Prepping Your Inside and Outside Spaces for Paint- Reader's Choice
This time of year is great for starting a new painting project. It is much easier to get motivated when the weather is nice and easy to enjoy your space once it is completed. No matter what condition, every surface you paint needs to be prepped, and below will tell you how to do it on both the inside and outside.
Interior
- Take a good look over the area you are about to paint. Inspect it for dirt, holes, cracks, peeling paint, and anything else that will not make your surface look its best.
- To fill holes and cracks, get some lightweight spackling and a flexible putty knife (with a 2-3 inch blade), and fill the holes. Try to spread the spackling as smoothly as possible, otherwise you may end up sanding a bit. If this happens, get a sanding sponge with a medium grit (about 100 or so) and smooth off any rough edges. Any cracks you are filling need to be evaluated. For instance, if the crack is in the basement, it may be related to the foundation, therefore you may want to get a professional to look at it. In this instance, its better to be safe than sorry!
- You can use different techniques to remove chipping paint depending on the surface you are working with. If it is on a wall, get a paint scraper and start scraping (just be careful not to gouge the surface with your scraper, otherwise you may be filling the holes!). If you are working with an area that has a lot of detail, get a wire brush, as it will help get those little paint chips out of the area. If you intend to strip the entire surface, use a chemical stripper. There are a lot of different ones out there, and I like the gel-based ones best, as they are easiest to work with. Follow the directions on the package for best results.
- After all the old chipping paint is removed, and holes are filled, you want to clean your surface. If it is just plain dirt, then a rag and warm water will suffice. If you have sanding debris (from the holes you filled), crayon marks, or other unusual marks, use TSP to remove these impurities from the walls. Note- when using TSP, be sure to use some heavy duty rubber gloves and ventilate the area well. Follow any other instructions provided on the package.
- You're almost there! Now you need to tape off any areas that you do not wish to paint. Get some painter's tape (I recommend Frog Tape, which is green in color, and leaves no tape residue), and plastic drop cloths to prevent any spills. Finally, prime any areas that do not already have paint on them, such as areas you scraped, or patched holes in. Now, on with the painting!
A lot of the exterior tips are very similar to interior, but remember that the exterior protects the interior (and thus your possessions) portion of your home. Therefore, extra special attention needs to be paid to fixing anything that needs it.
- Analyze the surface to be painted. Keep in mind the possibility that paint might not be the cause...it could be a symptom. Look for leaking gutters, foundation cracks, rotting siding, gaps in windows and doors, and anything else that looks abnormal or out of place. Any problems you find need to be fixed first and foremost, otherwise your paint job will be in vain.
- After any major problems are fixed, scrape any paint that may be loose from the siding. Use a paint scraper or wire brush to get the chunks off.
- Use caulking to seal any gaps in the between the siding and the windows or doors. These places make it easy for moisture and bugs to come in and heat (in the winter) and cool air (in the summer) to escape. Sealing it up will prevent any of these problems from becoming larger in the future.
- Power wash the siding. This gets all the dirt and grime off your siding, so it won't stick to your paint.
- Cover any areas properly that you do not want painted (porches, outdoor furniture, plants, ect). and prime any bare wood and siding that may be exposed. Now you can paint away!
