6 Golden Rules when Preparing to Paint a Home

Painting your own home can be one of the most satisfying parts of a renovation process, but preparing your surfaces for painting properly is key. 

1. Planning is key - 

Planning is everything when comes to renovating — and painting is no different. The magic really happens before a brush is even picked up, Shannon says.“It’s important to know what, where and when you are painting — especially if you are painting in a home that’s still being used by others,” he says. A great place to start is to identify what type of paint is needed and the right way to apply it.

2. Test your colours - 

Sometimes colours will look different in real life compared to online or on a colour chip, so it’s important to sample and test. “You should always paint colour swatches and see how they look at different levels of light throughout the day,” Shannon recommends. “Taubmans Coloursmith does a great job of replicating known colours and transferring them into a colour palette, but nothing beats the real time data of actually testing the paint in situ.”

3. Preparation = Glory - 

“Preparation is 90% of a painter's glory,” says Shannon. “If it’s not prepped right, it just won't last.” Here are his top preparation tips: Wash, clean, sand and then dust surfaces. Then, fill any holes and gaps. An undercoat is not always needed, but it does provide a great surface for new paint to stick to. Taubmans 3-in-1 primer ticks all the boxes for a versatile undercoat.

Consider the environment you're painting – for wet areas such as bathrooms Taubmans Advanced Adhesion & Mould Blocker is a specialised water based prep coat, ideal for blocking persistent oil, grease, and mould based stains and for inhibiting future mould growth. Always paint in the right weather conditions and try to work in a dust-free environment. Think about the surface – if you're painting a stained material Taubmans Tough Stain Blocker is a powerful oil based prep coat ideal for blocking a wide range of difficult stains.

4. A painter is only as good as their tools - 

A cheap paintbrush will result in a sub-par job. Low cost paint won’t stand the test of time. When it comes to paint that lasts, Shannon says Taubmans Endure is “as good as paint can get”. And for homes susceptible to lots of sun, salt and water damage – Taubmans All Weather is specifically designed to protect against peeling, flaking and blistering. Pair it with a decent brush and a good lambswool roller. Then, you’re on your way to getting the job done right.

5. Get your technique down pat - 

Applying the correct painting technique is key to getting the job done correctly. “I try to think of painting like this: you want to get as much paint on a surface as you can without it running off and dripping everywhere,” Shannon says. “There is this sweet spot between a drippy mess and a scratchy thin film-like surface that you want to get just right. The trick is to get an even coat, but, if you’re unsure, less is always better.”

6. Practice makes perfect - 

Practice does indeed make perfect. The upside of painting is, if you mess it up, it’s ready for redemption and another coat in just a few hours. “Painting can be a fickle mistress, so start with something inconspicuous,” Shannon recommends. “Start with the garage or a less-trafficked place for practice.”

Source: Realestate.com - Presented by Taubmans