Interior Painting and decorating tips: Getting a smooth finish

The main reason people paint their interior walls is to brighten up the look of the room. A fresh paint job can give new life to a dull room. To get a smooth finish you must first take the time to prep the walls. People like to cut corners to save time and money, but doing this can make your work look bad.

Follow these steps for a smooth application:

The first step is to use a paint scraper to remove all of the old chipped paint. Scrape as much of the old paint off as you can. Sand the chipped areas with a piece of sandpaper wrapped around a sanding block. Try to smooth the edges as much as possible so as not to be noticeable under the new paint.

Wipe down the areas to be painted. Wash walls and woodwork to remove dust and grease from surfaces. Grease will keep the paint from adhering to the surface properly and dirt or dust will attach itself to your newly painted wall. Wash with a mild soap and water and allow to air dry before prepping.

Tape off the areas you do not want painted like baseboards and mouldings. Cover light fixtures and wall sockets, and put plastic sheets over furniture to protect from drips. You will also want to put plastic or an old sheet down on the carpet in the area you are painting. Paint rollers can sometimes slip and hit where you do not want it.

Fill in any holes or cracks with putty and smooth out. Also fill in any holes left from where you scraped the old paint. If there is the least little bit of an impression in the wall it will show through the paint as an uneven spot so be sure to fill it as well. When you have filled in all the spots, smooth the puttied area with a damp sponge and let it dry. When dry, sand the area with the sanding block to smooth out any edges left.

Choose a top quality brand of paint. You do not have to spend a fortune on a gallon of paint, but you should buy a quality product. Call around to some general contractors in your area and ask what brand of paint they suggest. Once you have a name you can call or visit some home improvement stores to check and compare prices. This is an important step because if you choose a cheaper brand of paint it may not cover as well. Using a primer is an option, but is not required. A good brand of paint should cover in one coat. Sometimes you may need a second coat to give it a more polished look.

A final tip: After your new paint has dried, check for any bubbled or uneven spots. If you see bubbles lightly scrape the top, fill and retouch. You can purchase a small pint of the same colour paint for touch ups. If you are not really a do-it-yourself type, or you do not have the time for such a project you can hire a professional to do the job for you. We recommend this great painting and decorating company!

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