How To Prepare Surfaces For Painting

Preparation is key when it comes to any form of DIY, and painting is no exception. Taking the time to prepare surfaces properly with the correct decorating tools before painting them will not only save you time and money later on, but will also ensure you get a smooth and flawless finish. Here’s how to prepare walls and woodwork for painting.

 
Walls and ceilings are generally the most common surfaces to paint within the home, so it’s useful to know how to prepare the surface properly.

 

1. Before any painting or preparing can commence, make sure you have a clean and clear area to work in. Remove any mirrors, frames, fixtures, fittings or anything else that’s going to be in the way of the surface you’re working on.

 

2. Next, scrape away any loose paint, plaster or pieces of paper left on the wall with a paint scraper to ensure the surface is smooth. 

 

3. See if there are any holes or cracks within the surface that need filling – failing to do this will result in larger holes and cracks appearing in the future and will also make your finished paint job look messy. Initially, you need to clean the cracks with sugar soap to make sure they’re free from dust or debris. Dust can prevent filler from sticking properly to the wall.

 

4. Next, take a flexible filler knife and push hole filler into the wall to plug the hole. Spread it to ensure it’s as smooth as possible. Ideally, spread the product in multiple directions while applying it, then use a single downward stroke to remove any excess. You’ll then need to give this time to completely dry.

 

5. Using sanding pads, smooth down the filler so that it’s completely flush with the surface of the wall. Be sure to wear a mask and eye protection while doing this.

 

6. Taking a new and clean sanding pad, lightly sand the rest of the wall to make sure it’s free from any bumps or peeling paint. Sanding the surface not only creates a smooth canvas for you to paint on to, but also creates a texture that will be easier for the paint to bind to.

 

7. Brush away any excess dust and give the wall a final clean with a sugar soap solution, and then warm water to remove any traces of the sugar. Grease, dirt and fingerprints can build-up on walls over time, so it’s important to clean these off thoroughly. Once the wall has been cleaned and is completely smooth, leave the surface to dry fully.

 

8. Next, you need to mask any edges you don’t want to get paint on, such as windows, coving and trims, with a good quality masking tape. Be sure to push the tape down firmly onto the edges to get them straight. Once you’ve finished painting, remove the tape at a 45° angle before the paint has completely dried, to avoid it ripping.

 

9. The final step in preparing the surface before painting is to apply an undercoat or primer to the wall. This will result in a better coverage for your paint overall.

  

How To Prepare Woodwork For Painting

 

No matter what wooden object you’re painting, you must prep the area to guarantee smooth and long-lasting results.

 

1. Place plastic sheeting or old fabric on the floor and surrounding furniture to ensure it is kept free from paint splashes.

 

2. Using a little warm water, gently and carefully wipe down the wood to remove it from oils, dirt and grime that can build-up over time. Let the water dry fully before moving on.

 

3. If there are any scratches or gouges in the wood, fill them with wood filler and a flexible putty knife. Gently smooth the filler over the opening and make sure it’s as flush and smooth as possible against the wood’s surface.

 

4. Next, wearing eye protection and a mask, use sanding pads to sand the wood flat and smooth. When working with wood you need to be extra careful when sanding, as you do not want to strip any of the wood away, but instead make the area as smooth as possible. Sanding not only smooths out the wood but also creates ‘tooth’ – a texture which will help the paint bond.

 

5. Once sanded, you need to ensure all the dust is removed from the surface. This can be done with a vacuum to remove the majority of dust, and then switch to a wet cloth to remove the excess. Make sure the wood is fully dry before moving on.

 

6. Apply wood primer to the surface, wait for it to dry, and then apply a second coat. You can do this with either a brush or a roller – most people find it easier to control and work with a brush, however a roller is certainly quicker and can often provide a smoother finish.

 

7. Using new sanding pads, sand the primer down once it is fully dry. Do this by applying light pressure, being careful not to scratch or damage the wood. Repeat steps 4 and 5 to sand and clean the wood.

 

8. The woodwork is now ready to be painted. With wood, the surface often needs another sand down once the first layer of paint has fully dried, before applying a second coat.