Before you begin to tackle your painting job you should inspect the areas you will be painting and look for anything that might need to be prepared before hand.
Cracks and nail holes in drywall – fill with spackling, let dry then sand and paint with primer.
Flaking should be scraped off, sanded then primed.
Cracks in plaster should have all of the loose material chipped away before filling, sanding and applying primer.
Mildew should be cleaned with 1 part bleach to 3 parts water then rinsed clean. Allow to dry thoroughly before applying primer.
Smoke should be cleaned with mild soap and water as much as possible and then primed.
Water stains need to be checked to make sure the cause of the stain has been fixed. Once the area is dry and you are sure that the area is solid and not weak at all, prime with a special primer that will prevent the stain from coming through your final coat of paint.
Glossy surfaces such as paneling, tile and high-gloss paints need to be sanded enough to eliminate all of the shine and then cleaned to remove dust to allow better adhesion or you may purchase a special primer that is made especially for glossy surfaces.
Crayon marks can sometimes be scrubbed cleaned or by using a gum eraser you should be able to remove the marks. If neither of these work you can use a special primer for better hiding that won’t allow the crayon marks to bleed through in your final coat of paint. Read more…