Interior Painting 101

Painting an interior can be a scary task, but what better time to tackle those painting projects than now?

With the right tools, and a little know how, painting indoors can be a great experience, and you can get the stunning result you hope for.

We've summarized a few of our tips and trips below, from our very own paint specialists here at True Value! Read here, then comment below with your projects and photos!

Step 1:

Measure your square footage. Knowing how much area you need to cover will help you figure out how much paint you need, and can save you money and time in the long run. After all, who wants to make an extra trip in the middle of a painting project to grab more paint! Here's some general rules of thumb:

*1 Gallon of paint covers approx. 400 square feet.

*1 Quart covers approx. 100 square feet

*1 Pint Covers approx. 50 square feet.

Hint: If you need multiple cans of the same color, but not quite a full 5 gallon quantity, buy an empty bucket and mix your single gallons together. This will help ensure your color is consistent.

Step 2:

Remove all light and outlet covers. This will save you frustration when painting near these areas, and help give some nice clean borders.

Step 3:

Clean & prep your walls. Make sure to fill any holes with spackle and sand down the surface.

Make sure to fill any holes with spackle and sand down the surface. Be sure to wash your walls after so that your primer an paint have good adhesion. Use generic cleaner and a soft cloth with water to clean.

Step 4:

Gauge the texture/roughness of your walls. Getting a thicker nap on a roller cover will help spread paint for surfaces that are rough or textures.

Step 5:

Utilize painters tape and drop cloths. Spending a little time taping off a room will save you a lot of time in the longrun. Any transition (corners, trim, etc) should be taped off to ensure straight, solid lines.

For your protuection, gloves, coveralls, and shoe cuards can all make it easier for drips and/or mishaps. You can also get a respirator mask to help with paint fumes.

Hint: If you're painting with oil-based paint, use a mask rated R95 or higher to keep out oil-based particles.

Step 6:

Prime your walls. Though most paints claim to have paint and primer, it's not the same or as effective as utilizing a true primer,. Especially if you have stubborn stains or are going from a dark color to a light color. It's much more cost effective to buy primer than continuing to buy paint because two coats aren't cutting.

Step 7:

Begin Painting! The step you've waited for has come after alot of much needed prep. Because you've completed step 1-6, your painting process will be a breeze.

When painting, start at the top and work to the bottom. This helps with drips, because you'll go over them on your way down the wall. Paint in smooth, even strokes as you move down the wall.

Hint: if you're planning to reuse your roller cover the next day and don't want to clean it, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. It will stay fresh until ready to use the next day.

Step 8:

Cleanup. No one likes this part, but it has to be done! Use a brush and tool cleaner to help.

Bonus Tip:

Hint: If you want to make sure you can get that same color for touch ups down the line. Keep your lid with the label or take a picture of that label. This will help our staff mix up the perfect paint to touch up or complete another room!

And that's it! You'll be well on your way to a successful paint project! Share your paint projects with us in the comments below.