- If you can’t move the furniture out of the room, push it all into the center and cover it with drop cloths. Remove outlet covers wall heating vents, light fixtures, and other hardware.
- Scrape flaking paint or rust from the surface. If you are repainting over a semi gloss or gloss paint, the gloss should be removed by sanding or else the new coats of paint may not adhere.
- Look for cracks in the surface. Now is the time to repair them. Fill the cracks, chips splinters and nail holes with patching plaster, spackling compound, or wood putty, whichever is appropriate. When the patch is dry, sand it lightly and feather the edges of any rough areas so they are level with the rest of the surface.
- Use a proper primer on the entire surface whether it is newly constructed, stained by water or smoke, prone to mildew, rusted or aged. Your paint store can provide recommendations. Primer really helps to seal and even-out the surface. The paint will go on smoother, adhere better, and last longer. It is the key to “The Professional Look”.
- Tape off baseboards, moldings, window frames, or any other areas that you don’t want painted. For painting ceilings, cover the entire floor with drop cloths. When painting walls, you can probably get away with only covering the floor next to the wall you are painting.
Now you are ready to paint!!!
