Interior Painting Shelby Twp., MI: How to Prepare the Walls in 3 Simple Steps

Are you planning for a residential painting in Shelby Twp., MI? We recommend hiring a professional painting contractor in Shelby Twp., MI, for high-quality, durable, and efficient painting services. 

Trained painting contractors have the right skills, training, and experience to handle any painting project, big or small. 

However, if you have a relatively small project which you want to try DIY, we have some tips on how to prepare the surface before panting. 

If you didn’t know already, 80% of the success and durability of your paint job depends on the quality of the prep work.

Here is how to get it right; 

Step 0: Before You Start

Before you start, make sure you have all the equipment in your possession. Here is a list of what you may need, depending on the condition of the walls and ceiling of the room to be painted:

• Putty knife

• Plaster to fill

• Putty 

• Grid-type sandpaper

• Fairly fine standard sandpaper

• A sanding block

• A degreaser for walls

• Basic tools (screwdriver, hammer, etc.)

• A mask and protective glasses

• Vacuum cleaner

Step 1: Repairing Holes and Cracks

This is where your plaster and putty come into play. Dust around the cracks and holes; otherwise, the dust could affect your plasterwork. And if you want to save time, fill the holes, starting with the largest to the smallest. 

As a general rule, the larger the hole, the more plaster you will use, and the longer it will take to dry.

If you have to repair a large hole (2 cm wide and more), it may be better to cover it with an adhesive grid.

This will help the plaster adhere, and the grid will disappear when you sand.

However, you only need to spread a thin layer of plaster. 

Finally, for small nail or screw holes, and other minor imperfections, you can use a tube of putty.

Step 2: Sanding

This is undoubtedly the most tedious step, but by following these tips, you can make sanding much less frustrating and dusting much less time-consuming.

If you have extensive paint failure, start with paint stripping, to remove any peeling, cracking, flaking or bubbling paint.

Sanding helps to smooth out any dents, bumps, and sharp paint edges. Painting on uneven surfaces is one of the main reasons paint fails prematurely. 

Step 3: Cleaning

Before applying a base coat, you need to clean your walls to remove dirt and dust that could get stuck in the fresh paint.

This is a crucial step that you should not overlook. We recommend that you use a long-handle vacuum cleaner to keep you from constantly climbing up and down a stepladder, but a large sponge can also do the trick.

To remove dust, start by cleaning your walls with water. Then clean a one-meter wide section of wall at a time with your cleaner, and rinse immediately afterward with water (if using TSP, rinsing would not be necessary). Repeat until all the walls in your room are clean.

If you need professional help with your interior repainting project, Eason Painting can help.

Our home interior painting services are available in Washington Township, Rochester, Romeo, Shelby Township, Harrison Township, and Clinton Township, MI.

Call us today on 586-465-5081 for a FREE painting estimate.