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How to Get Started With Painting Prep

by Chelsea Creekmore

Preparing your painting surface is a necessary step, especially if you want a polished, professional look without the hefty price tag. While it’s tempting to skip this step, it’ll ultimately take more time and money to go back over your work later to fix any mistakes. Make painting painless by visiting Hoover Paint for all of your painting products and services in Middle Tennessee.

Woman painting a white wall in an empty apartment at Hoover Paint near Nashville, TN

Painting Prep for Interior Surfaces

Once you’ve narrowed down your paint swatches, grab some samples to test the color on your wall. Often, sample paint is available in less than a pint. Checking the color on the wall ensures you like the shade throughout the day, especially with different lights and shadows, before committing to buying a gallon or two.

Below are some easy-to-follow instructions for painting various interiors.

Prepping Unpainted Walls

Painting prep for new walls, whether drywall or PVC panels, requires cleaning and letting them dry before painting.

  1. Check to ensure the walls are securely in place before you begin working. 
  2. Wipe off any visible dust and debris. 
  3. Sand the walls and wipe them off again to ensure a clean surface. 
  4. Add a paint primer like Benjamin Moore® Sure Seal Primer, which is perfect for drywall, and it dries in an hour.  
  5. Cover it with a coat of latex or acrylic paint, such as Ben Int Latex Matte, for walls in your preferred shade. Flat paint is often a popular choice due to its forgiving quality of hiding imperfections.

Prepping Wood

While wood painting prep can be more time-consuming due to sanding, the final product makes it worth it.

  1. Remove any nails or miscellaneous objects that don’t belong in the wood.
  2. Fill cracks, joints, and holes with wood filler.
  3. Sand the patches down once they’re dry using tools like cut sheet sandpaper. After sanding, make sure to clear off the dust afterward.
  4. Prime the wood and the patches with a primer such as Benjamin Moore Fresh Start All-Purpose Primer.
  5. Add a top coat in a gloss or semi-gloss that is easy to clean and will shine beautifully, like Benjamin Moore Advance Interior Paint.

Prepping Previously Painted Walls

When you update your paint, it takes a few steps to ensure that it looks incredible for a long time. Otherwise, you could have a situation where the paint peels off because it's too thick or doesn’t adhere to the wall correctly.

  1. Wash the walls to remove any dirt, oil, grease, or smoke buildup with a cleaner for washable surfaces and allow it time to dry.
  2. Use paint remover products to get rid of any loose paint or layers of paint for a fresh base. If you don't, the paint can peel or flake off later.
  3. Patch cracks or holes with caulk or spackling and let them dry.
  4. Sand the caulk patches and remove any dust.
  5. Prime the wall. If a particularly dark or bright color was on the wall before, consider Benjamin Moore's Fresh Start High Hiding Primer. Even if you think an area doesn't need primer, apply it anyway for a consistent starting point.
  6. Finish off with your choice of paint color.

Transform Your Home with Paint Today in Middle Tennessee!

When you're ready to update the colors in your home or paint over the drawing the kids left in permanent marker, stop by Hoover Paint. We have all the painting products and services necessary to make your project successful. We have locations in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Cool Springs, Shelbyville, Cookeville, Green Hills, Manchester, Mt. Juliet, Clarksville, and Pleasant View, Tennessee. Call us today at (615) 893-5756 or text us at (615) 437-6222.

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