Tips on how to paint interior walls

When you paint interior walls the final finish is dependent, as much upon surface preparation, as it is on applying the paint to the walls. Therefore, when you go to paint interior walls the first steps in achieving a high quality result is to prepare all surfaces to be painted, and this is what this article looks at.

Paint interior walls – Materials you will need

• Painter’s tape for masking trim areas
• Tape measure to measure the height, width of walls and ceilings
• Filler – a preparation filler for the walls and a flexible filler for the timber trim
• Filling knife or steel bladed spatula
• Sanding pads and paper
• Paint scraper to removing flaking or peeling paint
• Damp rag for wiping of paint splatter
• Sugar soap or detergent to wash down walls
• Microfibre cloth for the final wipe down

If you complete the necessary preparation steps below, when you start to paint interior walls you will find painting an enjoyable experience with minimal cleanup at the end of the job, and, with the right painting techniques, achieve a beautiful finish that you can be proud of.  A newly painted room can completely transform it with the right colour and finish.

Paint interior walls  - fill holes in walls 

• Fill holes in the wall using the appropriate interior filler for the wall surface, before your start to paint interior walls..   Your local paint supplier will advise you which one to use.
• Slightly overfill any cracks, wait for the filler to dry thoroughly and then sand back flush with the wall surface.   Use a 120grit to 180 grit sand paper to do this.
• If paint is peeling on some parts of a wall, use a flat steel scraper to remove the flaking paint, and then sand back so that the edges of the flaking area run smoothly into the original paint work.  You do not want to feel a bump!
• Prime the flaked surface after sanding.

Paint interior walls  -  Fill Holes in window and door trims

• If there are splits or holes in the timber trims around the windows and doors, before you can paint interior walls you need to use a flexible timber filler that will move with movement in the timber.
• Fill the repaired area so that it is slightly proud of the surrounding area i.e. slightly overfill the hole.
• Sand the trim back so it is flush with the original surface.
• Mask trim areas with painter’s tape.  Use painter’s tape rather than a standard masking tape, as painter’s tape removes more easily and is less likely to lift your newly painted surface.
• You will need to remove the painter’s tape just before the paint is dry.  It should still feel a little damp to touch.

Paint interior walls – check for mold

• Check for mold growth before you paint your interior walls.   Mold seems to be more prevalent in ‘wet’ areas that are constantly damp such as the bathroom.
• If there is mold in the ceiling, investigate the possibility of a leaking roof!  (been there, done that).
• The best way to kill mold is to use a household bleach solution mixed 3 : 1.  (3 parts water to one part bleach) Put in a spray bottle and gently spray on.  I have used this and it works well.
• For safety reasons make sure you wear safety glasses and rubber gloves to protect your eyes and skin when using bleach.    Leave the solution on for 15 minutes then rinse off with clean water.

Paint interior walls  - Clean all surfaces

• Clean all surfaces thoroughly to remove a build-up of dust and grime before you paint interior walls.  Sugar soap or detergent in a bucket of water will clean walls ceilings, and window and door trims effectively
• Wash from the bottom of the wall up towards the ceiling, as this will reduce streaking if water drips down to the lower surface
• All cob webs and even grime on the skirting boards and window sills need to be thoroughly cleaned.
• Make sure the wall is completely dry before you start painting.

Are we there yet?   Almost . . .

Paint interior walls – loosen  light and power points and other wall fixtures

• Turn off the power at the switchboard before loosening light and power point fittings
• To avoid paint marks around the edge of fittings and power points use painters tape to protect these from interior wall paint.
• Use small plastic bags to cover door handles and electrical fittings.  Tape around the edges to hold the bag in place.  Make sure the power is turned off before placing these bags over power points and lights fittings.

Paint interior walls – summary

Whilst the preparation needed to paint interior walls seems to be a lot of work, the end result will pay dividends.

To calculate the amount of paint required check out our article on:

Paint interior walls – estimates paint needs

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