Plans and steps for painting properly step by step guidance with ARM Remodeling and Maintenance Service
1. Plan your approach.
Begin by envisioning how you want the end project to appear and remember that you are not confined to four walls or a whole room in the same hue. Consider painting an accent wall a bright color or highlighting moldings with a contrasting shade or finish. Don’t forget to glance above and see whether the ceiling may benefit from a revamp as well.
2. Choose a color.
Looking through fan decks and paint chips might be intimidating. Start by determining the general color characteristics: Do you like a warm or cold shade? Neutral or saturated? If you have existing furniture or paintings, think about how the hue will compliment it. Once you’ve determined what you’re looking for, select a few hues and request samples—many direct-to-consumer firms, such as Backdrop and Clare, will give you sticky swatches to slap on the wall for a better feel of shade. Examine the colors to see how they seem in the room at various times of day.
3. Choose your tools and supplies.
Every job is distinct, and you may require various equipment based on the paint you select and the state of your walls, but there are a few must-haves:
- Paint
- Paint roller
- Paint roller extension pole
- Drop cloths
- Paintbrushes
- Paint tray
- Sandpaper
- Painter’s Tape
- Rags
- Putty Knife
4. Determine how much paint you will need.
Planning to whitewash a charcoal gray wall? When transitioning from dark to light, you will most likely need more paint. Carolyn Noble, color marketing and design manager at Pratt & Lambert, adds that a deep color foundation typically requires more layers of paint than a lighter hue. She suggests adding a gray-tinted primer to the surface before painting your walls with a strong color to assist limit the amount of applications. You may have heard that the glossier the finish, the higher the coverage rate, but it doesn’t make a difference in the amount of gallons you need to buy, according to Minchew.
If you’re painting a heavily textured surface rather than a smooth one, Julianne Simcox, Pratt & Lambert associate brand manager, recommends purchasing a bit extra. Cabinets with intricate millwork need additional paint; Minchew recommends ordering approximately 10% more than anticipated.
5. Prepare the walls and room.
You don’t want to ruin your favorite sofa or the artifact Grandma gave you, so clear the room of any furniture. If you don’t have enough room to move anything, place it all in the center of the room. Cover the pieces with a drop cloth or lightweight plastic sheeting, and do the same for the floor, cupboards, and counters that may be prone to spatter. “Don’t skip the drop cloth—paint will splatter, we promise,” say New Jersey contractors—and cousins—John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino, stars of the HGTV shows Cousins Undercover and Kitchen Cousins, as well as The Build Up and Grand Design on Ellen DeGeneres’ Ellentube.
Grab a roll of painter’s tape—the cousins prefer FrogTape—and firmly apply it to the margins of the room’s corners, base and crown moldings, and door and window casings, sealing with a putty knife as needed. “Getting a good seal so paint doesn’t get under the tape is everything, plus it will pull away clean after everything is dry,” they explain. If you dare (or have an artist’s steady touch), you may skip the taping altogether. Remove the light switch and outlet covers, then use painter’s tape to protect the outlets and switches from paint droplets. Before you begin, make sure you understand how to repair drywall so you can remove any nicks in the walls.
6. Mix the paint.
Stir the paint using a wooden paint stick and repeat as needed throughout the job. Paint that is not regularly mixed might cause the components to separate, affecting the desired hue. If you’re using more than one gallon of paint, combine the cans in a large bucket to account for slight color variations.
7. Choose your painting styles.
Your paint is mixed and your roller is ready, but make sure to prepare your approach before you start. Begin with the ceilings and work your way down from there. Are you planning a striking focus wall? Paint the adjacent light-colored walls first. “Don’t worry if you get paint on your accent wall; the black paint will cover up any lighter paint that made its way there. After the lighter wall cures, Colaneri and Carrino recommend taping off the edge to prevent the dark color from bleeding onto your fresh paint. If you’re painting dark walls with a brighter color, you’ll need three coats: one of primer and two of the new color to guarantee nothing shows through.
Address one wall at a time. Take a brush and “cut in”—paint along the molding and corners from top to bottom—while your painting partner uses a roller to cover the majority of the wall, avoiding those more precise locations. When applying paint with a roller, make long strokes in a W pattern for adequate coverage (and to eliminate those annoying roller marks). When the wall is dry to the touch, it’s time for a second coat.
If you’re painting the trim, remove the painter’s tape and let the walls dry before adding tape to them. Begin with the trim closest to the ceiling, then go on to the door and window frames, and finally the baseboard.
8. Do not neglect ventilation.
It’s not enjoyable to watch paint dry. Keep your area thoroughly ventilated throughout the job by opening windows and employing fans. “Keeping the room warm and a fan blowing definitely helps speed up the drying process,” said one of the cousins. “If it’s a damp day, it will take much longer for the paint to dry.”
9. Clean up.
You’ve applied many layers, but it’s not time to relax just yet. Remove all painter’s tape and gather drop cloths, ensuring that any spills or splatters have dried before moving them. Brushes for latex and water-based paints should be cleaned with soapy water, whereas oil-based paints will require mineral spirits. To clean and reshape bristles, use a paint brush. If you wish to reuse roller covers, use the curved edge of a 5-in-1 tool to remove extra paint while running water (they may also be used to open paint cans, remove nails, and scrape).
10. Allow yourself plenty of time.
The time required for your job is determined on the size of your space, the method of painting, and your skill level. For example, putting a dark color on the walls and painting the ceiling and trim will take longer than just painting the walls in a neutral tone. While some places may be completed in a few hours, others may require many days. Make sure to allow for more time than you think the project will take, and don’t forget to include prep and cleaning.