Simple Prep Work for Painting

Nothing has a bigger impact on your living space than interior painting. A fresh coat of paint can add appeal your home, making a tired interior seem new again. Painting is often a crucial part of getting your house ready to sell, especially in a tough housing market. You might think that choosing the perfect color is the main concern before having your interior painted, but having the proper prep work done before painting is just as important. Your paint job will look its best and last longer when your walls are prepared properly.

If your walls are already painted, it’s important to determine whether the existing paint is latex or oil-based. Testing the paint with denatured alcohol on a rag is a quick way to determine what type of paint is on your walls. If rubbing with the alcohol softens or removes the paint, it is an acrylic or latex paint. You can apply an oil-based or latex paint over this without priming. If the paint is unaffected by the alcohol, it is oil based and cannot be recoated with latex paint without using a primer.

Nail holes and minor cracks in your wall can be filled with lightweight spackle and lightly sanded. This is also a great time to check the caulking around windows, moldings and baseboards. Make sure the any new caulk that is applied is paintable. If you are painting a light color over a bold, dark color, it’s helpful to prime the walls. If you encounter peeling, stains, mold or mildew or major cracks on your walls, more extensive prep work will need to be done before painting. Skimping on the preparation can result in problems down the road, and the need to repaint a second time. It’s also important in homes built before 1978 to use proper precautions when scraping or sanding existing paint, which may be lead-based.