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The Power of Proper Interior Painting Prep: Enhancing the Beauty and Value of Your Home

June 12th, 2023

2 min read

By Kaylea Kuhlman

Woodwork taped off in a home

Prep work may seem like a no-brainer when it comes to interior painting, but many homeowners do not know exactly what it takes to get the best finish. Believe it or not, some painting contractors don’t do some of the steps to prepare surfaces for painting. 

Brush & Roll Painting has been a trusted residential interior painter in Omaha, NE since 1996. We take pride in our thorough prep work process and the high-quality materials we use for all of our services.

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In this article, we will talk about why it is important to do prep work before painting and the steps. By reading this, you can confidently know what prep work process you are looking for while hiring your next interior painting contractor.

Why it is important

Prep work is done to provide you with the best results possible. It allows you to have seamless and smooth areas. Without it, sometimes paint could chip or peel easily. 

Once the paint begins to chip or peel, it seems to multiply by the day. Touch-ups can be done, but if the paint wasn’t prepped properly from the start, it would be easier to do the repairs and repaint its entirety. 

So it’s safe to say that doing the prep work the first time, in addition to high-quality paint, will save you time and money in the long run. 

The amount of prep work for interior painting mostly depends on how many areas need to be repaired. 

Step 1. Remove decor & move furniture

Before a team arrives, remove anything from the walls. This includes TVs that are mounted and any decor. Be sure to mark any nails you wish to keep, so the crew knows to leave them. 

When a painting crew arrives, be sure they do a thorough walk-through with you. This is so everyone is on the same page of the project and you will know what to expect. Then the team is ready to start on a detailed prep work process!

If the furniture hasn’t been moved already, the team should move your furniture to the middle of the room and cover it with plastic. This is to be sure that your furniture is protected. 

Step 2. Protect the space

Next, out of caution, the space needs extra protection. The team should lay down tarps or paper to protect your floors. They can also take this time to remove outlets and light covers. 

Masking is crucial for areas that don’t need to be painted. Many painters rely on a steady hand, but even the best painter can’t cut a perfect line every time. 

Taking the time to properly mask walls and ceilings will make all the difference while respecting your space. If it is not done well because it was not properly sealed, the paint will bleed through the seam onto baseboards or trim. 

The time it takes to correctly mask the space will be worth it for crisp, straight lines.

Step 3. Repairs

Next, they should spackle holes, start drywall repairs, and fill gaps with caulk, as spelled out in your customer agreement.

During this time, necessary areas should be sanded. The purpose of sanding is to create the best adhesion from the original surface to the first layer of paint. It also gets rid of imperfections that were in the paint from the previous paint job.

Trust the prep work

In the grand scheme of things, prep work for interior painting isn’t too much of a chore. But it is clear when surfaces are not properly prepped before the paint was applied.

To avoid this, hire a professional contractor like Brush & Roll Painting. We stand by our prep work process. We value our customer's business and strive to give them the best experience. 

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Next, learn about the difference between low-quality and high-quality paint. This is the other factor that can make or break a painting job.

Click here to learn about the significance of prep work before painting any surface in your home. 

Kaylea Kuhlman

Kaylea is the Brush & Roll Painting Content Manager. Kaylea is a Journalism and Media Communications summa cum laude graduate with a minor in Marketing from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Kaylea manages the marketing for Brush & Roll Painting.