Painting is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to update your home. A fresh coat of paint can give new life to a dull room, or a completely different color can add personality and pizzazz throughout your living space. To ensure a professional-quality job, take the appropriate preparation steps.

"To achieve great painting results that last a long time, it's crucial to prep the surface thoroughly and get the right tools," says Anne Horst, customer service manager at Wooster Brush, a company dedicated to producing quality painting products. "Surface preparation is key for getting expert-looking results."

Preparing the surface is the most important part of any painting project. If the paint doesn't have a smooth, clean surface to adhere to, the result will be a poor-quality job that doesn't last very long. "You should spend at least as much time on surface prep as you will be painting," advises Horst.

Start by clearing the space. If you can't move the furniture out of the room, push it all into the center and cover it with drop cloths. Remove outlet covers, wall heating vents, light fixtures and other hardware. The job will go faster because you won't need to paint around these objects, and the overall coverage will be more professional.

Next, scrape or sand flaking paint from the surface. If you are painting over a semigloss or gloss finish, the gloss should be removed or else new coats of paint may not adhere. Horst recommends using sandpaper with 220 grit or a liquid cleaning/dulling agent.

As you prepare the surface, look for flaws. Fill cracks, gouges, chips, and nail holes with the appropriate patching plaster, spackling compound, or wood putty. When the patch is dry, sand it lightly and feather the edges of any rough spots so they're level with the rest of the area. Remember, the smoother the surface, the better it will look after it's painted.

"After sanding the surface and fixing chips, wash the wall with a 50/50 mix of ammonia and water to get rid of grease, dirt and dust. Allow it to dry completely, then lightly wipe with a damp cloth. This helps ensure the wall is clean and ready for paint," says Horst.

Before priming and painting, make sure to get the proper brushes and rollers so the job goes as quickly and smoothly as possible. Horst points out, "If you are a fairly steady painter and you're using a high-quality brush like Wooster Ultra/Pro, you might not even need to tape off the trim. Steady or not, if you're working with a cheap brush you'll need to buy masking tape and apply it, adding to the cost and time of the project."

When painting ceilings, cover the entire floor with drop cloths. For walls, you can simply cover the floor next to where you're painting.

The final step is to prime the walls. Use the correct primer on the entire surface if it is newly constructed, stained by water or smoke, prone to mildew, rusted or aged. Your local paint store can provide recommendations. Primer helps to seal and even out the surface so the paint goes on smoother, adheres better and lasts longer.

One technique experts use to save time and get a high-quality finish is to use a mini-roller for small wall spaces, trim work or edging close to the ceiling. The Jumbo-Koter mini-roller has a special cage frame that provides a smooth operation without skidding, and the roller fabrics match the full-size Wooster covers so you get a uniform finish. It eliminates the band of brushmarks around the wall edges or near the baseboards.

Souce : ARA