Everyone has to be a beginner at some point, but that doesn’t mean that you need to make beginner’s mistakes! When you take up a brush to do your own house painting, there are a number of common errors that can easily be avoided if you go into the project with helpful advice. There is a lot more to excellent house painting than just avoiding these mistakes, but this should get you well on your way.
Mistake #1 – Impatience
There is no way to rush good painting, so don’t try! Most painting mistakes happen as a result of hurrying towards the end. Here are a few of the most common impatience-related painting problems:
- Skipping or hurrying the surface preparation (see below)
- Not adequately protecting the surfaces you aren’t painting
- Causing splatters and drips by over-eager brushing or rolling
- Leaving spots where the paint is too thin because of going quickly
- Not giving the paint adequate time to dry before recoating or beginning to use the surfaces normally
Mistake #2 – Lack of Surface Preparation
One of the best ways to get a great paint job is to prepare the surfaces well. When you skip or rush this stage, it puts the outcome of the project in serious doubt! There are several key stages to preparation that should not be neglected:
- Washing (a gentle scrub with light solution of dish soap and water). This applies to interior and exterior painting.
- Surface repair. For drywall or plaster, fill holes and cracks to create a smooth surface before painting. In the case of exterior wood, replace any rotten boards, and in the case of metal, scrub off any surface rust.
- If you have any bare wood, drywall patches, or bare metal, you need a primer before putting on your topcoat. Also, if you are painting a light color over a dark color, use a primer.
Mistake #3 – Drips and Runs
While “drips and runs” might sound like what a kid does with an ice cream cone in the summer, it is also a common painting problem! If you get splatters or drips of paint on a wall, they will dry that way. What’s worse, they will continue to be visible through new layers of paint, no matter how many you add!
To avoid drips and runs, start at the top of the surface you are painting, and work your way down from there. That way, you can find and fix any drips or splatters before they dry. When you find these spots, simply roll or brush them flat.
Mistake #4 – Poor-quality Tools
We all have an old paintbrush or two hidden away in a garage or basement, and it makes sense to get them out when it’s time to paint. However, if the quality of the brush has deteriorated (or was never good to start with), you’re not going to be happy with your house painting results.
A good paintbrush has clean, flexible bristles that are all pointed in the same direction. Use wider brushes for wide spaces, and use a narrow, angled brush for trim and detail work.
In the case of paint rollers, they must be clean and soft. If there are areas where old paint has gotten crusty on the surface, you’ll need a new one. Also, if there are spider webs or dirt on your old roller cover, it’s worth getting a new one.
Would You Rather Hire a Professional for House Painting?
We all have different skill sets. Sometimes it is worth it to learn a new skill to stretch your capacities and take care of problems yourself. At other times, though, it’s best to just hire a professional! If you decide that do-it-yourself painting isn’t the best use of your time, Cherry Hill Painting would be delighted to step in.
When you hire Cherry Hill Painting, you can rest assured that every stage of the house painting project will be completed by skilled and knowledgeable painters. We train our house painters to avoid the mistakes mentioned above, and many others. Great house painting is more than just avoiding mistakes, though. It involves a combination of skill and artistry that comes with time, experience, and ongoing training.
For excellent interior and exterior house painting in New Jersey and the Philadelphia metropolitan area, contact Cherry Hill Painting. We look forward to hearing from you!