Painting Your New Home

Now that you’re finally moved in, you’re probably starting to think about redecorating; giving your new house those personal touches that will transform it into a home. There’s nothing that revamps a house quite like a fresh coat of paint. However, painting your walls can be a huge project. Before you put paint to the wall, you should know just what you’re in for. The moving professionals at E.E. Ward Moving & Storage have put together this step-by-step list of tips, advice, and suggestions to help you through the painting process.

Wall Preparation

Before you begin pouring paints and dipping brushes, you’ll need to make sure your walls are in good condition. Prepping the wall is very important because the condition of the wall before you start painting will affect the way the paint is applied. The goal is to have a clean, even plane. Any holes or imperfections should be patched using patching paste and a putty knife. You want to get as close to a smooth surface as possible. In addition to fixing any holes, you’ll also want to clean the walls, baseboards, ceilings and crown molding before painting. Dust or dirt trapped below the painted surface can cause the paint to crack and peel once it dries.

Selecting Your Paint

In addition to choosing a color palette, you’ll need to decide if you want a latex-based paint or an oil-based paint. The differences between the two are subtle but are worth taking into consideration. Latex-based paints can be cleaned quickly and easily using soap and water, however latex-based paints are often not as durable as oil-based paints. Because it is more durable, an oil-based paint would be a good choice for an area in your house that receives a lot of traffic or wear and tear. Although, oil-based paints are generally more expensive than those that are latex-based. When making decisions about color and type it can be helpful to purchase a few test samples. By painting a small section with each of your test samples you can preview the finished effect and better decide what you like. Once you’ve committed to a color and type, you should use an interior paint calculator to help you determine how much paint you’ll need.

Selecting a Brush

When it comes to brushes, consider the paint you’ll be using. For oil-based paints, as well as stains and varnishes, a brush with natural bristles is preferable. However, latex-based paints work better with brushes that have bristles made of a synthetic material, such as nylon.  Brushes and rollers are clearly identified for the type of paint and desired texture.

Room Preparation

There are a few things that need to be done to prepare the room for painting. Furniture needs to be moved so that it is away from the walls. This could mean putting it in a different room or simply moving it into the center of the room you’re painting. It is also wise to put down a drop cloth to protect your floor and cover any furniture remaining in the room with plastic. You may also want to prep your roller by using masking tape to remove excess lint. You also want to make sure to open plenty of windows before you start priming/painting. Opening the windows allows fresh air to circulate which is important because it can be dangerous to inhale the paint fumes.

Portable Storage Units

E.E. Ward provides PackRat portable storage units for furniture.  We’ll bring the unit to your home and load it for you.  The unit can be stored at your home or in our warehouse while you are painting and remodeling.   Storing furniture in the portable unit can provide more space for work while not worrying about paint splatter and fumes.

Priming the Surface

Prime each wall before applying your paint. Painting the wall with primer first is especially important in older homes, as their walls tend to have more patched holes than newer homes. Certain paints may look glossier when applied over Spackle than over drywall.

Mixing the Paint

To properly mix a can of paint, you should use a paint stick, preferably one with holes to allow for better mixing. If the room you are painting requires more than one can of paint, you’ll want to pour all of your paint into one bucket and mix together. Since different cans of the same color often vary slightly, mixing it all together ensures that your paint color will be consistent for each wall.