Painting the walls and ceilings in your home isn’t as complicated as a lot of other home improvement projects, but there are still plenty of ways that things can go wrong. Don’t make these mistakes when tackling a DIY painting project.
Not Choosing the Right Color and Sheen
The paint strips in a store may not accurately indicate what paint will look like on your walls. Get a small can of paint, apply it to one area, then see how the color looks at different times of day. Figure out if that’s the right color before you paint the entire room.
Don’t use glossy paint on walls with imperfections. A high sheen will make imperfections more noticeable.
Failing to Prepare the Walls
Paint won’t attach well to dirty walls. Clean the walls before you start painting, even if they don’t look dirty. They probably have a lot more dirt, dust and oil on them than you realize. Let the walls dry thoroughly before you begin painting.
If any paint is peeling or flaking, remove it. If the room has glossy paint, sand the walls or use a deglosser before you repaint. Replace any rotted wood and use compound to repair any other damaged areas.
If the walls currently have paint in a dark color and you plan to cover them with a lighter color, use primer. Applying primer can help paint adhere and give you good coverage.
Not Protecting Surfaces That You Don’t Plan to Paint
Use painter’s tape along the edges of walls to protect trim and to give the walls clean, straight edges. Cover light fixtures, doorknobs, flooring and anything else that needs to be protected from stray paint.
If you only intend to paint the walls, paint an area along the top of each wall first. That will give you a buffer so you don’t accidentally get paint on the ceiling.
Painting Incorrectly
Paint on a day when the temperature is moderate. If it’s too hot or too cold, the paint won’t adhere well. Make sure the room has plenty of light so you can spot any problems with coverage.
It’s important to paint in the right order. If you paint the ceiling after the walls, paint from the ceiling may drip down onto your freshly painted walls.
A roller can help you efficiently cover large surfaces. When using a roller, paint sections quickly and make sure the edge of one section is still wet when you begin painting the next section. After you cover a wall, use the roller again at a right angle to the direction you painted the first time.
Use a brush to get into tight areas around windows, doors and trim. When painting surfaces with a brush, don’t go back and forth too much. That can leave visible brush strokes after the paint dries.
Cover paint cans when you’re not using them. That will prevent spills, keep the paint from drying out and keep dirt and dust out of fresh paint.
