Here’s How to Prep Your Surface Before Painting

Before tackling any paint job, you need to prepare your surface to receive the paint. This will help ensure a proper finish and a long-lasting paint job. Different types of surfaces require different kinds of paint prep. Here’s some tips on how to prepare the many surfaces in your home for painting.

How to Mask Your Room Before Prepping & Painting

You’ll need painter’s tape and drop cloths to mask off anything in the room you want to protect. Here’s how to do it:

• Cover floors and furniture with drop cloths (a canvas drop cloth is best for paint splatters) 

• For walls, tape off any trim, door frames, and window casings that you want to protect 

• Apply the tape in foot-long pieces, flush with the wall and in overlapping sections to avoid gaps and paint bleed-through 

• Run your fingers or the flat edge of a putty knife along the tape to secure it 

• To avoid stripping away your new paint, remove the tape when the paint is tacky but not entirely dry

Drywall

Drywall, also known as sheet rock, needs a coat of primer for your paint to adhere properly. On older walls, primer helps conceal any visible remnants of drywall tape and putty that may have been used for drywall repair. Sanding drywall is also an important step to ensure a smooth, binding surface. Here’s some simple steps to follow:

1. Inspect the walls for damage and patch any holes with drywall compound 

2. Gently sand the drywall patch for a smooth finish. Remove the dust with a vacuum and dry cloth

3. Wipe the walls with a damp cloth 

Plaster

Fresh plaster takes 4-6 weeks to fully dry. Plaster walls are more susceptible to moisture and require an oil-based primer. If, plaster is 30 days cured you can use a latex primer. If your walls are quite old, you should have the plaster tested for lead, then follow the steps below: 

1. Inspect the walls for damage and remove any flaking plaster with a scraper 

2. Fill small cracks with drywall compound

3. Fill larger holes with mesh tape and apply spackling or patching compound with a putty knife 

4. Sand the walls with a fine-grit sanding block and wipe or vacuum 

5. Apply a high-quality oil-based primer

New & Old Wood

New wood still requires sanding to open the grain and remove any factory finish. Older wood may have multiple layers of paint, varnish, or shellac that can peel if you try to paint over it. Whether you’re dealing with chipped paint, old varnish or stain, be sure to wear proper safety gear. That includes eye protection, safety gloves, and a respirator mask (old paint and paint strippers can pose a hazard, so get a lead test kit to be safe). Steps: 

1. Scrape the wood with a hook scraper to remove old paint or finish 

2. Alternatively, you can use a paint stripper to remove the finish 

3. If using a chemical paint remover, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area 

4. Patch deeper imperfections with wood filler or wood putty and sand smooth 

5. Sand the wall with 100-grit sandpaper to clean and prep the surface 

6. Apply primer and let it dry

Wallpaper: Should You Remove it or Paint Over?

You can paint over wallpaper if it’s smooth, well-adhered, and free from bubbles, buckles, or long visible seams. However, vinyl-backed, fabric, and cork wallpapers can’t be painted over and should be removed. Keep in mind, that painting over wallpaper will make it difficult to remove in the future.

How to Paint Over Wallpaper

If you’ve decided your wallpaper can handle it, here’s how to paint over wallpaper:

Materials: 

• Putty knife 

• Utility knife 

• Water-resistant adhesive 

• Spackling 

• Sandpaper 

• Sponge 

• Dish soap 

• Painter's tape 

• Oil-based primer

Steps: 

1. Seal loose edges with adhesive or cut away any loose bits 

2. Fill any gouges with spackling, and sand when dry 

3. Wash the walls with TSP Plus or surface prep, being careful not to wet the seams, and allow to dry 

4. Tape trim, and moulding or anything else you want to protect 

5. Prime the walls with two coats of an oil-based primer (water-based seeps into the wallpaper) and let it dry

How to Remove Wallpaper

Wallpaper that lifts easily is likely strippable wallpaper. You can simply dislodge the edge and pull with two hands from the bottom up. If the wallpaper is older or won’t lift, you’ll need to use wallpaper remover. Here’s how:

Materials: 

• Putty knife 

• Scoring tool 

• Hot water 

• Pail 

• Wallpaper stripper 

• Broad brush or sprayer 

• Rubber gloves 

• Scouring sponge 

• Primer

Steps: 

1. Score the entire surface in overlapping circles with a scoring tool 

2. Mix hot water and wallpaper remover in a bucket according to the manufacturer's directions 

3. Working in small sections, apply the solution to the wallpaper with a broad brush or sprayer and allow it to soak in for 15 minutes 

4. Strip away the wallpaper with a scraper 

5. If the paper doesn’t strip away easily, apply more stripping solution and wait 

6. Scrub with a scouring sponge dipped in stripping solution to remove stubborn spots

Brick & Masonry

Painting brick and masonry is an affordable way to update both the interior and exterior of your home. New brick must be cured for at least 60 days, though some experts recommend waiting at least a year before you paint. Some masonry repair may be required for older walls.

Materials: 

• Power washer for exterior walls 

• Pail 

• Warm water 

• TSP Plus or Surface Prep

• Stiff-bristled brush 

• Masonry sealer 

• Exterior or interior primer 

• Scraper 

• Chisel 

• Paintable masonry patching compound 

• Sanding block

Paint Prep for New Brick & Masonry

If your brick and masonry is fully cured, proceed with the following steps: 

1.  Power wash exterior walls to remove debris 

2. Wash interior walls with TSP Plus or Surface Prep and a stiff-bristled brush 

3. Apply masonry sealer to the wall and let it dry 

4. Apply indoor or exterior primer and allow to dry

When inspiration hits, it’s hard not to dive in and get right to painting. However, it’s worth the time and effort to prepare your walls properly so you can enjoy the finish for years to come.