Buy the Best Supplies
Professional painters aren’t using bargain brushes, tape, or rollers. When you want to paint like a pro, it’s worth buying quality tools and materials. Talk to an employee in the paint department of your local hardware store. He or she will be able to suggest the best brushes, rollers, and even painter’s tape. This will make a difference by helping to paint evenly while preventing drips and streaks.
Prep the Walls
Before applying paint to the walls, make sure to prepare the surfaces so the paint will adhere better. Check the wall for gaps, cracks, and holes. Fill these with a spackling compound. After the spackle has dried, sand the wall to make a smooth surface for the paint. If there are stains or grease spots on the walls, clean them with a solution of dish detergent and water. If stains cannot be removed, apply a primer to the wall before applying the coats of paint.
Primer is useful for preparing your walls. A quality primer helps the paint adhere and makes the color more accurate. If you’re painting the walls a light color, use a white primer. If the shade you’ve chosen is darker, gray primer is available.
Mask to Paint Like a Pro
Give yourself enough time to mask the area. Use drop cloths to protect the floors and any furniture that is left in the room. Remove outlet covers and doorknobs. Use a good quality masking tape to mask the window trim and baseboards. This will give you better results by keeping areas that you aren’t painting clean.
To Paint Like a Pro: Box the Paint
Paints, even when you purchase the same shade, will have slight variations in color. If you’re painting more than a very small room, you’ll need a few gallons of paint. If you apply the paint straight out of the can, you may notice you actually have a few shades of color around the room. Instead of dealing with these variations, mix all of the paint together to get a uniform color. Calculate the amount of paint you’ll need and purchase it all at once. Mix it well in one large container, known as “boxing” the paint. This keeps the color consistent.
Take Your Time
Give yourself plenty of time to paint. If you feel rushed you won’t be able to focus on getting the details right. Allow a coat to dry before applying the next.
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