Techniques for Sanding Before Painting

Inspection

• Look for imperfections in the old paint or drywall before repainting your wall. Look at the wall from various angles and use your hand to locate areas that need special attention. After you find a spot, consider what type of sand paper or sanding tool you will use to take care of the irregularity. Small areas may only require a sanding sponge, while large areas my require a drywall sander, which can be rented at your local paint or home improvement store for a small daily fee plus deposit.

Sanding Sponge

• A sanding sponge is the right tool to use if you have small patches of imperfections or imperfections in corners and hard-to-reach areas. Hold the sanding sponge in your dominant had and sand the area in question using light to moderate pressure. The sanding sponge should be in the 80-to-100-grit range to prevent gouging the existing paint and scratching the drywall. Sand in a circular motion, and use your other hand to feel for remaining rough areas. Repeat the process until the imperfections are gone, checking your progress often.

Electric Palm Sander

• An electric palm sander is used for larger areas of imperfections and can cut down on the labor necessary for preparing your walls for new paint. Use an electric palm sander connected to a commercial vacuum to prevent dust from forming in the air. Punch small holes in the center of the sandpaper square for the dust to be sucked up by the vacuum. Hold the sander in your palm, allowing it to do all of the work. Move it around the wall up and down and left to right, which will prevent one spot from being over-sanded.

Drywall Sander

• When the areas that need sanding are hard to reach or cover large areas more than a couple feet wide or high, use a drywall sander. Grip the drywall sander by its shaft and move it along the wall, applying moderate pressure. Make sure the vacuum is on and that the hose is connected to the bag of the sanding head. Move continuously to avoid over-sanding one particular spot. Move from side to side and left to right to sand the large areas that have imperfections.