Debunking the Most Common House Painting Myths

Whether you’re in your first home, second home, or forever home, you’ll need to become familiar with painting in a hurry. As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, a fresh coat of paint can protect your biggest investment for years to come. But with all the information that’s out there regarding DIY painting, how do you know what’s true and what isn’t?

DJ’s Painting is here to help you decipher fact from fiction before you open that first can of paint. Keep reading as we debunk some of the most common house painting myths.

Myth No. 1 — Dark colors make a room look small    

You’ve probably heard somewhere that it’s best to use light paint colors in small rooms. Frankly, though, there’s no reason you can’t use dark colors in moderation. Here at DJ’s Painting, we’ve seen cooler hues work when paired with the right color scheme. Who knows? You might find that applying a dark color to an accent wall can actually make the room feel a bit larger.

Myth No. 2 — There’s no need to use a primer

Many homeowners believe that primer is more of an optional painting step during the project. This notion couldn’t be further from the truth! While it makes sense to save time and money, the reality is that house painting done without first applying a primer is going to lead to less than ideal results. Keep in mind that a primer helps make the paint job look smooth and professional. So unless you want to go through the entire process twice, we suggest playing it safe from the start and using a primer.

Myth No. 3 — Cleaning the walls before painting is a waste of time

A lot of DIY painters assume they can just take everything off their walls, move some furniture, and get started painting. What they don’t understand, though, is the need to clean their walls with soap and water before they paint. Walls that are dirty, dusty, or greasy will make it anything but easy for the primer and paint to stick to the surface. Trust us when we say you will want to take a few extra minutes to clean your walls before moving forward with your painting project.

Myth No. 4 — It doesn’t matter if you paint your house before listing it on the market

If you’re about to begin the process of selling your house, chances are there’s a lot on your plate. But if you can somehow schedule some time to paint your residence, you absolutely should. A fresh coat of paint adds to the home’s appeal and, in turn, can increase the selling price when things are said and done. While some prospective buyers will want to change the color scheme in some rooms, many will choose to keep the paint job the same after moving in.

Myth No. 5 — There’s no need to hire a professional

This might be the biggest misconception on this list. Sure, any homeowner with some paint and a brush can take such a project into their own hands. But as we briefly mentioned earlier in this post, even one small mistake can prove costly when it comes to painting. There’s no question that you’ll be able to save on costs initially when you turn this into a DIY project. When looking at the grand scheme of things, though, your best bet is to hire a professional house painter who will get the job done right the first time.

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DJ’s Painting is proud to be South Jersey’s choice for residential painting. Why wait another year to have your house painted? Learn more about our reliable painting services today!