How to Prepare Your House for a New Interior Paint Job

Are you getting ready to give your home a new coat of paint to welcome fall? Whether you’re tackling the project yourself or hiring a professional painting company in Plano to get the job done right the first time, putting in the necessary prep work beforehand will help to make sure you love the end results (and that they last for as long as possible).

Interior Preparations: A 4-Step Guide

Even if you are having a professional painting company give a new coat of paint to your walls, you will need to do at least a little work before the job can begin. The company can give you tips in detail or specific for your space.

#1: Protect Your Furnishings

To prevent tell-tale paint splatters from getting on your furniture and decorations, you will want to remove or cover all the furnishings from the room. Start with storing anything that is hung on the walls, and then start moving furniture away from the walls. If it’s a bigger room that’s being painted, you may be able to move everything into the center of the floor. Covering the items with a tarp is still a good idea for extra protection.

#2: Get Out the Screwdriver

Next, remove all outlet and lightswitch covers with a screwdriver. Store them to use after the paint job is complete (unless you’re going for an upgrade there, too). Remember to take care if you have small children around — removing the fixture coverings will expose the wiring beneath. It’s a good idea to keep the area completely off-limits to children and pets while you are painting.

#3: Clean the Walls

It’s also a good idea to clean the walls — especially in places like the kitchen, where a thin layer of grease may keep the paint from adhering to the wall unless it’s removed first. You can clean the walls with a mild detergent or soap and warm water. Let them dry before you start with primer or paint.

#4: Tape Around the Edges

If you’re doing the paint job on your own, you will need to tape off all the edges at the top and bottom to ensure you get a clean paint job. Place blue edging tape where the ceiling meets the walls and along the baseboards, too. And don’t forget around the doors! It’s painstaking work, but it’s worth it for a professional-looking paint job. And the beauty of hiring actual professionals is they will take care of this step for you!

About the Authors

The team at Platinum Painting provides high quality residential painting services for friends and neighbors in the DFW area. To get a free quote or estimate or to learn more about our services, you are invited to contact your painting company in Plano at (817) 697-2399.