06 Apr What Are Some Ways To Prepare My Home For Interior Painting In Kirkland?

How Do I Prepare My Kirkland Home For
Interior Painting? We Have Some Tips!

5 Tips To Prepare Your Home
For Interior Painting

Do you want to beautify your home, protect your walls, and improve indoor air quality? Interior painting in Kirkland provides all these benefits and more. But the process isn’t as simple as you might think.

Interior painting is one of the most beneficial ways to improve your home. The most obvious benefit is increasing your property value by making your house more attractive. But there are more functional advantages. It also protects your walls from moisture and repels dust and dirt.

Some homeowners think they can choose their paint color, throw a towel on the ground, and start painting. However, there are several steps you need to take before the paint can touch your walls.

Amsberry’s Painting is an interior painting expert in King County, WA. We’ve put together a brief guide to help you prepare for your next interior paint job.

Remove Hardware And Protect Surfaces
Before Interior Painting

The first step in preparing your home for interior painting is removing hardware and covering objects to avoid splatter. While you won’t damage all of these items with paint, protecting them ensures a better result.

Some of pieces of hardware you should remove before painting include:

• Door strikes
• Electrical cover plates
• Light fixtures. 

Make sure to keep the parts with their screws and fasteners, labeling each one. This will ease the reassembly process.

While storing your hardware, protect your floors by applying painter’s tape at the bottom of the baseboards. It’s also a good idea to cover furniture with plastic covers or move them into different rooms. This prevents accidental paint splatter from ruining your chairs, sofas, and beds.

Sand And Clean The Painting Surfaces
Of Your Kirkland Home

Preparing the painting surface is an essential part of a quality paint job. Sanding the walls and trim with sandpaper helps the paint adhere to them. It removes gloss, rough spots, or peeling paint from the painting surface.

However, you should test any paint more than 40 years old for lead before sanding. Older paints can release harmful dust. Speaking of dust, this is a good time to remove particles from the walls because it can hinder the paint from adhering to the surface. Use a HEPA vacuum and a damp rag to ensure you don’t leave any spare particles.

The final step to ensure your walls are dust-free and ready for painting is to clean them. Using a mild detergent solution and rinsing it with water removes grease, dirt, and grime that create a barrier between the paint and the wall.

Mask Windows In Preparation For Interior Painting

Most homeowners won’t remove windows before painting their interior. It’s essential to mask them to avoid paint splatter and ensure a professional finish.

Applying masking tape to your windows is the traditional form of protection. This technique is still effective, but you need to cover every inch of your windows. Since they’re up against the wall and trim, it’s easy to get paint on them.

Covering your windows with glass masking liquid is quicker and more effective. Applying two coats with a two-inch flat brush before painting your walls and trim will protect your windows from spills and splatter.

Caulk Seams For Your Home Interior Painting

Check the seams on the side of your trim while preparing it for painting. The wood expands and shrinks in extreme temperatures, causing it to crack. Filling in the spaces before painting will provide a more even finish.

Cut the caulk tube close to the tip for a small bead and squeeze the trigger just enough that the caulking gun produces a continuous flow of sealant. Then, wrap a damp rag around your finger and use it to smooth out the bead. This will provide a better surface for painting.

The method for caulking and letting it set depends on the type of caulk you’re using. Make sure to follow the instructions on the tube throughout the process for the best result.

Repair Defects Around Your King County, WA House

Preparation for interior painting is a good time to make some repairs around your home. Cracks, holes, and other concerns in your trim, walls, and ceiling can impact the quality of your painting. However, even if you’re not painting these areas, you can check them and make repairs to avoid future issues.

If you notice any defects during your inspection, repair them with a patching compound or filler. Sand the area after it dries and ensure it matches the surrounding material.

If you want the best interior painting for your house, call the experts at Amsberry’s Painting. We’ll take care of the preparation tasks and provide a professional painting of your home. We have decades of experience painting King County residences and are ready to help you.

Do you want the best exterior painting or interior painting services for your Kirkland home? Call Amsberry’s Painting at 425-494-4421 for more information, or visit our website for a free estimate.