how to paint a wall at home

How to Paint a Wall At Home – Discover Useful Tips

Are you searching for the best tips on how to paint a wall at home? Good surface preparation is already half the job, especially when it comes to painting. But what are the ideal painting conditions, and how can you achieve a perfect result? Find out in this article!

How to Paint a Wall At Home

Step 1: Cleaning and Stripping

Before you start painting, it is essential to clean your walls and ceilings thoroughly. If you do not do this, the paint may not adhere well, will flake off quickly, or stains may appear. Each surface requires specific cleaning:

Newer ceilings and plasterboard: remove dust with a soft brush and a damp cloth.

Brick, cement, or concrete walls: remove any mold, flaking, or crumbling parts with a hard brush, and dust them off.

Porous old paint layers: remove dust with a soft brush.

Heavily soiled walls: clean them with a good paint remover, or a mixture of water and ammonia (one part ammonia to nine parts water), and then let them dry thoroughly.

Want to know if your old paint is porous or not? Then wipe the paint with a damp cloth. Does the paint absorb moisture and darken? Then it is porous.

Step 2: How to Paint a Wall At Home – Repair, Level, and Protect

To obtain a perfect result, it is always best to start from a dry, uniform, and fixed surface where all imperfections and defects have been removed beforehand. Let your newly cleaned walls or ceilings dry completely, and treat any moisture problems thoroughly first.

In principle, sanding is not necessary. For newer ceilings or walls that have already been painted, a wide plastering knife is sufficient to remove small irregularities. However, sanding is useful in the case of filled cracks or holes, patching, wooden ceilings or walls, and old glossy paint coats. Fill small holes and larger cracks with plaster.

Take the time to protect all the parts you do not intend to paint. There are many different types of masking tape on the market, so you can always find the right tape for your painting job. To protect large surfaces (furniture, doors), you can also use strong protective film.

Does a thin layer of powder get on your hand when you sand the wall? That’s because it is powdery. It is better to use a fixative first, so that the paint can adhere well.

Step 3: Preparing the Paint and Materials

Make sure you have everything you need to paint on hand.

Before opening the jar, remove any dust and dirt that may have settled on the lid to prevent it from falling into the paint.

Mix the paint well to obtain a uniform color. To do this, use a mixing stick or a special accessory to attach to the drill.

Moreover, keep in mind thinned paint is less covering, and therefore less durable. A third coat will often be necessary to obtain a nice final result.

Are you using a new brush? Pass it a few times over sandpaper, and roll it between your hands to remove any loose hairs. Using a new roller? Start by wetting it well, and roll it on a piece of cardboard, to wring it out.

Step 4: Applying a Primer

In many cases, the application of a primer is necessary. This primer guarantees an even and long-lasting end result. Its advantages? It ensures a better adhesion of the top coat, and reduces the possible absorption of the surface.

It also prevents dirt, for example, nicotine traces, from showing through the top coat. and reduces the amount of paint you will use. There are all kinds of primers available. Choosing the right primer for the specific surface you wish to paint is essential.

If the surface is already painted, and the paint is still in good condition, you can skip this step.

Step 5: How to Paint a Wall At Home – Apply Paint to Walls and Ceiling

The painting phase consists of two parts: the application of the primer, then the top coats.

Painting a ceiling:

Start by painting the corners and edges with a brush.

Then, dip the roller into the paint and roll it over the grid to distribute the paint evenly.

Further, start work next to the window and work along the length of the ceiling. Work in areas of ± 1 m², and roll over the joint with the already painted area for about one roller width. Apply the paint to the ceiling, crossing the roller paths.

First paint in a crosswise direction.

Finish with longitudinal passes in the direction of the window.

Repeat steps 2 to 5 until you have painted a complete strip across the width of the ceiling, then move on to the next strip.

Painting a wall:

Start by painting the corners and edges with a brush.

Dip the roller in the paint and roll it on the grid to distribute the paint evenly. Don’t be too sparing with the paint, but don’t let it drip from the roller.

Work in areas of ± 1 m². Start by painting a few vertical strips on the wall.

Then roll the roller horizontally to distribute the paint evenly.

Finish by running the roller vertically.

Repeat steps 2 to 5 on the next area, overlapping a little on the already painted surfaces so that the joint is invisible.

Always apply two finishing coats. Paint with a brush in the corners and edges, and with a roller on large surfaces. Allow the paint to dry sufficiently (check the drying time on the packaging), before applying the second coat.

Conclusion – How to Paint a Wall At Home

If possible, be sure to apply each coat in one go. If you still have to interrupt the work, finish the area by going to a corner. The joint will be less visible when you resume work.

It is not necessary to clean the material between coats. Remove as much paint as possible from the roller and brush, put them in a plastic bag, and seal it tightly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scroll to Top