Planning to repaint your room on your own? Make sure you avoid these three DIY room painting mistakes to achieve an excellent paint job.
Skipping The Prep Tasks
Many amateur painters get too enthusiastic about their painting project that they proceed without doing surface prep work. Meanwhile, there are those who simply do not do it because they find painting prep tasks too time consuming. This is a big mistake! Skipping prep tasks results in a flimsy and unsightly paint job. Of course, this kind of output is not what you would want as it defeats the purpose of repainting – to have a long-lasting, professional-looking paint job.
A lot of problems can arise if you skip painting prep work. For example, not scraping chipped or peeling paint on a surface can make your paint job look rough. Additionally, flaking paint on and dirty walls, trims and ceilings can prevent paint from sticking onto the surface. Meanwhile, on top of helping paint adhere better, applying primer is necessary to seal surfaces and prevent discoloration.
Suffice it to say, professional painters do prep work because it’s integral in achieving a paint job that lasts long and looks great even after several years. Therefore, no matter how eager you are to start painting or how pressed for time you are, never skip the prep tasks. Spend a considerable amount time cleaning, smoothing and repairing the surface as well as applying primer to get the best outcome.
Choosing The Wrong Kind Of Paint Finish
Another common mistake of many first-time painters is using the wrong type of paint finish or sheen. One reason for this is that most think that this project is simply about choosing a paint colour. In some cases, amateur painters aren’t aware that paint finish impacts the appearance and durability of the paint job.
So how do you choose the right paint finish for your project? Basically, there are two things you need to consider – aesthetics and function or location. For example, if you don’t want to draw attention to flaws the surface may have, you should avoid high-sheen paint. Also, if you are painting a high-traffic area, it’s best that you choose a glossy paint sheen because these types are stain-resistant and easy to clean.
Fortunately, selecting a paint finish isn’t difficult since the options are just few – flat or matte, eggshell enamel, semigloss, satin and high gloss. Just keep in mind, the higher the sheen, the easier it is to clean it and the more durable it is.
Using Cheap Equipment
Understandably, buying expensive painting equipment may not be your priority given that this might be a one-time project. However, scrimping too much on these tools can affect the appearance of the paint job. For example, purchasing cheap brushes may be a good way of cutting painting costs; however, it can result in an untidy paint job. This is because bristles of cheap brushes easily shed. Hence, they can end up on the painted surface.
Moreover, going for cheap painting tools may eventually lead to more expenses. As these tools aren’t very durable, they might not last until the project is completed. This means you’d need to buy replacement brushes or rollers. Furthermore, since using these low-quality tools typically results in a subpar outcome, you may end up deciding to redo the paint job.
Admittedly, painting a room is not an easy task, especially if it’s your first time to do it. If you want to get the best output, make sure you dedicate some time learning about how to properly paint a room. You could also just opt to hire professional painters to save time and money and to ensure that you get the best paint job.
Need help painting your room? Painting-Dublin is a trusted residential and commercial painting service provider in Ireland. Call us today at 86 608 1817 / 085 139 0233.
