With the holidays on the horizon, maybe you’ve decided to give a fresh coat of paint to a room or hallway in your home. Perhaps you’re thinking about tackling the job yourself instead of hiring residential painters. As you consider putting painting work on your holiday to-do list, look at a few typical mistakes people make when painting rooms.

1. Buying Bargain Brushes and Rollers

You pay a visit to a home improvement store and see a big sale going on for paint brushes and rollers. It may seem like a good idea to buy inexpensive brushes and rollers for your painting, but it can hurt the quality of your work in the long run. Cheap paint brushes have loose bristles that can end up stuck to your wall. The material on an inexpensive roller can wear down causing your paint to go on unevenly. In the end, you’re going to have to replace these tools and invest even more money in your painting supplies. Starting off with durable paint brushes and rollers is a smart idea.

2. Bypassing the Preparation Work

Getting excited about giving a room fresh new color isn’t unusual. But, don’t let that excitement cause you to skip the step of preparing your walls. Filling in cracks and holes with spackle and waiting for the repairs to dry are two pieces of preparation that will make your paint work look even better. Plus, applying tape to the top and bottom edges of your walls and around your windows and doors will give you even, sharp lines as you paint. Taking care with your preparation can boost the overall quality of the finished product.

3. Using Masking Tape Instead of Painter’s Tape

You may think that when it comes to taping a room before painting, any tape will do. But, using anything besides painter’s tape can lead to trouble. This is certainly true with masking tape. Masking tape has a tendency to absorb paint causing color to bleed into areas where you don’t want it. Also, masking tape tears easily while it’s being applied making the work less precise. Alternatively, painter’s tape doesn’t absorb color and creates a distinct line to make your painting work more precise. Painter’s tape is thick and easy to apply to edges and around corners.

4. Skipping the Primer

It may occur to you that skipping the application of primer will save you time on your painting work. But, primer serves a definite purpose on your wall. It hides imperfections and effectively covers walls with dark paint on them. Interior house painting contractors know that adding primer on your wall prepares it for its fresh new color and doesn’t allow the color underneath to bleed through. Think of primer as a way to improve your canvas before starting your masterpiece.

5. Painting Over a Wallpapered Surface

If you have wallpaper on a wall you want to paint, then it’s a good idea to remove it before painting. But, if you decide to paint over the wallpaper, then it’s necessary to cover it with an oil-based primer before painting. Don’t use water-based primer on the wallpaper because it can mix with the glue and make a mess of your project. Not following this guideline can add hours and a lot of delays to your painting project.

6. Not Giving Thought to the New Finish

The paint finish you choose may seem like an incidental matter. But, this decision can make a big difference. If you’re painting a high-traffic area in your home, then it’s best to select a satin or semi-gloss finish. Fingerprints and smudges are easier to clean off paint with a semi-gloss or satin finish. Alternatively, a flat finish is more difficult to maintain when it takes on a lot of smudges, dirt, etc. Giving some thought to paint finish can affect the look of your walls long-term.

7. Ignoring the Current Finish

If you’re painting a wall with paint on it already, don’t make the mistake of ignoring its finish. If you’re dealing with a wall covered in paint with a high-gloss finish, take the time to sand the wall. This step prepares the wall to better absorb its new color. Once again, taking the time to complete this step improves the overall quality of your work.

8. Using the Wrong Painting Techniques

When you use poor painting techniques it can affect the look of your walls. For instance, a common mistake is to dip the brush or roller too deeply into the paint. This puts too much paint on the brush or roller making it difficult to apply it to the wall evenly. One tip is to dip the roller or brush about a third of the way into the paint. This gives you just enough paint to put on the wall at one time. Also, remember to start painting at the top of a wall so you can work your way down and smooth over any drips that occur. Residential painters will tell you, paying attention to your painting technique allows you to apply the paint in an even, balanced way.

9. Putting Off the Clean Up Duties

When you finish your painting work, it’s best to start the clean up right away. Wash your brushes and rollers with mild detergent and rinse them thoroughly to make sure all paint is removed. Be sure to let your paint brushes and rollers dry completely before putting them away. Paint dries quickly and putting off your cleaning duties makes it harder to remove paint from bristles and rollers. If you invest in quality brushes, rollers and other supplies, you want to keep them in good condition for your next painting project.

If you avoid all of these mistakes, then you can do a good job painting your rooms for the holidays. But, why not hire a home painter instead? The skillful painters at Chrave Davis Painting have the experience and the professional equipment to get your painting work done right. Plus, when you hire these courteous, residential painters, you have more time to finish all of those other tasks that need to be checked off the list before the holidays arrive. So, contact Chrave Davis Painting in Ramsey MN today and get an interior house painter quote. Let our team of painters get your home ready for the holidays.