Just about to embark on a painting project. Or perhaps you’re meticulously planning out your remodeling project? If you’re planning on altering your home’s walls in any way, you’ll want to read this. In this post, we’ll provide six simple tips to ensure your walls last the test of time and look great years down the track. Not following these tips could result in having to redo your paint job in a few short months.
Make sure to use the right products
Using the right products for your walls helps in ensuring that your walls will be durable and resilient. For example, consider using plaster with gypsum which is a flexible material to help prevent cracks and flaking. Only use high-quality paints as they have technologies and properties for maximum wall protection to ensure your walls look great for many years. Paying a little bit extra for quality brands is definitely worth the extra cost if you consider the main cost of painting is in the labour. Doing it right the first time is what we always recommend, in the long run, it’s the cheaper option.
Ensure your walls are plastered properly
The last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time and money on painting your walls to later find out they are uneven or have poorly secured sections of the plasterboard wall. Well-plastered walls ensure that the integrity of your walls is solid and provides an excellent surface for painting. Ensure that you use the right plaster materials and follow the correct plastering procedures. You may want to consider hiring a professional plasterer, to ensure that the walls are smooth, even, and ready for cleaning.
Clean and prepare your walls before painting
Make sure that your walls are clean before applying a coat of paint. Remove any dust and dirt that could get mixed with the paint which may cause discoloration, bulging, and flaking. You can simply use a cloth or vacuum to remove any visible dirt on the wall’s surface. While for grease, oil, or wax stains, you can apply a mixture of detergent and water on a paper towel to remove them.
This step is often taken for granted by most people. In general, professional house painters do not clean the walls since they are hired to paint. Although good paint will adhere to most walls, they adhere much better when the surface is clean.
Apply a good primer to walls
Primer acts as an adhesive to the wall surface and the next layer of paint. It also helps hide the seams, and joints, and prevents any bleed-through. It seals the original wall color and provides an even color shade. This also helps you to preserve paint as primer boosts the paint color avoiding the need for extra coats.
Try to prevent excess humidity
Humidity when built upon walls can attract molds and mildew. It can also cause the paint to bubble and peel when exposed to humid conditions for a long time. You can prevent this by ensuring that your home is well-ventilated. By simply opening up windows you allow the fresh air to circulate inside your home and decrease humidity levels.
You can also install air vents or place a dehumidifier to help lessen the humidity inside rooms or common areas. Avoid drying clothes inside your home, and install exhaust fans in typically humid areas of the home such as in the bathroom, laundry, and kitchen areas. Since houseplants not only require watering but they also release water vapor into the air consider moving them outside if you’re unable to reduce moisture through other means.
If in doubt hire a professional
Although painting can be done DIY, hiring a professional provides an increased level of assurance and guarantee. Skilled and licensed painters, like the team at Painters Mackay, have years of experience and are very knowledgeable on what materials and tools should be used for a specific type of wall, and conditions, and able to take appropriate measures to ensure the best outcome for you and your family.
Follow these tips and you’ll be sure that your walls will last for many years to come. You can carry on with your remodeling project with the assurance that you’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure your newly painted home will look great years down the track.