With the hourly rates of painters ranging from $18 to $40, you may want to do some of the wall prep work on your own if you're looking to save some money. Adding a fresh coat of paint infuses new energy into any room, so make sure you get the preparation right for an excellent finish.
Use Dishwashing Liquid And Water To Clean Your Walls
Your walls should be properly cleaned to help the paint hold well on the wall surface, while preventing underlying marks from showing through the new coats. To properly clean your walls, you will need to mix dishwashing liquid and water. You simply need to mix a few drops of dishwashing liquid to a bucket of water until foam is created. Place a sponge in this foamy mixture and use it to clean the walls thoroughly. After you finish cleaning, use a separate rag to dry the wall surface.
Use A Scraper To Remove Wall Protrusions And Fill Small Holes With Gap Filler
Once your walls are dry, lay a drop sheet on the floor below your wall and use a scraper to remove any wall protrusions from the surface. This action ensures that the wall surface is evened out. At this point, you may notice some small holes and imperfections in your walls that need filling with gap filler. Gap filler is a powder that needs to be mixed with water to form a paste (as shown in their instructions provided) and is available at most home improvement stores. Once the gap filler paste is ready, apply it to each hole and crack using the same paint scraper. Once you apply the gap filler, wipe off any excess with a cloth. You can then use the scraper to even out the gap filler from the surface. Wait for the gap filler to dry before you move on to the sanding step.
Use Medium-Grit Sandpaper To Sand The Wall Surface
Once the gap filler has dried on the wall surface, use medium-grit sandpaper to gently smooth out the surface. Avoid using coarse sandpaper because this will cause a rough wall surface, which you will naturally want to avoid. Coarse sandpaper may also cause unnecessary gouges, which can ruin your wall surface. This action will make the wall surface smooth and will allow your painters to get started with the paintjob immediately once they arrive.
Prepping your walls in advance will allow your painter to get started with the painting task instantly and will save you some labour costs.
For more information, contact professionals like Allure Painting Services.
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