Preparation The Key To A Quality Interior Paint Job

As we enter the winter months, it is a good time to start thinking about those interior painting jobs you have been avoiding all summer!

And while it is very tempting to buy a can of paint, pick up a brush or roller and simply start painting, you'll just waste your money if you don't take the time to prepare the surfaces properly!

According to Stephen Borrie, Manager of the Paint Quality Institute in Australia and New Zealand, paint performance depends on good paint adhesion and paint adheres best to surfaces that are clean and sound.

“Inadequate surface preparation is the single greatest cause of paint failure? he said. “Therefore time spent in preparation will save you the time, money and effort of fixing the job later.?/font>

So, how do you prepare the interior for a paint job that will not only freshen up your home but add value for years to come?

Clean thoroughly

Whether you are painting walls, ceilings or trim, the starting point for any interior painting project is to clean the surface you are about to paint.

Remove accumulated dust, dirt and grime by scrubbing surfaces with a sponge and mild household detergent solution.

For more stubborn stains such as oil, grease or mildew, clean the surface with a scrubbing brush and a stronger cleaning solution using ammonia or household bleach. Alternatively, commercially available alkali cleaning solutions such as sugar soap are often the most practical. These solutions are toxic, so you must wear rubber gloves and safety glasses and follow the instructions on the bottle.

After cleaning, rinse the surface thoroughly with clean water and allow it to dry completely before applying any type of primer or paint.

Remove loose and peeling paint

Using a scraper, remove as much of the old loose, flaking or peeling paint as possible, then sand the surface to feather or level off any rough edges and achieve a smooth finish.

A note of caution! If you suspect any of the old paint contains lead, stop work and ask your paint store for advice on how to proceed.

Repair any damage

Cracks, gaps or small holes in walls, doors or trim should be filled with a top quality paintable water based sealant. Larger holes may need to be filled with plaster.

Any old sealant that has cracked or pulled away from the surface should be removed, the area cleaned and new sealant applied.

Wherever you uncover bare timber, it is recommended that you ‘spot?prime the area with an acrylic interior primer or undercoat for an even finish when you apply the topcoat.

Make final preparations

After all surfaces have been cleaned, repaired and/or sanded, before applying any coatings you should:

  • Dull any glossy surfaces, whether they are painted or not, with a fine grit sandpaper to provide a key to which the paint will adhere;
  • Give the surfaces a final dust off; and
  • Cover furniture and floors with drop cloths to protect them from paint spatter and spills.

The proper attention to these painting preliminaries will ensure that you can get on with your paint job as smoothly as possible ?and not have to revisit the job before you need to.