Navigating Large-Scale Painting Projects: What You Need to Know
Painting can be a powerful and fulfilling experience. Unlike any other home improvement, large-scale painting (whether interior or exterior) can transform the whole ambiance and mood of your home in just a shorter period. The same goes for commercial painting works. Any tenant will be excited to move into a freshly painted space. A fresh coat of paint with your favorite color makes a space feel like yours.
Fig. 1. Freshly painted interior walls by Modern Handymen
Although this doesn't mean that painting is just an easy job, fresh paint impacts your property's value and marketability just like that. How cool is that? High-quality painting works can last more than a decade before needing to be refreshed. This idea means an easy investment for you with a lasting impact. All you have to find is the right craftsmen for this job. Modern Handymen is a highly skilled professional team offering top-notch painting services in Brentwood and Nashville, TN. You don't have to do that messy job on your own, but take note of these painting tips that will keep you on the right path to a happier and prettier place with fresh paints:
9 Painting Tips You Need to Know
1. Consider the weather when scheduling your painting.
When scheduling your painting work, check the weather forecast first. Moisture can significantly affect the final results of your painted areas. Paints require different drying times, and weather plays a vital role in this drying time. Avoid painting when the weather is humid. You can achieve the best results when you paint during dry weather conditions.
2. Have conservative paint estimates.
Estimate the area to be painted before buying your paints. Consider 1 gallon of paint for every 400 square feet. You can also buy an extra gallon of paint as an allowance for every color, especially when using custom-mixed paints. There's a big chance that another batch of paint mixing will vary slightly from the first mix. If you want to be extra careful, having an additional gallon of your mixed paint will be better, especially if there will be retouches shortly.
3. Thoroughly inspect the surfaces to be painted.
Thoroughly inspect and mark any observed imperfections on the surface to be painted, such as cracks, holes, or dents. Patch these with putty, dry, and sand to achieve a smooth surface before painting. If you are re-painting, scrape the loose paints (or remaining wallpapers and adhesives) to create a uniform surface. The old loose paint will carry the weight of the new paint and fall off in no time. That will be a waste of money and time! If the surface is greasy and oily, clean it up by washing it with soap first for the new paint to achieve maximum adhesion to the surface. Final painting results depend significantly on the quality of the surface preparation. If you want your paint to last, choose the best-skilled painters, such as Modern Handymen, to work diligently on the surfaces you want to be painted.
4. Decide on the best paint to use.
Reduce damage and wear by using only the right paint products for your walls, floors, ceilings, and cabinets. There are many different types of paints based on their functions, but some of the most popular paints used are these:
Oil-based paints are used on metals, walls, doors, windows, and stained surfaces. This type of paint is recommended for use in non-humid areas since drying takes longer than 24 hours. Oil-based paints are known for their durability and longevity on surfaces.
Water-based paints such as acrylic emulsions are quick-drying and low on VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), which makes them non-toxic. They do not emit fumes and are more suitable for the environment than oil paints. These are easy to apply on exterior and interior surfaces. They are easy to clean, too.
Enamel paints have some critical properties of oil-based paints, such as slow drying and hardness. This type of paint is mainly used on metals and wood as it provides a glossy finish. Although it is a bit more costly than other paints, it has high durability and strong adhesion, which makes it popular with homeowners. It is also perfect for bathroom and kitchen painting due to its water—and stain-resistant properties.
Epoxy paint is an excellent top coat for flooring, metalwork, and industrial walls due to its superior resistance to solvents, chemicals, and stains. It is best used in industrial, residential, and commercial buildings. Epoxy paints can also be an excellent top coat for basement flooring and wet surfaces.
Painting professionals know best what, where, and when to use this variety of paints available in the market. If you need help, Modern Handymen can help you decide.
5. Choose your colors wisely.
Color has a significant impact on any place. It sets the room's mood, so choose your paint color wisely. Based on your preferred paint brand, you have a wide range of colors to choose from. You can request a color swatch from your contractor or supplier. Painting contractors may also recommend color combinations that suit your home's style. It is best to consult professionals such as Modern Handymen to achieve your aesthetically pleasing home.
Fig. 2. Sample Top 50 Color Swatches from Sherwin-Williams Paints
6. Never forget to cover the furniture and surroundings.
It is a wrong decision to leave your room unprotected during painting work. You can never be pleased with your finished painting once you discover that your favorite furniture is already stained! To avoid this, cover your furniture and other surrounding things with plastic sheets, newspapers, or any protective cover. It is also advisable to finish painting your wall before painting your floor if the paint drops, and you must re-do it. However, if you have no plans on painting your floors or opt for tilework, make sure to cover them too to save you from the removal of stains on your floor or, worse, damage your floor permanently.
Fig. 3. Responsible painters cover surfaces prone to paint stains
7. Remove the outlet and switch covers.
Painting interior walls with massive coverage may include several outlets and switches on walls. It is best to remove the fixture cover first to save yourself from cleaning all these up after you complete your painting. Remove the cover plate of outlets and switches, as excess paint may be challenging to remove from these, primarily in the smaller, more detailed corners. Using a paint thinner or scratching the cover may lead to discoloration and permanent damage to the fixture's cover. Removing them temporarily while the painting is ongoing and returning them when they are already completed will be best.
8. Ensure proper overlapping
Painters often use rollers and brushes for their jobs. However, only skilled ones know how to properly overlap every stroke to prevent fine brush and roller lines from appearing. If you paint over an area that has already started to dry, you'll end up with lap marks lining your walls. Each new stroke should overlap the previous one. If you want your painted surfaces to be as smooth as possible, improper overlapping of brush and roller strokes can ruin its smoothness.
9. Slowly remove the tapes after the paint has dried.
Most painters use tape to straighten the edges of their paint. However, when the painter or cleaner (or the homeowner) gets too excited, they pull off the tape even when the paint has not completely dried. The paint attached to the tape might peel off and ruin all your hard work! We do not want this to happen, so check if the paint is completely dried before cleaning and removing these tapes.
Planning for painting with a larger quantity is ideal for uniformity. Your whole place will feel brand new in all corners of every room. Large-scale paintings will help you save time and effort for the pre-painting preparations. Larger areas to be painted will also use that extra paints and minimize potential paint wastage. Schedule now for a fresh painting with Modern Handymen at 615-200-8071. Quickly update your home with new paint to achieve that aesthetically pleasing and brand-new look!
