It can be tempting to skip the wall preparation process. How important can it be? I mean, if my walls look dirty, slapping a fresh coat of paint over it will make it look better, right? Wrong. Preparing the surface for fresh paint is crucial when it comes to the durability and appearance of the finished product. So what are the key steps to prepping a wall for paint?
Cleaning
Filling/repairing any holes or scratches
Sanding
Priming
Why Cleaning Your Walls Before Painting Is Important
Over time walls can accumulate things like dust, dirt, oils, and even mold and mildew. Simply painting over these things not only affects how the new paint will adhere, but can lead to much more serious issues if not dealt with properly. When mold and mildew are present it usually means there is moisture in the walls. To paint over this without addressing the underlying issue means that moisture will affect the new paint as well. Not only is appearance going to become an issue, but painting over moisture can trap it and cause it to worsen, potentially leading to health issues.
Why Filling & Repairing Holes Before Painting Is Important
Paint is not meant to fill holes. In fact, trying to glob enough paint into a scratch or small hole will most likely only lead to dripping. Sometimes in older homes we encounter nail pops, where the nails protrude back out of the drywall due to warping, structural movement, or wood shrinking. These may be small issues, but depending on the lighting they can be quite the eyesore, leaving shadows larger than the issue itself on the walls. Depending on the size of the issue, a little spackle or mud can cover all these issues.
Why Sanding Before Painting Is Important
Whether you’ve had to apply spackle/mud or not, sanding is important not only for adhesion but appearance. If spackle/mud has been applied then sanding is 100% necessary to make the surface smooth again. No one wants to go from having dents to mounds on the wall! But why would anyone need to sand the wall if nothing was repaired? If the previous painter used a roller nap that was too thick for the surface, it can leave what’s called stipple (sometimes people refer to it as orange peel). Or sometimes, just from layers and layers of paint, the stipple can increase in size naturally due to painting over top of it multiple times. Eventually, this look can become an eyesore as the walls will look bumpy and uneven, so the solution is to give the walls a light sanding. Sanding can also help remove any dirt, grime, or oils that cleaning isn’t removing. Just be sure to wipe the walls down and vacuum after sanding as this will create dust. The last reason for sanding is to help with adhesion, as sanding gives the walls a light scoring that provides the paint something to attach to.
Why Priming Before Painting Is Important
Once all of these steps are completed, the last step is to prime. Do not skip the primer! It may not be completely necessary in every situation, but it’s definitely a step that if missed when necessary, is not as easy to correct as you think. The most important situations for using primer are on new drywall, drastic color changes (e.g. dark to light), and covering stains, glossy surfaces, or smells. If the walls aren’t in bad shape, are clean, and the new color is similar to the old, priming may not be necessary. You may think you’re saving money by skipping the primer or buying a primer/paint combo, but more times than not, priming correctly the first time will actually save you money by ensuring proper paint adhesion. Priming can also allow for less coats of paint to cover, meaning you will get a smoother and more even finish (i.e. less stippling).
This can seem like a lot of work, time, and money, but it ultimately saves all of those things in the long run. Therefore, if this seems like a lot, hire a professional painting company. These processes are important not only for interior painting, but exterior painting as well. The process may change slightly depending on the surface being painted, but overall these are important to know when hiring a company and asking questions about their process and practices. If they’re skipping these steps without giving proper reasoning, saying vague explanations like “it’s just not necessary,” find a new painter!
To learn more about the processes we use and the services we offer to the Metro-Detroit area, call or message us today!
What do you recommend for cleaning walls?