Top Tips For Preparing to Paint Your Walls
We've talked quite a bit in the past about the importance of investing in low VOC paints and wall primers; in a recent study, participants spent six full work days in an environmentally-controlled office space at the TIEQ lab at the Syracuse Center of Excellence. In this space, VOC levels were reduced to approximately 50 micrograms per cubic meter and 40 cubic feet per minute of outdoor air per person. They found that, on average, cognitive scores were 101% higher than in conventional workspaces. But after you purchase your low VOC paints, what's next? You don't just pull out your paintbrush and hope for the best. On the contrary, there are a number of simple yet specific steps that have been laid out to achieve the most successful results for any wall painting job. Here are just a few important steps for preparing to paint a wall.
Protect Yourself and Your Furniture
First, if you want to virtually eliminate the risk of causing any damage during your painting project, it's ideal not just to cover nearby furniture, but to remove all furniture from the room, if you're able to. As for your equipment, it's best to get a pair of heavy duty goggles to avoid the risk of splattering. You don't have to cover up from head to toe, but it's simply common sense to wear older clothes.
Prepare the Walls
Wall primer isn't the only step you need to take to actually prepare your walls to be painted. Experts say you should actually clean and dust your walls beforehand using either a vacuum or a cloth. Kitchen and bathroom walls have a special solution that works best for cleaning, and you should take a few other steps to properly prepare your walls as well.
When painting a bathroom or kitchen, wash the walls with a solution of approximately three teaspoons of laundry detergent to one gallon of water. Scrape any cracked or flaking paint with a paint scraper. For other small imperfections on the wall such as plaster bumps, smooth them away with sandpaper. Use muscle power with a piece of sandpaper stapled to a sanding block, or use an electric sander," says DIY Network.
Apply Wall Primer
Wall primers are intended to conceal small imperfections and make the paint appear smoother. Many say that wall primers can also help you to use less paint, which could save you money in the long run.
Don't forget these paint preparation steps for your next DIY home improvement project. For even more painting tips, check out this helpful guide!