House Interior Painting Mistakes Almost Everyone

Whether you are a first-time painter or a veteran interior remodeler, it is important to be aware of some of the top interior painting mistakes that many people make before getting started on your home’s paint job. There are more intricacies to be aware of than most people anticipate when painting a home’s interior, so it can often be useful to seek the insight and assistance of an experienced professional painter, like the ones at Colourdrive Painting.

Common Interior Painting Mistakes

Many mistakes that people make when painting a home’s interior can be avoided with the proper knowledge, planning, and preparation. Some of the most common mistakes to be aware of include:

Purchasing the Wrong Paint

One of the easiest mistakes to make is to purchase an improper paint for the surface being painted. Different rooms will require different types of paint in order to adhere and last as long as possible. The paint used in a kitchen or bathroom will need to be more moisture and mildew resistant than that used in a bedroom and trim paint will usually be more durable and have a higher sheen than wall paint. It is also important to consider that paint used in high-traffic areas or in homes with children or dogs will need to be more easily washable. If you are looking for a matte or flat look that is easily washable, you will need to go with a higher end product, so talk to a professional painter if you have kids or dogs in the home and want to get a specific look for your space.

Poor Room Setup

Painting is messy; no matter how good you are at painting, the paint is going to splatter and drip. Many people think that they can keep tidier than is practical when painting. Put the extra work into setting up the room for the paint job. Move furniture, cover everything in drop clothes, and make sure to tape off all baseboards, trim, and corners properly.

Not preparing the surface for paint

The success and durability of your paint job will mostly depend on the preparation of your surface. Most of the understanding of why a primer is used, yet preparing the actual surface is one of the most commonly skipped steps made by amateur painters. While many feel a new lick of paint can cover those dirty walls, it’s by failing to remove the dirt that leaves you with a bad paint job. Preexisting dirt, oil, scratches, cracks, bubbles holes or any other wall surface imperfections can lead to faults like uneven paint spots and paints that chips and peels off easily. For the best results, make sure your first step is scrubbing down those walls!

Tips for preparing the surface:

• Clean the interior surface with mild soapy water
• Let the surface dry before you start sanding and filling the holes with a surface filling solution.
• Prime the surface with one coat of primer paint and allow it to dry thoroughly. Once it’s dry, your interior wall surface is all smooth, ready to be painted.

Insufficient Surface Preparation

One of the biggest steps that people tend to skip is the preparation of the surfaces being prepped. If the surface is not sufficiently prepared, it can result in paint that does not adhere properly, peels easily, or has too much texture. The first step in any surface prep work is to give the area a comprehensive cleaning. Dirt can often be wiped off, but any area that might have accumulated grease, soap scum, and hair products will need to be cleaned using a chemical degreaser, especially if the previous paint was oil-based. Kitchens and bathrooms tend to require special attention, but many other areas can accumulate this type of grime as well. Once the surface is adequately cleaned, it should be scuff sanded to ensure proper adhesion of the paint. In many cases, damage is not properly repaired before painting. Gaps in trim should be caulked, holes in walls should be filled, and all repairs should be given time to dry before painting.

Primer is not always necessary, but many people avoid priming and end up needing to apply extra coats of paint. The need for primer will depend on what kind of paint is being used and the colour and type of paint currently on the wall. With the right high-quality paint, it is possible to cover an oil-based paint with an acrylic without a primer, so talking to a professional painter could save you money on the amount of paint needed. Any time that bare drywall or drywall fixes are being painted, those spots should be primed to prevent the paint from flashing.

Picking the Wrong Paint Sheen

Now that we’ve covered preparation, it’s on to the paint itself. By using the wrong sheen for your interior wall, you can end up creating a completely unintended look and feel. When it comes to finishes, there are many to consider including; gloss, semi-gloss, flat and matte, to name a few. The sheen in colours determines the glossiness of the applied interior paint once it’s dry.

While the level of sheen comes down to your personal preference, some finishes work better than others in specific scenarios. For instance, ceiling surfaces are not always as smooth or perfectly finished like the interior walls, which makes ceiling painting a bit more challenging. Using a flat or matte paint on these surfaces can make these imperfections less visible.

The glossier sheen, on the other hand, reflects light and highlight surface imperfections prominently. So for wall surfaces, it’s better to use a satin or semi-gloss paint to make a fair balance. It will also protect the surface from moisture penetration that can lead to mould and mildew growth.

Not testing the paint colour beforehand

When choosing the right paint, it may be tempting to buy a tin and call it a day. However, the reason test pots and paint samples were invented, is to make sure you get the right match for your surface! The paint in the tin will rarely look the same once it’s on your walls, so take advantage of what’s available to you and get testing!

Here are some tips on how to properly test paint against your surface-

• Paint the samples directly on the wall to see how the paint saturates the surface
• Consider testing on multiple walls as the same shade of paint may look different on different walls and lighting
• For some saturated or super bright paint colours, consider testing it by applying primer before two coats of the paint.

Using the Incorrect Roller Sleeve

Some paints work better with different types of roller sleeves. The wrong sleeve can give your paint a different texture than you might have been hoping for, so check with your paint supplier before getting a roller sleeve.

Painting in unsuitable conditions

While you won’t need to look out for rain when painting your interior, it doesn’t mean there aren’t conditions you should avoid. These include; poor ventilation, excessive humidity, freezing temperature or even chemical contamination from the products used to prepare the surface. In these conditions, the paint gets exposed to a considerable amount of moisture or chemicals, making it difficult for the paint to adhere and dry evenly, leading to eventual cracking and flaking.

So for the best painting result, choose the winter season as, during winter, the moisture in the air is limited, which helps the paint to create a better bond with the interior surface.

Choosing the low-quality paint

Now that you’ve picked your finish, it’s time to examine how to choose the correct type of paint for the job. After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than putting in the preparation only to find that some lacklustre paint formula, ruins the end result.

Here are some of the tips for choosing the right paint-

• Look for what primers and undercoats are needed for the best results.
• Check the sheen. Higher sheen paints tend to be more vibrant and long-lasting; however, you’ll need to find a balance as to the shine on your surface.
• When you buy paint, go with reputable painting brands. Quality painting brands offer painting characteristics, such as warranted longevity and washability.
• Last but not least, consult with a professional painting expert regarding your quality paint options and selection.

Not Waiting Long Enough Between Coats

Paint can often feel dry to the touch minutes after application; however, if you apply the next coat too soon, it can reactivate the paint and you will end up just moving paint around. Read the label of your paint to find out how long you should wait to paint the next layer. A light scuff sand between coats can also help with adhesion.

Overbrushing

Brushing over the same area even after the paint has started to dry is a technical mistake, mostly caused by inexperienced hands. Aimless brushing or applying too much paint to a brush causes visible ridges and marks on our surface. For a rich and smooth finish, it’s important to gradually build up your paint evenly and with consistent brush strokes.

Missing surface spots and uneven lines

When painting your interior surface areas around the corners and edges, missing a spot or not apply enough paint will cause heavy shadows to cast on your paint job. The chance of this mistake is higher if the surface is trimmed. If you do see a gap, you’ll need to let the entire surface dry before you go back in to retouch.

Once the previously painted areas are dry, blend the edges and corners with fresh coats of paint carefully without disrupting the previous paint, with the help of painters’ tape that we discussed earlier. Take the tape off gently as soon as the retouching is done, using something sharp to score along the edge of the tape while you peel it back.

If you would like to learn more about some common interior painting mistakes to avoid, or to learn more about our services and how we operate, please contact the team at ColourDrive Painting, connect over call on +91-9014182316 so that we can help you to find the information you need.