Fresh Paint, New Room: The Essential Guide to Preparing Walls

When it comes time to update a room with a fresh coat of paint, a significant step can be overlooked: cleaning the walls. Many underestimate the significance of this task for achieving a superior final paint job, and often, the step is skipped entirely.

"Cleaning the walls prior to painting is critical for improved paint bonding, offering a smoother finish that lasts longer", says Tom Curren, seasoned painting professional. Our walls are notorious collectors of dirt, be it visible traces of oils, dust, or fingerprints, or hidden layers of pet residue, especially in spaces frequented by household members. "The presence of these contaminants disrupts the adhesion of fresh paint to the wall surface", points out Curren. Consequently, one may encounter problems such as premature chipping, streaking, uneven color, or bubbling.

Now, let's delve into techniques for readying your walls prior to reaching for the paintbrush.

A common mistake is to disregard the amount of grime that accumulates, particularly in areas of high traffic. In the words of Lior Kahana, a remodeling expert, “Dust, grease, and even invisible residues of daily life interfere with the paint's ability to adhere properly."

Commence your cleaning process by accumulating the necessary materials listed below.

In order to effectively prime your walls prior to painting, follow the steps outlined.

To guarantee that your walls are suitably prepped for painting, take note of these helpful tips given by our panel of experts.