By “painting the walls“, you can breathe new life into a room and make it more beautiful than before, but it’s not as simple as you might think. You must go through several stages to achieve a good result. One crucial stage is surface preparation. In this article, we provide a guide to building painting preparation and explain its importance.
Prepare the necessary groundwork for wall painting
Gather your tools.
The first task for a building painter in surface preparation is to gather all necessary tools. Keep each tool nearby for easy access during work.
Take your time.
Avoid rushing to complete everything in a single day. Divide tasks into two parts: the day before painting, fill wall holes and apply painter’s tape or paper to desired surfaces. Complete remaining tasks the next day.
Prepare the wall.
In the tutorial on building painting preparation, it’s important to mention preparing the wall for painting. Remove everything from the wall and cover areas you don’t want painted with painter’s tape or paper.
Prepare yourself.
Despite efforts, paint droplets may still spill onto your clothes; hence, it’s advisable to use old clothing for “wall painting” preparation and painting.
Avoid painting problematic walls.
In the tutorial on building painting preparation, it’s crucial not to paint problematic walls. Repair these walls before painting.
Primer Painting Preparation Guide
Priming Unpainted Walls
Necessary Tools and Materials:
- Sandpaper and scraper
- Sandpaper and scraper specifically for unpainted walls
- Clean cloth
- Pencil
- Latex or nitrile gloves
- Painter’s tape
- Putty
- Paint
Cleaning
Using sandpaper and a scraper, remove any torn pieces of paper or damaged plaster from the unpainted walls. Before repairing the walls, ensure all surfaces are smooth or recessed.
Applying Painter’s Tape
For the “priming tutorial” of residential and commercial painting, it’s crucial to cut two pieces of painter’s tape longer than the holes, each at least 5 centimeters wider. Apply a thin layer of putty around the holes and over the tape. Take care not to apply pressure to the tapes as they may tear.
Further Application of Putty
Using a specialized scraper for unpainted walls, cautiously cover the entire area with putty.
Allow Putty to Dry
In the building painting primer tutorial, after applying putty for repair, allow time for it to set. This process may take between two to three hours. You can speed up drying by warming the area.
Repeat the Process
To achieve better results, repeat these steps several times by applying additional layers. After each application, lightly sand the area. Ensure not to sand too deeply.
Cleaning and Painting
For the “building painting” primer tutorial, once the walls are repaired and confirmed, clean them thoroughly before applying paint.
Priming Plaster Walls
Tools Needed:
- 5-in-1 tool
- Small vacuum cleaner
- Scissors
- 15 cm and 30 cm scraper
- Unpainted wall compound
- Painter’s tape
- 150-grit sandpaper
Preparing Cracks and Holes
Using a 5-in-1 tool, trim the edges of cracks and holes, and remove loose material. Use a small vacuum cleaner to clean the area thoroughly.
Cutting Painter’s Tape
Measure and cut one or more pieces of painter’s tape to size and apply it over the crack. Use scissors for precise cutting.
Applying Compound
Take a small amount of putty with a 15 cm scraper and apply a thin layer over the area where you’ve placed painter’s tape.
Re-taping
After applying “putty” and allowing it to dry, reapply painter’s tape over the repaired area ensuring it’s smooth and without wrinkles.
Reapplying Putty
In the next step of the building painting primer tutorial, apply another layer of putty using a 15 cm scraper and wait for it to dry.
Sanding
After applying the layers, sand the area to create a smooth surface. You can apply an additional layer before sanding if needed.
Cleaning Up
After completing the work, remember to gather your tools and clean the area using a vacuum cleaner and dry cloth.
Priming and Repairing Large Holes in Unpainted Walls
Required Tools:
- Pencil
- Drywall saw
- Measuring tape
- Saw
- Drill with screwdriver bit
- 5-in-1 tool
- 15 cm scraper
- 150 grit sanding sponge
- Rag
- “Marker“
- Joint tape
- Compound for unpainted walls
Preparing the Wall In the residential and commercial painting primer tutorial for repairing large holes in unpainted walls, start by squaring off the edges of the holes to a rectangular shape.
Installing Backing Boards
Prepare two pieces of plywood or drywall. Each piece should extend several centimeters beyond the edges of the large hole. Secure these boards to the wall using appropriate screws—one at the bottom and one at the top of the hole, ensuring a gap between them.
Installing a Drywall Patch
Next, place a drywall patch over the hole and screw it onto the backing boards.
Covering the Seams
Cover the seams with joint tape, ensuring there are no wrinkles after installation.
Applying Joint Compound
Apply joint compound over the drywall patch. Allow it to dry and then scrape the surface smooth with a scraper. Apply second and third coats after each layer dries.
Sanding
Sand the patched area to achieve a smooth finish, being careful not to over-sand.
Painting
In the building “painting primer” tutorial, once the wall is sanded and prepared, you can begin painting. For best results, apply a primer first, allow it to dry, then apply your chosen paint color.
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