Housing...Inside and Out

September 3, 1999
Prepare The Surface Before You Paint

Paint will hide a lot of mistakes, but it can only be as good as the quality of surface that it covers. On a flawless, clean surface a paint job will look great and last for many years. On a flawed or improperly prepared surface, a paint job will surely fail and sooner than you expected.

One of the most important steps in getting a professional and long-lasting paint job is preparing the surface for the new coat of paint. About three-fourths of all paint failures occur because of improper surface preparation.

Before starting any painting, carefully follow these directions.

First, scrape off any peeling and flaking paint. Blend the edges by sanding any rough spots smooth. If moisture was the cause of the peeling or flaking, eliminate the moisture problem before repainting. Remove all the old wallpaper for a quality finished look.

Clean any loose material out of the cracks and holes and fill with spackle, patching plaster or other compounds. Sand the area smooth and even with the surrounding walls when the compound is dry. Then fill any nail holes and prime the nail heads with a rust inhibitor.

Clean the walls and woodwork thoroughly. Remove grease and dirt with a grease-cutting cleaning agent such as tri-sodium phosphate (TSP). For shiny, glossy and greasy surfaces use one-third to one-half cup TSP per gallon of water. Rinse well and dry thoroughly.

TSP is not a brand name. It is a non-sudsing cleanser often sold in hardware and paint supply stores, lumber yards and some grocery stores.

Apply primer to any newly repaired and cleaned areas before applying the topcoat. A primer may not always be necessary on all surfaces, but it aids in good topcoat adhesion and a smooth surface.

Be prepared to ventilate the room while painting and for the time afterward that is specified on your paint can.

Protect all the surfaces you do not want painted. Remove as much furniture as possible and cover the remaining pieces and the floor. Paint tends to stray to the oddest places. Be sure to loosen lighting fixtures and remove cover plates as well.


Written by Dr. Francis Graham (Retired)

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