How To Paint Your Interiorwalls

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HOW TO PAINT YOUR INTERIOR WALLS

Your interior walls are a direct reflection of your home and all that it is. From the moment you enter a home it is the condition of the walls that make such a profound and indelible impression. When walls have been beautifully painted and the color(s) have been tastefully selected to graciously accent the surrounding area; the sight can't be anything short of resplendent. That's the effect that walls handsomely done can have on you. Your house walls consist of more square footage than your ceilings, floors and everything else; so it is imperative that they should be addressed in a very special way. To neglect to do so would be just short of criminal, I think. Your walls make a statement that can be warm and inviting, or cold, negligent and uninviting...it all depends on you. Here is a guide that can help you give your walls a new and appealing appearance, all the while potentially saving yourself a great deal of money; not to mention the satisfaction that comes along with doing a good job yourself, so let's begin the journey.

PREPARATION

Whether your house interior walls consist of : gypsum board/drywall, plaster, simulated plaster, plywood, or wood paneling; before painting it you will need to prepare the substrate (surface) to receive the paint or finish coat. Herein lies the work, however, some cases may prove to be less demanding then others, but it is so important to get it right here because this literally is the foundation on which you will build, for instance, if your walls consist of drywall or sheetrock, as it is most commonly known; you must inspect it thoroughly before proceeding. Check to see if there are any small holes, cracks, mapping lines; not to mention pits, large holes and possibly failing drywall tape. A careful inspection should shed some light on what you really need to do in order to get the walls ready and worthy to receive paint. And if you do need to remove the existing tape and replace it with new tape, then by all means do so. If you have a large hole in your walls you may need to install a piece of new drywall and finish it out. Sometimes, installing a whole new drywall panel is necessary when the hole is extremely large, but whether you're installing a new panel, partial panel, or just skimming over some areas try to do a good job by keeping your work smooth and neat. After all, every thing that you do at this stage will definitely show up in the finish work. So remember to keep it neat and smooth throughout your repairing and preparation stages.

If your interior walls consist of plaster and repairs are in order, again, smoothness and neatness are the operative words. Superficial or cosmetic repairs to plaster can be done by most homeowners, however, if you have a more serious problems such as: plaster falling to the floor; failing lath, large size crevices and cracks---call a reputable plaster contractor right away! But as I stated earlier, many simple repairs can be successfully done by the homeowner.

Your walls might consist of wood, if that is the case, be sure to take the time to inspect it carefully to see if you have any problems, if so, try to correct them as neatly and professionally as you possibly can. You can fill in dents and small holes with a good wood filler, and then sand it smooth with an electrical sander, or maybe you can hand sand it and avoid using electrical sanders that can quickly cause damage to your wood. And with using any electrical tools always work safely and wear full safety gear. If some of your wood boards or paneling need to be replaced then do so. The key to beautiful walls is properly preparing your substrate to achieve a uniform and symmetrical look...and that applies to any type material that your walls may consist of.

PRIMING YOUR WALLS

Now that your walls have been carefully prepared/repaired and thoroughly cleaned, you are now ready to begin priming. Priming your walls is a very important step in getting your walls ready to paint. To neglect to do this is plain folly in every sense of the word. And to use anything less than a quality primer is truly gambling with the out come of your project. In my opinion there really isn't a good substitute for a quality primer that also acts as a sealer. To avoid having your walls looking incomplete and half done, I highly recommend that you spend a little more and purchase a quality primer/sealer and apply two coats of it on all the substrate(s) that you are going to paint. This is the single most important move you can do to help ensure you of uniform looking walls that do not flash, or of stains that cannot leech through your finish coating. I wouldn't think of painting a wall without first priming it with a quality oil base primer/sealer. Even if your walls already have a coat of paint on them, to go ahead and prime it with a quality primer/sealer will all but guarantee you that nothing will leech through the existing finish and soil your new finish. The choice is yours to make and yours alone.

Personally, I prefer to use an oil base primer/sealer in practically every situation, however, there are some cases where a water base primer/sealer will suffice, but my choice is always an oil base product except when it comes to preparing/repairing plaster, in that case I always use a latex alkaline resistant primer---always. When I am priming wood, new or old, I prefer to use an oil base penetrating primer to get the job done. These are just some pointers that I'm sharing with you in order to help you make an intelligent decision on what you should use to achieve the best possible results regarding your project. It's really all up to you, but here are some time tested pointers that just might help you on your merry way... they certainly have helped me for the past quarter of a century.

PAINTING YOUR WALLS

There isn't one single move that can bring elegance and charm into your home like painting does. Painting the interior of your home can have such a stunning effect, and not to mention the utilitarian effectiveness that it yields. Your house in general and your walls in particular can have new life breathe into them with a quality paint job. Your new freshly painted walls can become the focal point of your interior de'cor. You really are only limited by your imagination. Interior walls that have been masterfully painted can be exhilirating and touching, that is why so many put so much emphasis on the look of interior walls...and that's why it is so important that you take your time and do a real first rate job. This is the last and final stage of painting your walls.

Before you begin painting your walls take a moment and make sure that every thing is covered that you don't won't to get paint on. Floors, furniture, drapes, and every thing else you see nearby. It is better to be safe than sorry. When I begin painting a wall I like to work from top to bottom, this is not always the case but this is the way I prefer to do it. First, I start at the top of the wall where the ceiling meets the wall, then I proceed to cut a straight line with my brush, or as close to straight as I possibly can. My objective is to paint a perfectly straight line between the ceiling and the wall. I want to make this line wide enough so that I will be able to roll into it with my roller nap after I finish cutting in the ceiling line. In other words, all around the ceiling line where the walls meet the ceiling I want to cut (draw) a near perfect straight line with my paint brush that should be about 3 or 4 inches wide. Make sure you are applying enough paint on the walls to avoid having what is known as the "hat band" appearance after you have finished rolling your walls, for instance, you want to achieve a uniform appearance even though you applied the paint with a brush (cutting) and a roller. You don't want your walls to show where you used a brush and where you used a roller. In order to accomplish this you need to apply an equal amount of paint whether you're using a brush or roller...and when rolling, roll into the area that is brushed with this little fact in mind. Your goal should be to have a wall that is uniform and well matched.

Once the ceiling has been cut in you can proceed to cut in the corners and just above the baseboards, and of course around doors and any other type trim that might be on the wall (s). Now that you have completed cutting in or trimming out your walls and ceiling; you are ready to begin rolling. You're free to start wherever you wish, just make sure you have a system to avoid skips and holidays. Some people choose to work from their right to left, while others choose to work from their left to right. However you choose to roll just make sure you roll uniformly...that's all. Your objective should be to achieve an even and attractive looking wall(s). And this objective is achievable even by the novice who has no experience whatsoever. All you have to do is commit to the job and give it your best. In teaching, it is not my way to overload you with a lot of bit by bit details that can prove to be staggering and exhausting, instead, I just want to give you enough direction to help you get started and possibly avoid any pit falls. So start your engines and let the fun begin.

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NOTE: Always follow manufacturers' instructions on the correct way to use their products,equipment and/or tools.

Disclaimer: This author assumes no responsibility for any injuries or worst that might occur do to the content of this article or any other article written by him. This article as is with all other articles written by him are for the sole purpose of entertaining and amusement. Please contact a reputable contractor in your area for all your home improvement projects. Thank you.

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