Painting a room is an excellent, low-risk way to transform a space. Changing the wall color can completely change the look of the entire room without requiring any major construction. Interior painting is still a big project, though, so you should know what to expect when your Westminster CO interior painter arrives.

When it comes to residential painting, preparation is just as important as the painting process itself. By thoroughly and carefully preparing the space, your painting contractor will ensure that the painting happens as quickly and conveniently as possible and that the finished project is flawless.

Here are six steps your professional painter will take to prepare the room:

1. Move Furniture

The very first thing your painters will do is clear the area by moving the furniture. This makes all of the wall space available for painting, and it gives the painters plenty of room to move around. It also protects the furniture from getting paint splatters.

If the room is large enough, they’ll simply move the items to the center of the room. If there isn’t enough space, though, they may have to move the furniture into another room. Before your painters arrive, make sure you have a clear path and an open space somewhere in your home for the furniture to stay.

2. Protect Floor, Furniture, and Light Fixtures

Even the most experienced professionals will sometimes drip paint as they work. To protect the room from drips and splatters, your contractors will completely cover the floor with plastic or canvas drop cloths. They’ll cover any furnishings left in the room as well.

Not only will the painters protect the floor area, but they’ll also be sure to cover lights, fans, or other permanent fixtures on your walls or ceiling. The goal is to leave not a speck of paint anywhere except for the walls, so they’ll use high-quality materials to protect your home. Scraping paint up is tedious and often leads to noticeable scratches or gouges, but professional painters prevent this issue with their prep work.

3. Fill Holes and Cracks

Your walls most likely have some holes from nails, and they may have cracks, chips, or other imperfections. Now is a great time to fix these small abnormalities so that the final results look immaculate.

Sometimes, cracks or small holes become more noticeable after painting them. Your painters will be sure to inspect the walls and carefully fix the flaws. Your contractors will fill in cracks, chips, and holes before they start painting by applying spackle and sanding the area.

4. Clean Walls

It may not be noticeable to the eye, but your walls can accumulate a considerable amount of dust. As your interior painters move furniture around, even more dust may get loosened up and settle on the walls. If you paint the walls while they’re dusty, the dirt will show through. Dust can prevent the paint from properly adhering to the wall, too, so the results may look uneven.

To prevent this, your contractors will clean the walls before they paint. They may wash with soap and water, or they may use a dry dusting cloth. The cleaning process can vary depending on the amount of dirt and which room is being painted. Here are the areas that may need the most attention:

  • Kitchen
  • Bathroom
  • Laundry room
  • Doors and door frames
  • Areas surrounding light switches or other fixtures

Some painters prefer to treat the walls with sandpaper before painting. This removes dirt and debris, and it helps the paint adhere to the surface. Sanding is especially helpful if you’re covering up high-gloss paint.

5. Apply Tape

Tape keeps paint off the ceiling, baseboards, door frames, and any other fixtures you want to be left alone. This can be a time-intensive task, but it’s instrumental in achieving perfect results. By taping, your room will have clean and straight lines of tape.

6. Prime Dark or Patterned Walls

Once all of these tasks are complete, it’s time for the painting to begin. Before applying the final color, though, your contractors will prime walls that have dark paint or patterns. Primer provides an initial coating to lighten up these colors and make the final coat more vibrant.

Professional painters almost always recommend priming before painting. They may skip primer if they’re covering a lighter color with a darker color or painting white over white. In most cases, starting with a coat of primer makes the final results significantly better.

After the primer dries, it’s finally time to apply your chosen wall color. You can now see your vision for the room come to life. Interior painters typically start at the edges of the walls and work their way in. When the room has been fully painted, the contractors will remove the protective materials like the tape and drop cloths so that you can see the full effect the new color has on the room.

When your painters arrive, you may feel eager to get right to the painting process so that you can see how the new color looks. However, you should expect your painting contractor to take some time to clean and prepare the space. Rushing into the project without properly setting up can cause the paint job to look sloppy. For the best possible results, preparation is key. American Painting Specialists has been serving homeowners in the Westminster CO area for more than 10 years. Their experienced, friendly professionals take pride in their work and their ability to get the project done on time. To consult with an expert painting team you can trust, call American Painting Specialists today.