home interior painting monmouth county nj can be used in many ways. It can be used for a trendier look, for an accent color, for an artistic look, or just as a simple background to other features. However, interior wall painting can also lead to a lot of mistakes if you don’t take the time to prepare your surface properly—or if you’re rushing through the project and end up not completing it one hundred percent. Here are several things that people typically do wrong when they paint their walls, along with how to avoid them so you can paint your walls (or the walls of someone you know!) without making any mistakes.
Painting the walls in your home is an easy way to freshen up the space and bring in a new look. But if you’re not careful, you can end up with an eye-sore instead of an eye-catcher. Here are six common and biggest mistakes that homeowners make when painting their walls and how to avoid them:
Forgetting to clean or prep walls.
Before you paint, be sure to remove any dirt, grime, or other contaminants from your walls with a mild detergent and water. Dried paint can leave streaks or marks on freshly painted surfaces, so ensure everything has been washed off before you begin painting.
Using too much paint.
It takes more than just a little bit of paint to cover large areas of the wall — especially if the color is dark. So be sure you aren’t using too much paint by putting down plenty of drop cloths to protect floors from drips and splatters. You may also want to consider using a roller with a very fine nap instead of a brush, so there’s less chance for over-application (and dripping).
Not removing outlet covers.
If you’re using a roller, make sure you remove all outlet plates and cover them with painter’s tape before painting. If not, the paint will get underneath them and won’t line up when you put them back on later. Not only does this look bad, but it also makes it difficult to re-install the plate properly once the paint has dried.
Not using painter’s tape.
Painter’s tape will help protect your trim and molding from getting damaged while you paint. If you don’t use it, your wall will have a lot of little nicks and scratches in the paint. Of course, you can try to sand those out after the paint has dried, but it’s better just to avoid them altogether and use painter’s tape.
Using dirty paintbrushes
You’ll want to ensure that your brush is clean before you begin painting so that you don’t accidentally contaminate your paint with dirt or other debris. This could cause streaks in your finished product, making it look less professional and more amateurish.
Painting in bright sunlight (or other extreme temperatures)
When you’re painting a room, it’s tempting to want to get started right away. But you’ll waste time and paint if the room is too hot or too cold. For example, if the room is too hot and you’re using oil-based paint, the paint will dry too fast and crack. It may not stick well to the surface if it’s too cold and you’re using latex paint. Instead of cranking up the heat or turning on the air conditioning, consider painting when it’s a bit cooler or warmer than normal — but not extreme.
So, hopefully, you now have a handle on the most common painting mistakes people make when decorating their walls. Please don’t rush into an interior wall painting project unless you are positive you will do it right. Follow the instructions and ensure that you buy quality paint on a day that suits your schedule. Always wear appropriate safety apparel to avoid health issues when painting walls.
