their little trade secrets to do an easier and better job.
However, these are things that you can learn as well in order to gain better results. Let’s take a closer look at some of these tips and tricks to help you achieve better results when doing interior painting.
1. Sanding Flaws
The less experienced ones (you know who you are) will just start painting right away. However, to get an excellent, smooth finish, you need to sand away the flaws. Once you have a smooth surface to work with, you will achieve professional results.
2. Protective Covering
If it is possible, it would be best to work in an empty room. That means moving out the furniture. If you cannot, that’s also alright. Move your furniture to the center of the room. You can use large plastic sheets to wrap or cover everything that you have moved. Make sure that you tape it at the bottom. Not only will this protect your furniture from paint splatter, it will also protect it from the dust when you do sanding. Make sure to do this first before you begin the job. It will also give you some space to work freely.
3. Putty Knife & Tape
When you place tape around the woodwork, it can be really upsetting to notice that the paint has somehow bled through. Imagine how you would feel when you peeled the tape off and you saw this! This would mean you have the added burden of scraping this off. So, before you start painting, apply the tape and use a putty knife over it. This will help you to press down the tape so it creates a really good seal. You should not see paint bleeding through. Try to use the blue painter’s tape. Do not use masking tape.
4. Finish One Wall
To achieve good results, make sure you finish one wall first. Only then should you start another. Some people do the corners and trim first. Try not to do this. You can get a seamless look if you cut in one wall and then immediately rolling it. This makes the brushed and rolled paint blend very nicely. Also, when using a bucket or tray (or whatever you choose), cover it with a damp towel as you switch between brushing and rolling. This will help your brushes and other tools from drying out when they are not being used.
5. A Trick For Consistency
Did you know that two cans of the same paint can be slightly different? When you run out of paint and open another can, this difference can be quite visible. If you want to eliminate this problem, use a method known as ‘boxing’. Use a large bucket such as a 5-gallon bucket and pour in your cans of paint. When you mix your cans of paint like this (the same brand and colour), you will achieve consistency and avoid a glaring difference.
There are even more tricks you can learn. You can use paint extenders. You can use canvas drop cloths instead of plastic and much more. Knowing a few simple tricks can help you achieve excellent results and make life easier for you.
