How to Prepare a Room for Painting

It's all in the preparation. Take the time (probably more time than the actual painting will take) and you'll get the best result possible.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Caulking Guns
• blue "safety" masking tape
• Putty
• Plastic Bags
• Plastic bags
• Spackle
• Paint Scrapers
• Trisodium Phosphate
• Ladders
• Ladders
• Caulks
• Drop Cloths
• Drop Cloths
• Putty Knives
• Sandpaper
• Sandpaper
• Screwdriver Sets
• Epoxy

1. Remove what furniture you can; move what's left into the center of the room and cover with drop cloths. Use removable (usually blue) 'safety' masking tape around moldings, doors and windows, and drop cloths to protect floors and furnishings.

2. Cover the smoke detector with a plastic bag and turn off air conditioning or heating while sanding or painting.

3. Sand or scrape loose and flaky paint with sandpaper and paint scrapers - down to bare surfaces if necessary.

4. Using a putty knife, fill all nail and screw holes with spackling compound; fill cracks with caulk.

5. For more serious repairs, use drywall-taping techniques (see "eHow to Patch a Hole in Drywall'). On woodwork, use epoxy filler (like that used on car bodies). Whatever you use, sand it down until it matches the area around it.

6. Wash all surfaces with TSP (trisodium phosphate) to remove grease and dirt. Use paint deglosser on glossy surfaces such as trim.

7. Rinse everything well with water to remove the TSP. Allow surfaces to dry thoroughly, and then dust and vacuum as needed.

8. Turn off the power to the room, then remove the cover plates from all electrical fixtures, outlets and switches. Place small bits of masking tape over switch handles and outlets to protect them from paint. It's safest to leave the power off as you paint the room - if you decide to turn the power back on, work carefully around electrical areas.

9. Loosen or remove cover plates from light fixtures; cover what remains with plastic bags. Remember not to turn on the lights - melting plastic really stinks. Paint during the day to get maximum lighting in the room, or use an extension cord to bring in a light source from another room.

10. Remove heating and air-conditioning vent covers.

Tips & Warnings

• Tools you'll need include: putty knives, paint scrapers, sanding blocks and electric sanders, and even screwdrivers or dull knives. You may also need heat guns, paint-stripping chemicals and various kinds of discs that attach to electric drills. (Be careful - these can put deep gouges into wood.)
• Determine whether your home was built before 1980. If it was, it may contain lead paint, which is especially toxic to children and pregnant women. If you're going to sand, scrape or otherwise expose this paint, contact the National Safety Council's Lead Information Center at (800) LEADFYI for information on how to do so safely.

on 8/15/2006 Put a piece of painter's tape over the edge of the paint can before pouring. After you are done painting, remove the tape from the can and you won't have to deal with excess paint getting on the can cover.

on 6/30/2006 When painting around trim, make first stroke about 1-2mm away from the trim, then go over this area again. By starting away from trim you won't get the mess on the trim, and by going over a second time you will push the paint that is there closer. This way you don't have to tape.

on 11/22/2005 If you plan to paint the trim in a room (or even if you don't), remove the trim before painting. It's easy to remove and easy to put back on. This makes painting the walls and the trim easier, and you won't have messy (and unsophisticated) paint on the trim. If you are re-painting trim and can afford it, look into entirely new trim. Often, you can find cheap wood trim that will improve the look of the room for less than $50.

on 11/22/2005 Don't start a big project like stripping the wallpaper and painting the trim and walls in the dining room 3 weeks before Christmas, especially if it's your turn to host the family holiday dinner. You will regret it, trust me.

on 11/22/2005 Put a dollop of glue (or even paint) on a large heavy duty paper plate and set your paint can on it. The plate will catch any drips that manage to escape.