Ultimate DIY House Painting Preparation Guide
Planning to get busy this Autumn with house painting? Whether it is the interior or the exterior, there are always a few do’s and don’ts you need to consider before painting your house. And if you are going to do the work yourself, there are a couple of things that you should be aware of to avoid turning the project into a catastrophe.
Preparation is probably as important as execution when it comes to house painting, so if you manage to tick everything off this checklist, you’ll be on the right track!
1. Ensure Safety At Any Cost
Obviously, safety is your main concern, and you need to take something very seriously, no matter where you paint. Every year in Australia there are more than enough home maintenance and maintenance-related accidents and that can happen to anyone.For one thing, make sure that the area is well ventilated for obvious reasons when you are painting indoors. Make sure that your ladder is in good working order; you want it to be sturdy and nice-preferably metal. Do nothing stupid when you’re high-like leaning towards the side of the ladder to paint the last spot in the corner. Instead, always take your time even if only a small amount of something goes wrong. Finally, practise common sense, and avoid painting on a windy or wet day.
2. Avoid Using Plastic Drop Cloths
Plastic sheets and tarps are inexpensive and can be disposed of, but in many situations they pose a safety risk. Slipping on them is fairly easy , especially when paint is splattered all over them.
Painting canvas drop cloths is a good alternative; they may be much more costly but they have a range of advantages. For one, they much more effectively soak up spilled paint. They don’t break or tear, and rarely need taping. Plus they are more flexible and can be set at angles around doors and corners and so on.
3. Clean the Surface Thoroughly
Painting on even a slightly unclean surface may not last as long as it can result in the paint job. It is a good idea to go over the surface with water, detergent and a sponge for inside walls for the best results. This will ensure that there’s no dust or dirt between you (some of which may be microscopic) and you get the finish you ‘re after. In order to prepare the surface you might also need to scuff the previous coat with sandpaper.
4. Figure Out How Much Paint You’ll Need
Halfway through the job it is not ideal to run out of paint so take the time to measure the surface and figure out how much you will need. It should be fairly simple for interior walls and ceilings-most paint canisters have instructions for how many square metres the paint can reach. It can be trickier outdoors so you’re probably better off buying more than less.
5. Invest in a paint grid
Whether you’ve decorated with a paint roller tray or tried it, you’ll know it can be a real pain. Not only is it easy to knock and spill over, but it generally has to sit on the floor and when you’re in the middle of a paint job it’s not easy to move from point A to point B.
A paint grid is basically a screen of metal inside a bucket. You dip your roller into the bucket and roll it over the metal screen, and you’re ready to apply the paint to the wall! It is a lot more practical and sturdy than the tray being in a bucket-definitely worth the investment.
6. Allocate Plenty of Time
You don’t want to be under any pressure with time when house painting, particularly for people who aren’t professionals. Chances are the work will be much slower than you’re planning and at least allowing for a few days is a good game plan.
7. Make A Note of Paint Colour
If you love the colour with which your painting is made, make sure you remember the paint and colour brand you use for future reference. Of course it could come in handy!
