Interior Painting Mistakes That Will Cost You More

Interior painting is one of the most commonly botched jobs. Many homeowners do not understand the amount of work a good paint job really takes.

These mistakes will result in disappointing paint work.

Skipping surface preparation

Many people paint a surface without first cleaning and preparing it. Paint is not properly supported on the walls if they have not been:

• Cleaned
• Sanded

The debris of daily life forms a barrier between wall surface and paint. This results in peeling and uneven adhesion in only months.

Do this:

• Use a suitable filler for all holes and cracks
• Smooth down any patches after filling
• Clean down the surface before using a brush or roller.

It’s the preparation that makes interior home painting last.

Buying the wrong paint for the room

Interior paint comes in a variety of finishes. Using the wrong one can grow more apparent in no time.

Flat or matte finishes are great on bedroom and living room walls. But they are difficult to wipe down. This isa huge disadvantage in rooms where walls take a beating every day.

Eggshell and satin finishes provide a fine shine. They last longer in:

• High moisture spaces.
• High traffic areas.

Use semi-gloss where you want cleanability. For example:

• Trim
• Doors

Skipping primer

Some homeowners paint without priming. They assume it will save time or money. Only to end up doing more coats to get the job done. And still, the paint work does not look exactly as they would have liked.

You must prime:

• Any dark walls that need to be painted with a lighter color
• New plaster
• Patches that need to be repaired
• Surfaces that need to be painted but were not previously primed.

Primer will help with adhesion. It provides a more uniform paint application and a longer-lasting job.

Using cheap brushes and rollers

Cheap brushes do more harm than good. They:

• Drop bristles into wet paint
• Cause streaks
• Make cutting along edges a frustrating and imprecise exercise.

Poor quality rollers create a rough texture. And a roller with a poor capacity to hold paint cannot adequately cover a wall surface.

The quality of brushes and rollers is what makes the difference between a professional finish and a “first attempt” look.

Not allowing adequate drying time between coats

Applying a second coat before the first is dry enough results in:

• The paint lifting under the second coat
• Streaking
• An uneven appearance from the second coat.

The drying time is dependent on:

• The type of paint
• Thickness of paint application
• Room air circulation and humidity.

The drying time on the paint can is a basic estimate. Paint will dry much more slowly in:

• Poorly ventilated rooms
• Humid environments.

A key takeaway

It is always advisable to hire a professional interior painter. They can guarantee a flawless job. At the same time, they save you valuable time and physical effort.