How to Prep And Paint Walls

There's more to painting your walls than you think.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Broad Knife
• Spackle Compound
• Painters Tape
• Primer
• Paint

1. 
   New Construction Drywall

   First if your painting over new drywall the wall needs to be finished, skim coated and sanded. Then always on new drywall you must use a primer or your paint job will come out unsatisfactory. If your just repainting your existing walls. Take the time to straighten them out and go over every square inch.

2. 
   Hole in Drywall

   First go around and scrape any peeling paint or old paint drips. Then if you have any large holes in your walls. You're gonna want to patch the holes with drywall, finish and sand. If you just have normal nail holes from picture hanging or divots from wear and tear. Use a lightweight Spackle compound to fill those holes. A putty knife works great to apply Spackle.

3. 
   Cutting in the Paint

   Let the Spackle compound dry for about an hour. Then lightly sand. Sand the whole wall if there is a lot of bumps or if it isn't smooth to the touch Caulk all baseboards and door trims with a painters caulk. Then go around and cut your ceiling, corners and baseboards in. Use a painters tape to tape baseboards if necessary.

4. 
   Rolling Out Walls

   Next roll out your walls. Make sure your roller has plenty of paint on it. Start at the top of each wall and roll in long strokes from top to bottom. Re soaking your roller cover often. Don't remove your roller in the middle of the wall roll all the way down and then remove from wall.

5. Continue this process throughout the house and you should come out with a good finished product.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep brushes clean
• make sure your roller stays wet
• Watch where you step not to step in the paint tray.

[sonni57]

on 5/26/2009 I have had to paint a few walls in my day thanks for the good suggestions.