Painting Like A Pro – Anyone Can Do it!
There is nothing worse than walking into a home where you can tell the owners had good intentions, but instead of hiring a professional or really taking their time, they painted it horribly. A bad paint job is not always going to jump out at you right away either, but once you look closer, the imperfections will inevitably outweigh the intended positive effect. Even if you are an amateur, there really is no excuse for poor quality lines, streaky paint brush strokes, or drips. If you are really trying to increase the value of your home or believe in craftsmanship, there are a few golden rules you must adhere to if you want a professional looking result.
Number one, it’s all in the prep. The real difference between an outstanding paint job and a crappy one has a lot to do with what you do before you even pick up a paint brush. This means that you need to prep the room or area completely before you just start throwing paint on the walls. Here is how to do this: remove all screws, nails, and wall mounts (cut wall mounts off with a razor and push into the wall), then spackle the holes with a precise hand and finally sand over the fixed areas. Also, if you have crown molding or decorative floor trim, fill in any cracks with squeezy drywall spackle to create a seamless look.
Two, tape off the area you are painting. In my opinion all painter’s tapes are not created equal, so if you really want crisp lines with minimal touch up, go with the name brand stuff. Before you tape off anything, vacuum up any sparkle dust and wipe down things like baseboards, shelves, window sills, and cobwebs from corners. Using a wide edged tape, tape the rugs and floors off against the baseboards. To get a good line, use an edge of a ruler to hold the carpet back while you tape. Also, remove all hardware, lighting fixtures, wall sconces, light switch plates, electrical outlet covers and blinds; do not tape them off, as that is a common amateur mistake.
Three, trim out everything twice! It is best to have a good angled brush and work from the top to the bottom and from the outside in. Always be sure to mix your paint before you use it! Painting the trim completely first will make painting the rest of the room simple and quick. Do not go over the same painted area too many times, because it will start to redeposit back on the brush and cause streaking. You also don’t want it too thin as your goal is a finished product after two coats. If you are going from dark to light, use a high quality primer first and then do two coats of regular paint. Get the straightest line on the ceiling by using the edge of something blunt to trim the corners or consider removing heavily textured ceilings.
Four, clean up as you go. This is the easiest way to take care of paint splatters and keep your supplies in good condition. If you leave the paint to set, it will likely not come off of whatever surface is affected. Keep a wet rag with you for spills and change your plastic gloves frequently. Also use a brush to touch up the trim as you go!
Lastly, you have to be prepared to go back and touch up your lines, even if that means using a small art brush! This last tip alone, will make a huge difference in quality, but if you follow all of these tips, you too can paint like a pro!