Whether you’re sprucing up your home prior to selling, or simply looking to give your home a new lease on life, a new coat of paint can completely transform the look of any internal space.
But it’s not as simple as just slapping a few coats on a wall, a lot of preparation is required to make sure you create a last effect, and that requires a lot of something we all struggle to find… time.
Luckily we have a team of expert painters who have a lot of time, and experience,
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If you’re lucky to enough to have some time up your sleeve – and a steady hand – you might want to give the painting a go yourself. Follow our handy steps below for the best result.
Preparation
The difference between a good and bad paint job usually depends on your preparation of the surface prior to starting.
Just like any surface, walls need some preparation before you can start painting – that even includes brand-new plaster. Start by filling any cracks and holes and make sure all surfaces are clean, smooth and dry. Emulsion-painted surfaces that are in good condition can be painted over straight away, but make sure you strip back or sand off paint that is already peeling.
Safety Tip
To avoid breathing in any potentially poisonous lead dust – usually found in old paint – always wear a dust mask while you’re sanding. Tests kits can be bought if you’re in any doubt..
Check out our preparation methods below:
Washing the surface
Before painting over any previously painted surface, you should always wash it to remove any dirt or grease that might have built up. The easiest way to do this is by using sugar soap. Not only does the sugar soap clean the surface, it also provides a better surface for the new paint to adhere to.
Available in a dissolvable powder or in a pre mixed liquid form, sugar soap can be applied with an old (clean) paintbrush or sponge as you would if you were washing the dishes.
Leave the solution for a few minutes before rinsing off with clean water and a sponge.
Safety Tip: Ensure you wear safety goggles and gloves when using sugar soap as it can irritate your skin.
Sanding down
If you’re looking for a smooth, even foundation prior to painting, sanding is the only way to go.
One of the main benefits of sanding is the fact that is also gives a slight roughness that the primer or paint can adhere to.
Sandpaper comes in varying grades, and depending on the surface, each grade will give you a slightly different finish. In general, a higher grade (such as 70 grade) will give a finer finish on more delicate surfaces.
To ensure you cover an even surface, use a sanding block and wrap your sand paper around it. By sanding in circular motions you’ll cover all the areas and if you’re sanding wood, it’s best to follow the grain.
Once you’ve finished, dust down the whole sanded surface from ceiling to floor, and vacuum it thoroughly to avoid any wood particles sticking to the fresh paint.
Priming
If your surface has been painted previously, and is still in good condition, you won’t need to prime it prior to painting it again. Boasting a number of uses, it is especially important for two specific surfaces:
Porous surface – stops the top coat from being absorbed, which means you won’t have to apply as many coats.
Non-porous surface – On shiny, non-porous surfaces, you’ll often find the paint won’t bond properly. By adding a primer, you’ll essentially be giving the paint something to stick to.
There are a number of different primers available and each surface will require a different kind of primer. We recommend you choose a primer that will relate to your final colour, for example if your final coat will be a natural white, use a white primer.
Applying primer is much like applying paint. Using a brush or roller, take your time with it and make sure you’re applying an even layer.
Different primers for different surfaces
Depending on the surface, you may find you’ll find one – or several – of the following:
- Multi-purpose primers
- Wood primers
- Metal primers
- Plaster sealers – specific to newly fitted plaster board
- Specific surface primers – these can include tile primers and PVC primers