Interior Paint Rules

Clear the Room

• Clear the room of as much furniture as is feasible. This will prevent accidental damage to furniture, and it will be easier to move the ladder around the room during the painting project. Cover any remaining furniture with lightweight plastic, old tablecloths, sheets, or canvas tarps to protect from paint spillage.

Remove Pictures

• Remove pictures, wall hangings. and all nails from the walls. Fill any nail holes or small cracks with spackling. Let spackling dry according to directions before painting, then use fine grit sandpaper to remove any excess spackling. Remove all outlet covers and switch plates to make it easier to paint with the brush or roller.

Clean the Surface

• The walls must be free of dirt and heavy grime for the paint to adhere. A sponge dipped in soap and water and rubbed down the walls will usually do the trick. Any loose paint needs to be removed with a putty knife to prevent old flakes from surfacing in the new paint.

Taping

• Covering window edges and molding with paint tape is recommended by most painters. This helps keep the woodwork free of paint splotches and makes brushing easier. The panes of windows can be covered with newspaper as well.

Priming

• Priming the walls is required in situations of staining. Any indications of mold or mildew must be cleaned prior to priming. Priming is also needed to cover dark colors of paint.

Final Coat of Paint

• Following all the previous steps the wall is now ready for its final coat. Large areas can be rolled on, and a slanted 2-inch brush makes trimming easier.