The Tool Barn


Prepare to Paint

The first step is to prepare the surface for painting.  If you are painting the entire room, paint the ceiling first.  The methods used on the walls are the same as the ceiling.

Remove any loose paint and debris from the wall.  If the area that you are painting is a kitchen or bathroom it is an excellent idea to clean the wall with a mild solution in order to remove any grease and/or soap that might be present.  If you are painting over gloss or semi-gloss paint, it is a good idea to scuff sand the surface.  Using a 120 grit piece of sandpaper, lightly sand the surface.  Not so much that you sand into the paint but enough to roughen the surface.  You have to give the new paint the best possible surface to adhere to.  A good primer will help. 

When the wall is clean and any debris cleaned up, put down a drop-cloth to catch any paint splatters.   If you are really good with a trim brush you might skip masking the trim off but, for the rest of us, it is best to mask off any areas that you do not want to get paint on.  These might include moldings around doors, windows or baseboards.  Use masking tape, it is available at the paint store and it does not stick so tightly as to pull wallpaper or painting from surfaces.  I find the blue 3M tape works best.  It does not "shred" like the traditional yellow masking tape and comes up easier.

Safety Note

Before opening any paint, it is appropriate to talk a bit about safety.  You should wear eye-protection when painting and provide adequate ventilation.  Paint contains solvents that are harmful to humans.  Check the container for specific warnings.  Make sure that you open some windows and use a fan to provide adequate ventilation.  If this is insufficient, use a respirator, increase ventilation or leave the area.

Apply masking tape

Apply masking tape

 

 

 

Masking tape to cover molding and trim work applied

Masking tape to cover molding and trim work applied

 

 

 


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