Repainting interior and exterior walls is a great way to refresh the appearance of your home.

Exterior painting and caulking give a first line of defense to walls against ice, snow and rain.

On the other hand, if your house’s rooms are looking tired, interior painting can be a great way of freshening up your house. Whether it’s exterior or interior paintwork, it enhances the curb appeal, increases resale value, and protects the walls.

With these tips, you can get great-looking walls and avoid messing up your clothes and yourself:

1) Prep the wall surfaces

This is the first step that you should take before applying any paint on walls.

Successful painting starts with surface preparation and cleaning to remove old flaky paint, debris, and dust. That means scraping, sanding, patching, filling nail holes, cracks, dents, and all surface imperfections. Surface preparation isn’t the easiest of painting work, but it plays an important role. No paint – regardless of its quality, cost, thickness, or manufacturer’s claims can hide cracks and pockmarks on wall surfaces.

Preparing the wall surface allows the paint to adhere properly.

2) Select the right quality paint based on surfaces to be painted

The quality of paint you use will determine the outcome of a painting job. There are different types and qualities of paint, but some may not give outstanding results. Look for durability, warranties, and colour options. Paint for exterior surfaces has properties made to protect it from the damaging harsh weather. The paint used for interior house decoration has a range of colour options to match with the décor. Look for paint and colourant with low or no elements of volatile organic compounds.

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3) Pay attention to air temperature

Some paints shouldn’t be applied when temperatures are cooler than 10 degrees Celsius. However, there are types of paints with special formulations that can be applied when temperatures are as low as 1 degree Celsius.

Always read the label carefully and ask the hardware attendant to provide you with details on the best practice in using the paint you are buying. The majority of people working in paint shops have the knowledge on how each type of paint works, and the way it needs to be used.

4. Paint from the top down

The best way to paint surfaces is to start from the uppermost areas as you work your way down.

Doing this will allow you to fix any paint dripping as you go. When applying the paint, make sure it is evenly smeared to avoid streaks and bald spots.

5. Use drop cloths to protect your items

Some paint can cause stains that won’t come out easily. When applying paint, it can splash, drip, or pour on surfaces and items. Use drop cloths to help protect your carpets, furnishings, valuables, mats, furniture, and surfaces.

Repainting should be done as soon as the old paint starts cracking, blistering, and peeling; waiting longer may lead to more extensive and expensive work.

When buying paint, try to buy a reputable brand, sometimes cheaper paints from a lower quality brand may not last as long as superior paints, and they could spoil the appearance of your beautiful home. The paint you select may also depend on the surface you are painting and whether you require interior or exterior.

Do you have any tips to add to the above? Please share in the comments.

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