Getting your home ready for house painting service can be a daunting task. Besides the obvious cleanup that needs to be done, there is also the painter’s and the customer’s safety to consider. This blog will tell you how to prepare your home for house painting San Diego service, ensuring all the necessary preparations are done, appliances and electronics are unplugged, and furniture is covered. Once you are done with the preparation, it will be easier for our paint experts to give your walls a new look.
Furniture Should Be Moved and Covered
When preparing a room for painting, it is recommended to remove small furnishings such as coffee tables and light stands; however, larger pieces of furniture like sofas, suites, beds, and dining tables and chairs can be difficult to move. Therefore, it may not be practical to house these items in a separate room or storage space. Instead, you should move these items to the center of the room and cover them with an old sheet or large cloth. This approach will provide enough space for the interior house painter to maneuver safely with less chance of damaging your furniture in the process.
Take Away All Electronics and Appliances
When it comes to interior house painting, the most important thing is to protect your possessions. This includes covering up or removing items such as electronics and appliances like your TV, sound system, gaming console, stove, and refrigerator. These can be expensive items that can easily become defaced by paint or damaged if the painters need to move them. Not to worry, though – usually, a reliable interior house painting contractor will bring drop cloths that you can use if you don’t have any material large enough to cover your furniture and appliances. However, there is still the chance of paint splattering when painting the ceilings, so it’s key to either move these items out of the room for safety purposes or cover them up effectively!
Remove Ornaments and Wall Hangings
If you plan to paint your walls but have a variety of decorative wall hangings and ornaments such as picture frames, paintings, clocks, and Candle holders, it would be wise to temporarily move the items, so they are not inadvertently damaged while the job is being done. Taking them down and wrapping them in bubble wrap before storing them carefully in marked storage boxes or containers can ensure that your prized possessions will remain unscathed. Though you may be tempted to hide them under furniture or stack them near one corner of the room, this tactic does not guarantee you’ll eliminate all paint splatters from ruining your decor. Ultimately, it might be safer to take the extra time to relocate your wall decorations.
Safeguard Your Soft Furniture
While most homeowners must address that their furniture and other accessories must be removed before the house painter can begin, it is also important to recognize that even soft furnishings such as mats and rugs should be cleared away. Window treatments like curtains, blinds, and drapes should also be stored safely until the painting job is complete. Suppose you are worried about your rugs or mats becoming stained despite proper protective measures. In that case, you can roll them up and cover them in plastic for extra protection. Clearing away all these things in preparation for painting looks better. It allows you to easily clean the room and walls before the painter arrives. Taking these steps when hiring a painter ensures less chance of damage being caused to your household items.
Remove Any Trinkets
While it might be tempting not to worry about the smaller details of the painting process, it’s important to remember any knick-knacks, mementos, or decorative items around your worksite. These items may become a victim of the tarp or drop cloth if precautions aren’t taken. To protect your items, store them safely away before contractors arrive. Once the paint has dried and you’ve finished wiping up stray paint particles, give yourself an extra step by replacing those cherished items into their original location. While small, these details should never be forgotten!
Prepare and Clean Walls
Preparing the wall for a fresh coat of paint is one step you won’t want to skip. Cleaning the walls beforehand can make all the difference in how well the paint sticks and how long that coating lasts. Dust, dirt, debris, and stains built up over time can hinder your newly painted walls from looking pristine. Using a long-handled broom or powerful vacuum to remove cobwebs and dust particles, followed by a sponge or cloth with water and soap to clean any remaining substances off your walls – you will be less likely to get streaks or have dirt marring your perfect look after you’ve finished painting. You don’t need special products or cleaning tools — just some elbow grease! Make sure to give yourself a few days before painting to let your walls properly dry and benefit from taking time ahead of time to get them completely clean.
Please Leave the Area, If Possible
Once you know that painting your living spaces is on the horizon, planning well is important. Determine if it’s possible to stay in the house while work is being done or if the work area needs to be completely vacated. Make sure you collect whatever items you need from the painting area that may be harder to access once the process begins. Be mindful of keeping children and pets away from potential hazards, such as paint cans that may fall over and any toxic fumes that can arise during a repainting project. If needed, consider spending some time away in another home or even taking a mini-vacation—the break would benefit everyone. A change of scenery can offer a much-needed release from the typical day-to-day stressors and gives respite from any undesirable respiratory problems that could come with inhaling fresh paint fumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have to wash a house before painting?
While the exterior of your house might appear clean, it is important to give it a thorough check and even pressure wash before committing to a painting. Pressure washing is an efficient way of ensuring that all dirt and debris are removed from the surface before applying a fresh coat of paint. Thankfully, LIfetime Custom Painting offers professional house pressure washing and expert painting services, so you don’t have to worry about taking time out of your day. Their team will ensure that the exterior of your home looks immaculate before they begin any job.
How long does it take to prep a house for painting?
Prepping your home for painting is an important step in any repainting project. It can take anywhere from a day to several days, depending on the amount of work needed. The initial step includes setting aside a full day to protect your furniture, cleaning the surface, and priming where necessary. However, suppose time has taken its toll on the house with chipped or peeling paint or deteriorating wood. In that case, it may take even longer for proper preparation. Generally, two days should be enough to prepare a good clean surface for painting. Remember that proper preparation is key to having a smooth and long-lasting paint job!
Can you paint over old exterior paint?
Painting over old paint without sanding is possible with the right set-up. Generally, suppose the current paint is the same type and the wall is in good condition. In that case, proceeding without an initial sanding may be feasible. For wood, however, you should consider sanding to ensure proper adhesion of the fresh coat. Still, you can also opt out of sanding altogether with a primer coat or two that will create a better base for your final paint job. Whichever option you choose, ensure the surface is free from dust and other debris for optimal results.
Conclusion
So, that was a lot of information. But painting is a project that requires thorough preparation. Not only does the paint job look better when you put effort into the prep work and cleanup, but it ensures your home is protected from unwanted paint spills and resulting damage. The more you can do to protect your property before the painting service arrives, the more smoothly the project will go, and the happier everyone involved will be with the results. Now that you’ve read our guide on preparing your home for house painting service in San Diego get in touch with Lifetime Custom Painting to book a consultation appointment with our expert house painters today!
