DIY Painting Tips From The Pros

When it comes to a home painting project — interior or exterior — your best bet is always to call in a professional painting contractor. However, if you’re itching to go the DIY painting route, it can help to do a little research as part of your preparation before you head off to your local hardware store and start picking out paint swatches.

In today’s blog post, the professional painters here at DJ’s Painting in Moorestown, New Jersey are sharing a few painting tips that can help you take your project to the next level. And if things don’t go as planned, you can always contact our New Jersey painting company to come finish the job!

Prepare Thoroughly

Great painting begins with thorough prep work. While it might seem more fun to dive into putting color on the wall, if you’re impatient, you won’t end up with a good result. When it’s all said and done, you won’t regret the time you spend covering floors, furniture, and hardware before beginning to paint. Don’t forget to remove the light switch and outlet covers. 

Part of prepping is using a primer, and while a paint-and-primer combo is fine if you have a clean smooth surface, starting with a primer is a smart move if you have a more challenging surface or your room hasn’t been painted in a while.

Keep A Wet Edge

Lap marks are those stripes you see on poorly painted walls. These marks are caused by uneven layers of paint buildup and they occur when you paint over an area that’s already partly dry. DIY painters paint much more slowly than professional painters, and that can lead to paint drying while you’re loading up your brush or roller for the next stroke.

In order to maintain a wet edge, you should start near a corner and run the roller up and down the full height of the wall, overlapping slightly with each stroke. Don’t try to paint the top half or the bottom half first, because when you come back to finish up, you’ll have a lap mark right through the middle of the wall. 

If you have thick spots or runs, move backward and even them out. Don’t let the roller become dry, instead, reload it often so that it’s at least half loaded, ensuring an even, wet application. Lastly, keep the open side of the roller facing the part of the wall you’ve already painted. More pressure is applied to the closed edge, so you’ll be less likely to leave paint ridges as you move down the wall.

Mix Several Cans Of Paint

When you’re working with multiple cans of paint from the local hardware store, the color may vary between cans. If you mix a bunch of cans together into one giant five-gallon bucket, you’ll have a more even color. Painting companies call this “boxing,” and it’s a great way to avoid having a change in color in the middle of the room when you have to open a new can of paint. 

Sometimes, estimating the amount of paint you’ll need to cover the room can be difficult. A good rule of thumb is to add more than less. After all, you can always pour the leftovers back into the cans. 

Cut Away Painters Tape

Painters tape is as necessary as paint and paintbrushes. But not everyone knows how to use it to achieve the perfect edge. Great edging is one of the things that sets an amazing residential paint job apart from the so-so paint job. 

If you want a great edge, you can’t just pull the tape off the trim. Paint forms a film between the wall and the tape, and pulling the tape away can tear pieces of paint off the wall, leaving you with a jagged edge. After you’ve waited at least 24 hours for the paint to dry completely, use a utility knife to cut the tape away from the wall. As you cut, pull the tape off at a 45-degree angle — you’ll be left with a beautiful, crisp edge!

Use Cotton Drop Cloths

While plastic drop cloths are the cheaper option, investing in a cotton drop cloth is a much better option. Thick cotton or canvas drop cloths stay in place and you can use it to cover any surface, including furniture that you can’t remove from the room. Plastic drop cloths, on the other hand, are slippery and paint spills stay wet, which means they end up on your shoes and get tracked through the house. 

Buy High-Quality Materials

One of the biggest things that sets a professional painter apart from the DIY enthusiast is the quality of materials. While we know that you’re most likely complete the project to save money, pinching pennies can end up leaving you dissatisfied with the final product. And if you’re splurging on high-quality paint, don’t choose a chintzy paintbrush to apply it with.

Good brushes and roller covers give you the coverage you need to apply a beautiful, even coat of paint. And high-end painters tape is much better at sealing out drips than cheaper alternatives. When you hire DJ’s Painting New Jersey painting company for your job, we’d be more than happy to talk with you about the materials we use and how they help us achieve stunning results.

DJ’s Painting – Painting Contractor New Jersey

Our painting company is more than just painting — we’re coating experts that specialize in interiors & exterior, residential & commercial, and more! We believe that we’re the best residential and commercial painters you’ll find in South New Jersey —we’ve been doing great work since 1989. Our expert painting contractors will get your job done on time and on budget!

Plus, along with home painting services, we also offer pressure washing, deck staining, and masonry coating. We can give your space a fresh look — all while avoiding you the hassle of an overwhelming DIY project! Contact us today to get started.