Painting a wall or a ceiling seems within everyone’s reach, provided they are a minimum of handyman. However, succeeding in your renovation work like a pro requires good preparation. This requires the purchase of the appropriate equipment and the respect of the stages. Follow our advice to paint a wall without traces, in the rules of the art! Everything you need to know about wall paint: choice of paint, quantity to buy, choice of wall to paint, mistakes to avoid…
Summary
The material to start well
To paint a streak-free wall, you will need more than a pot of paint and a paintbrush, or a roller.
Materials needed to prepare the substrate
To prepare a wall, you will need several pieces of equipment:
- a brush to scrub any stains;
- detergent as needed to clean the wall;
- a vegetable sponge for heavy work;
- a bucket filled with clean water;
- a dry cloth for dusting.
And if the wall is damaged, you will also need suitable equipment:
- a filler to seal holes and cracks, if any;
- fine-grit sandpaper to erase imperfections left by smoothing;
- a smoothing coating if the wall is really badly damaged;
- spatulas and knives to pass the coatings.
Material to protect the part
Then, you will have to protect the part during work with specific equipment:
- a screwdriver to remove switches, sockets, light fixtures;
- masking tape to cover the top of baseboards and door and window frames;
- tarps to protect the floor and furniture if in place;
- a mask, gloves, goggles and painter’s overalls (disposable) to protect against paint splashes.
Tools for applying paint
Finally, to succeed in your painting work, you will necessarily need the right equipment:
- a paint tray or bucket equipped with a grid to wring out the paint;
- brushes to choose according to their flexibility and quality;
- a roller suitable for your paint. With handle, if you decide to also paint the ceiling.
Site preparation
Do you have all the necessary materials to paint a wall without trace? Perfect ! Now, proceed to the preparation of the construction site.
To do this, bring tarps to cover the floor and furniture if they remain in place.
Also protect outlets as well as switches and light fixtures by removing them with a screwdriver.
And before you start painting, also use adhesive strips to protect the parts not to be painted and not to exceed.
Advice : do not skip this step because it is very important. Better to spend time protecting the job site than having to clean up paint stains after the job.
Read also: Painting: why delegate to a pro?
Which paint to choose for your walls?
The choice of paint is a crucial step, as is the choice of brushes. Indeed, to paint a wall without trace, it is necessary to invest in quality equipment. Without it, your efforts will be wasted, whether you follow the steps to paint like a pro or not.
Thus, for successful paint jobs, you will need to choose quality paint. And it will not only depend on the price displayed in the store. Of course, avoid cheap paints because they contain too much water and leave traces on the wall. You will also have to apply several coats, which will ultimately cost the same as a higher quality paint.
But how do you recognize a good painting? A quality paint hangs because its components are low in water. In addition, it allows to obtain an optimal result and in few coats.
Which quantity to choose?
To paint a streak-free wall like a pro, you’ll need to calculate the amount of paint needed.
To do this, multiply the length in meters of the wall by its height to determine the area:
Length x height = area in m².
In your calculation, remember to subtract the area of windows and doors, if any. To calculate the surface of a door or a window, the calculation is the same as for that of a wall.
Be aware, however, that the surface of a standard door is 1.60 m² and that of a standard window is 1.2 m².
Next, refer to the yield of the paint. This is its covering power, which is indicated on the pot. Attention, it differs from one brand to another and according to the type of paint. For example, you can find a yield of 10 m²/L on a can of paint. This means that one liter of the paint covers 10 m².
How many walls to paint?
Painting a single section of wall in color is one of the current decorative trends. But to achieve a nice solid color, you should take a few precautions:
- first choose a uniform section of wall, that is to say not cut by a door, a window or a cupboard;
- then, paint everything in the same tone to create unity;
- then, choose a wall that catches the eye when you enter the room. Often this is the wall opposite the door or to the side, or the wall perpendicular to a light entrance;
- Finally, pay attention. If the painted wall is backlit, it will appear darker. If this is the case, prefer a fairly light shade.
Mistakes not to make during your work
Do not paint in direct sunlight
If you are painting outdoors, it is necessary to take a few precautions. Preferably, it is better to paint in cool weather and out of direct sunlight.
Never paint a wall during very hot weather, or when the sun is beating down. Instead, do your work in the cool morning or late afternoon.
Pay attention to the use of the roller
On the other hand, for large areas, you will use a roller. But be aware that this material naturally tends to leave traces, especially if you press hard.
Therefore, pass paint roller strokes by measuring your gesture. Never press on the roller. And favor quality material so as not to leave any traces.
Do not repeat it several times
Then it is advisable to cover an area in one go. Don’t do this repeatedly as a line of demarcation will be visible once the paint dries.
So, before you start your painting work, be sure to have the necessary time in front of you. Otherwise, postpone your renovation projects.
Lack of organization
To paint like a pro, you also need to be methodical and organized. Start with the side that suits your orientation. Thus, a right-handed person will rather start with the right side so as not to touch the painted part with the left side of his body. It makes the job easier!
In the same way, think of painting in a linear way, by band. This allows for clean and organized work. And also start with the corners using a suitable brush to avoid traces.
Our tips for successful painting
Painting in optimal conditions
Before starting your renovation work, choose an environment favorable to the application of the paint. It should neither be too cold nor too hot. Otherwise, the drying time of the paint will be a problem. Instead, prefer temperatures between 10 and 20°C.
Apply the undercoat or a base coat
The first step to painting a wall like a pro is to apply an undercoat. This serves as the basis.
To avoid traces of paint and brushes on the walls, systematically apply a covering undercoat. Choose it adapted to the support to be painted in order to obtain an optimal result.
Apply layers of paint
Next, apply enough paint for your work. Typically, streaks are seen when the paint hasn’t been spread enough to cover the entire wall.
To obtain a uniform, streak-free result, apply an appropriate coat of paint. To do this, refer to the recommendations indicated on the paint can.
In general, a wall paint is applied in two coats.
Let the paint dry
Sometimes streaks on the wall appear when the drying time is insufficient. Allow time for your wall paint to dry properly.
For this, it is advisable to paint in cool weather and away from the sun, especially if you paint outdoors. And when using glycero paint, ventilate the room well when painting.
To let a room breathe, use a fan or natural ventilation (door, window, etc.) while paying attention to the weather outside! Thus, the paint will dry and you will evacuate the smells of paint, sometimes quite strong.
Also Read: How to Get Rid of Mold on Walls?
