Our specialists know this better than anyone, and have created the ultimate guide for expert residential painting tips. From industry top secrets to professional techniques and the latest tricks, here’s everything you’ll need to make freshening up your old paint or transforming your entire house color palette a quick, easy project.
1. Choose Top-Quality Paint
Beyond picking the perfect paint color for your property, one of our most successful house painting tips is working only with top-of-the-line paint. Because, yes, selecting the appropriate type of paint and a high-end one at that is crucial to the process. It will determine not only the time you spend on your project, but also the excellent and lasting finish you are looking for.
For interior painting, we recommend choosing matte or eggshell finishes that guarantee a smooth application, and extreme durability. When it comes to exterior paint, it is essential to opt for a weather-resistant one, so that it can withstand both the test of time and the elements. Always go for premium-quality brands for the best results.
2. Prep the Surfaces Thoroughly
Proper preparation is truly the key to a flawless finish. It’s what makes or breaks your project. So, for our painting tips, we recommend doing more than just cleaning dirty surfaces and covering the area with cotton drop cloths. Your walls should be smooth before painting, whether that’s the interior or exterior of your home.
Review the surface in detail and fill any holes or cracks with spackle. If the wall texture is rough or bumpy to the touch, you can even use sandpaper. Do the same for the trim between coats. For your exteriors, power wash the surface and repair any damage before starting so you achieve the smooth walls you need.
3. Use Primer When Needed
One of our pro tips for interior painting is that once your surface is smooth, you will need to prime it. You can avoid this step if you are touching up a wall that’s in perfect condition. But in other instances, priming the surface ensures better paint adhesion and a uniform finish.
For darker walls or stains, a stain-blocking primer is essential. For new drywall, we recommend working with a high-build primer to seal and level the surface. And finally, for outdoor brick walls, use a water-based latex primer.
4. Invest in Professional Tools
Premier paint isn’t the only product you should invest in. You will need professional painting tools for the job. Don’t discount the role materials have in ensuring a smooth finish. But you don’t also have to break the bank by buying dozens of tools.
Here are the ones we recommend: High-quality brushes, rollers, and painter’s tape. You can also opt for a pole sander and a caulk gun. Don’t skimp on these tools and materials; they make a significant difference in the final result. They provide better coverage, reduce drips, and guarantee you achieve perfect finishes.
5. Follow an Order: Top to Bottom
- The ceiling comes first, always.
- Follow it up by painting the trim, doors, and windows.
- Then, paint the walls, top to bottom.
- Finally, you can cover the baseboards with a good coat of paint.
6. Master Painting Techniques
It’s true that painting your home isn’t the same as staying within the lines of a drawing on paper. But our painting tips make it as easy. Our expert and favorite technique is using the “W” method when working with a paint roller.
Here’s a quick guide for this type of paint application: Roll paint by creating a “W” shape on the wall, then fill it in in vertical lines, without lifting the tool from the surface. This technique ensures even coverage. However, if you’re using a paintbrush, apply the coat in long, smooth strokes to avoid visible marks.
7. Always Maintain a Wet Edge
No one, and believe us, no one likes lap marks. They are an eyesore caused by paint buildup and don’t deserve a place in your renovation project. The good thing is they are simple to prevent with the right home painting techniques. Our interior painters avoid them by working in small sections, and overlapping each stroke before the paint dries. This technique is especially important for large surfaces like walls and ceilings.
However, you should be extra careful depending on the type of paint finish you’re working with. If you’re using glossy paint, keep in mind that lap marks tend to be more evident with this finish. So take your time maintaining the wet edge to achieve a good paint job. Also, flat or matte finishes are safer to work with, and don’t usually reflect lap marks once they dry.
8. Don’t Rush the Drying Time
Whether you’re tackling an exterior or interior house painting project, you will need to arm yourself with lots and lots of patience. After all, it is a universal truth that whenever you try to rush through things, they don’t tend to come out right. You might even make the job harder for yourself.
So give the process time, and allow each coat of paint to dry fully before applying the next. Racing your way through drying will lead to streaks and an uneven, unsightly finish. We recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions for the drying times and providing the area with proper ventilation.
9. Consider the Weather
There is a time for everything, including your painting project. We understand that tackling this task during a cloudy or rainy day might be too tempting to resist. But you should always check the weather forecast before beginning, even if you’re revamping your interior walls (you can check our blog about painting in rainy weather for more information on the matter).
Especially when painting exteriors, choose a time when the climate is mild and dry. Extreme temperatures and high humidity will affect the paint’s drying time and adhesion and can even make the entire process a nightmare. Ideally, paint when the weather is around 50°F and 85°F (10°C and 29°C).
10. Clean Up Properly
The last of our good painting tips is to clean up properly. It may not seem like much, and for some, it’s the step they dread the most. However, disposing of or storing the excess paint, as well as cleaning your tools, helps maximize their useful life.
You never know when inspiration will strike next or if you’ll have to retouch some areas later. Therefore, foster a tidy workspace for yourself and save on spending extra on materials by cleaning them thoroughly and stowing them for future use.
Partner with A&M Quality Painting for your Next Big Residential Project!
Revitalizing your home seems like an arduous duty, but it’s one that, done right, you will never regret. Especially if you follow our guide for residential painting tips. Remember, most of the work relies on great products and preparing the walls for a smooth surface for painting. The rest will come to you by patience and a little bit of technique.
And if you don’t want to handle the job on your own, you can always partner with our professional painters at A&M Quality Painting LLC! We are the top choice of exterior and interior painters for homeowners, with more than 25 years of experience and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Let us bring your vision to life at local, affordable rates, and kickstart your painting project with us!