In This Post:
Tools Required for Preparation
Tips for Preparing Walls & Ceiling for Paint
Looking forward to giving your house a fresh lick of paint but not sure where to begin? Well, we’d recommend you start by preparing your walls and ceilings for paint. This preparation is extremely vital for great results and a professional look. Not to mention the fact that it also greatly reduces the risks of getting various furnishings damaged or spoiled during the process.
Being Pakistan’s trusted portal for everything property, we proactively understand your needs. Just like in our past posts where we had shared detailed guides on preparing your home for different seasons, including winter, spring, and summer, we are back with another checklist on how to prepare the walls and ceilings in your home for a fresh coat of paint.
Before we begin, here’s a small overview of what we are going to discuss in this blog. Firstly, we will provide you a list of essentials for the process. Afterwards, we will discuss how you can use these tools and prepare your home for painting.
So, without further ado, let’s get painting!
Essentials Tools and Material Required for Preparing Your House for Painting
We know for a fact that getting your home ready for paint will help you avoid any damage to the furniture, carpet, furnishing, and any other valuable possessions in your home. Before you start covering your walls and moving your furniture, make sure you have all the listed essentials mentioned below in hand:
- Detergent
- Dusting Cloth
- Joint Compound
- Masking Tapes
- Plastic Sheets
- Sand Paper
- Scraper
- Stepping Ladder
Tips for Preparing Your Walls and Ceilings for Paint
We had previously shared a list of best paint brands in Pakistan, where we had briefly touched the subject of why choosing a reputable paint brand is important. Continuing with the same efforts to make your DIY project an overwhelming success, here’s our simple guide on how to get your house paint-ready in a few simple steps:
- Shifting and Moving
- Deep Cleaning and Washing
- Inspection for Leaks
- Filling Cracks and Holes
- Masking and Covering Furnishing
- Sanding Walls and Ceilings
Shifting and Moving
No matter how perfectly you cover the walls with a brand new paint, having a valuable asset spoiled or damaged in the process can easily make the delight of a new look appear dull in comparison. So, the first item on our list of preparing your walls and ceilings for paint is shifting and moving valuable furniture and furnishings.
Keep in mind that you might need an extra hand to move around your couch, bed, armchair, coffee table, or anything valuable that can be easily shifted temporarily. The process can be extremely exhausting, depending on the quantity and weight of furniture you have to move. Just remember to stay calm during the process and keep reminding yourself that it will help you remain protected against bigger damages. Keep your furniture in a safe place where it can’t be ruined. As such, avoid placing your furniture out in the sun or damp places or anywhere you sense any risks. While you are at it, do not forget to wear safety gear such as gloves, protective glasses, and a face mask.
Deep Cleaning and Washing
The second item on our list of preparing walls for painting is conducting a detailed cleaning of the area you are about to paint. This step is crucial, and it should be done after you have moved the valuables out of the room.
The process begins with dusting the area with a dry cloth. Vacuum the floor and the areas that can’t be reached otherwise. Make a solution of detergent and water. Wash the walls with a soft cloth or a sponge soaked in the detergent solution – try to remove tough spots by applying a little force in rubbing. Then, wash the detergent from your walls using a damp towel. Be careful around washing the areas that are near electrical boards.
Washing your walls will help you in many ways: first, you will be able to clean the spots behind the heavy furniture that are usually neglected. Second, the expensive equipment in the room will be safe from water damage. Not to mention, it will remove any dust and grease that will help the new coat of paint stick to the wall easily without needing more coats, translating into financial savings.
Further, right after the walls and ceiling have been washed, you will also be able to identify the parts that are in good condition and do not need to be repainted. Keep in mind that the room has completely dried before moving on to the next step in this guide.
Inspection for Leaks
One of the most important things that you must add to your checklist of home renovation is inspecting the walls and ceilings for any signs of leakages or plumbing problems. Give all the corners of your house a good once-over by checking areas that have water access. Make sure there is no unusual mould, flaking walls, or water stains on the walls, skirting, and ceilings.
If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, immediately fix the problem with the assistance of our recently published guide on DIY plumbing repairs. If you can’t figure out the problem, it is best to call a professional.
Filling Cracks and Holes
As a part of preparing your house for painting, you must magnify the areas that you are about to paint for cracks and holes. If you come across any cracks or holes in the walls or ceiling, these should be filled immediately. The most common areas for cracks to appear in a house are:
- Around the windows
- Near the corners and skirting
- Anywhere under or near a heavy wall decoration
So, if you find any cracks or holes, you can easily fill them by using a solution of joint compound or plaster. Just take an adequate amount of any of the afore-mentioned mixtures and fill them in the cracks and holes with a scraper. Try to level it while you are filling and wait for it to completely dry. Once it has dried, sand the wall with sandpaper to flatten the bumps.
Masking and Covering Furnishing
Before painting your home, you should make every effort to protect the furnishings and immovable furniture with the help of masking tape and plastic sheets. Cover the areas around skirting, windows, doors, and electricity boards with masking tape. Take off the curtains and lampshades and cover them in a plastic sheet. It’s best to move away as many things from the room you are currently painting. Cover the flooring with plastic sheets to avoid splatter.
This simple trick can make a massive impact on your project. Besides avoiding paint splashes, you will be saved from the trouble of scraping paint from the surfaces such as the floor, windows, etc. However, if you accidentally drop paint somewhere, you can remove it with the help of paint removers that are readily available in the market.
Sanding Walls and Ceilings
After you have taken all the measures to protect your walls and ceilings from paint splashes, the next step is to sand the uneven areas around the room. If you notice any lumps, bumps, or uneven surfaces on the walls that are making it appear out of shape – sand it down using sandpaper. If you paint on uneven surfaces, you will only end up with an even bigger bump. Moreover, sanding walls before painting can create a smooth surface before you paint provided that you use fine quality sandpaper. Remember to remove the dust after with a brush or a soft cloth.
So, this was our take on how to prepare your walls and ceilings for painting. We have written this guide with the intent of helping you keep your valuable possessions in top shape and save you from unnecessary expenses. If you have applied these tricks already, share your experience with us at blog@zameen.com.
On a side note, if you are looking for ways to decorate your walls without using a single drop of paint, you can take assistance from our recently published post on top renter-friendly ideas to decorate your walls. We have also shared some hacks for hanging things on walls without damaging them with nails.
For more property maintenance and décor tips, keep visiting the home décor section of Zameen Blog – Pakistan’s most trusted portal for authentic information. Get a dose of Zameen.com on your timeline daily by liking our Facebook page.
