Many people think painting is just about the roller and the paint. The opposite is true – wall preparation determines how the result will look in a year, in five years. Here is the process I follow on every single job.

1. Clear and Protect

Before you reach for a brush, move the furniture out of the room or push it to the centre and cover it with dust sheets. Protect the floor with a painter’s drop cloth or newspaper – paint and filler are treacherous; once dry, they are very hard to remove.

Cover electrical sockets, light switches and window frames with masking tape. Don’t rely on being careful – good tape will save you.

2. Clean the Surface

The wall must be clean, dry and dust-free. Check for damp – dark stains or mould must be treated with a specialist product before painting, otherwise the new paint will only cover the problem without solving it.

Greasy areas (e.g. above the kitchen hob) should be degreased with water and a cleaning agent and left to dry thoroughly.

3. Repair Cracks and Imperfections

Apply filler with a filling knife into all cracks and holes left by wall plugs. For larger cracks, use reinforcing tape before the filler – otherwise the cracks will come back.

Let the filler dry thoroughly (a minimum of 24 hours), then sand smooth with fine-grit paper (120–150 grit). Go over the whole surface too, so the new coat bonds better.

4. Apply Primer

Primer improves the adhesion of the paint and evens out the absorbency of the surface. Without it, the paint will absorb unevenly and you’ll need more coats.

Primer is especially important for:

  • New plasterboard
  • Heavily porous or old surfaces
  • Areas repaired with filler

5. Paint from the Edges to the Centre

First coat the corners, edges near the ceiling and floor, and frames (with a brush or small roller). Then fill in the main surface with a larger roller. This prevents unsightly joins.

A second coat is generally necessary – apply it only after the first coat has dried completely (a minimum of 4–6 hours, overnight is better).

Don’t want to deal with it yourself? Leave the painting to me – I’ll come, prepare and do a clean, professional job. Message or call me.