This easy step is often missed, but it can improve your DIY skills and the lasting look of your home
While it might feel instinctive to just pop open a tin of paint and get started, there are a few steps you should take beforehand that will make your decorating appear luxurious and well thought out. Experts at Toolstation suggest smoothing out the wall surface by applying filler to any cracks or blemishes.
Ensure you allow an hour for this to dry before sanding down the surface. DIY enthusiasts can choose between a power sander or sandpaper, making sure the entire wall surface is covered. Sanding helps remove previous layers of paint that may have trapped hairs, dust – even flies – and provides you with a smooth, clean base, reports the Express.
One Reddit user commented: “Sanding before will knock down previous paint jobs’ imperfections and dislodge ingrained dust, hairs, etc.”
The recommended sandpaper grain to use is 120 grit. One said: “I’m a builder and my painters never ever use anything more than 120.”
On achieving a “professional” finish when decorating, the experts at Toolstation advised: “To start, empty the room of furniture. You want to remove as much furniture and soft furnishings as possible to give plenty of space to work and move.
“Next, protect the floor by covering any remaining carpets and furniture that cannot be moved with dust sheets to prevent them from becoming stained or spilt on.
“Check the wall surface and remove any nails or staples from the wall and loosen the plug sockets to let them hang down to leave the wall surface exposed.”
The specialists added: “Apply painter’s tape next to the areas you want to keep paint-free such as skirting boards and light switches or sockets.
“Next, apply at least two coats of primer paint using a paint roller, evenly covering the wall before leaving to dry for at least three hours.
“Once the primer is dry to the touch, use a paintbrush to apply paint to the wall’s edges and a paint roller to cover the wall’s middle section.
“After applying two coats of paint evenly, leave to dry for at least six hours.” Working out the correct amount of paint needed to cover a wall can be challenging, but experts suggest roughly one litre of paint per 10m2 of wall surface area.
Using this method, DIY enthusiasts can measure their walls and rooms to work out approximately how many litres will be required.
Once the paint has dried to the touch, peel off the tape and inspect for any overlooked spots, securing any loose sockets back firmly into the wall.
Finally, clear away the dust sheets and vacuum the entire room to ensure it’s thoroughly clean before putting the furniture back in its place.
The specialists added: “For more precision in smaller areas, use a paintbrush. “However, for larger surfaces such as walls and ceilings, a roller undoubtedly speeds up the process and ensures an even amount of paint is applied. It’s best to use paintbrushes around the edges and save rollers for the middle sections.”
