Does your house need a fresh coat of paint?

Are you a rookie painter looking for tips to avoid common painting mistakes? 

Painting a piece of furniture, a room, or the exterior of your house can make a big impact, but it’s almost always a bigger job than you think! Without the right techniques, the impact you make can be a big “oh, no!” 

Avoid common mistakes with these tips:

Prep: It’s easy to be overconfident and think you don’t need all that fancy prep work, but you’re bound to slip up a couple times and get paint where it’s not supposed to be. Correcting these mistakes isn’t always easy, so it’s better not to make them in the first place!

It’s important to protect anything you don’t want paint on. Remove or cover knobs and pulls, cover the floors and windows, remove switch and outlet covers, and tape along baseboards and other trim.

Use Painter’s tape: Painter’s tape may feel a lot like masking tape, but if you don’t go with the real stuff, you’re likely to regret it! Masking tape is less likely to stay in place and prevent bleeding, which defeats the purpose of taping. Avoid issues by using painter’s tape to get clean lines. Make the tape even more effective by sealing the edges with your paint brush and paint. 

Clean What You’re Painting: A dirty surface covered in dust or debris can ruin the quality of your paint job. Bumps, ripples, and other imperfections on your surface can be attributed to a lack of cleaning. If you want a nice, smooth surface, don’t forget to clean! This can be accomplished by first vacuuming and then wiping down with a rag.

Be Patient: Often while painting, you’ll get into a steady groove and won’t want to quit after the first coat is done. Waiting for the first coat to dry before starting in on the second coat is crucial if you want your paint job to look good. Based on the type of paint you’re using; you may need to wait between 2 and 24 hours for drying time.

Ann Arbor Painters

It can be exciting to take on and complete a home improvement project. It can also be overwhelming. Attempting too much without professional help can really cost you in the end. 

If you’re looking for Ann Arbor painters and would like a free evaluation and estimate for interior painting, exterior painting, deck refinishing, drywall repair, or anything else your home might need, please contact us at 734-995-2646. You won’t regret it!