How to Paint a Room
Learn how to paint a wall, trim and ceilings with Painters Burlington today. We also have tips on planning for a paint project, tips on paint prep, buying paint, using paint tools and cleaning up afterward. We’ll share techniques for cutting in, using a roller and painting trim.
The correct sequence of steps is the key to giving any room a quick and refreshing paint makeover.
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Clean Ceiling and Walls:
Cleaning ceilings and walls is the first and foremost process while painting interior or exterior of a house. Firstly, you should remove all dust, dirt, and grease spots (which can ruin a smooth finish) with water, a little mild dish-washing detergent or soap, and a cellulose sponge. Rinse ceiling and walls with clean water to remove the soap residue.
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Repair Damaged Surfaces:
Scrape away old, flaking paint and lightly sand painted woodwork to “knock down” glossy surfaces and prepare them for new paint. Use a primer-sealer to cover high-gloss enamel paints before repainting. Fix any dents, chips, or cracks in the walls before you start painting. Patch small imperfections with spackling or drywall compound. For larger holes and cracks, cut away enough drywall or plaster to be able to create a patch. With drywall, you may have to cut until you can find a wall stud in which to nail the patch to. With a plaster wall, bridge the gap with fiberglass tape, then spackle over the tape. Allow the patches to dry, then sand smooth. Use a damp sponge to wash the dust off the walls before painting.
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Cut in Around Edges:
Beginning at the corner of the room, use a 50 mm or 60 mm trim brush to “cut in,” applying an 8 cm strip of coating along the perimeter where the wall and the ceiling meet. Cut in a section at a time, alternating between cutting in and painting the ceiling to maintain a wet edge and prevent a visible line between the cut-in area and the rest of the ceiling.
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Rolling the Ceiling:
Before you begin painting the ceiling, remove excess paint on the roller by slowly rolling it back and forth over the ridges of the paint tray. Start painting near the corner of the room, blending the coating into the ceiling line painted previously. Paint across the width of the ceiling, rather than the length, and make sure to roll in a motion across your body, rather than along your body, to avoid straining your neck and back.
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Painting the Walls:
Once your ceiling is dry, return to the spot where you began painting. Use a trim brush to carefully cut in along the wall-ceiling line. Extend out two to three inches from windows, doors, and moldings. Once you’ve cut in around an entire wall area, use a roller to fill in the field. For efficiency, start in the corner of a wall and roll on a three-by-three-foot W pattern, then fill it in without lifting the roller. Continue in sections until you’re finished. Paint a wall at a time.
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Painting the Trim:
Once the walls are completely dry, place painter’s blue tape where the trim meets the wall. Paint the moldings, baseboard and the door and window frames with a two-inch angled brush. When painting your trim, paint the tops of the doors and windows first and work your way down so that you can remove any runs as you go. Paint your baseboards last.
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Clean Up:
If you need to take a break from your project, wrap brushes and rollers with plastic wrap to keep them wet and pliable for up to a day or more. When you’re ready to work again, simply unwrap them and resume painting. Paint rollers are inexpensive and disposable, but brushes are costly and worth saving, and they can be used many times if given proper care and cleaning. To make brush cleaning easier, drill a 1/4-inch hole just above the metal ferrule, then insert a wire or large nail into the hole. Suspend the brush over a jar or other container filled with enough water or paint solvent to cover the bristles. Let it soak for a while, then rinse and dry the bristles with a clean rag. Wrap the brush in plastic wrap or place the brush in its original package to keep the bristles straight.
If you’re looking to get your room painted then you can contact us by calling (289) 401-9532 or you can simply email us at [email protected]. If you are in Mississauga, call Mississauga Painters.