Sooner or later every home needs a refreshing renovation. One of the fastest and easiest ways to give a new life to the rooms in your house is to paint the walls with new modern hues. In addition, a quality painting and decorating job is one of the least expensive ways to renew your space and really transform your home.
Although it seems to be not a difficult project, there are a lot of things you need to consider, especially if you are planning to tackle that interior painting job yourself. In case you don’t have any experience in this field there is a high possibility of something going wrong. So before giving it your best shot, you need to be well prepared and well planned. Also, it is good to ask yourself – are you aware of what are you doing? Isn’t it better to hire skilled painters?
The right information, tools and steps are very important for a successful finish whether you DIY or relying on professional contractors. In this article, we are going to walk you through everything you need to know to achieve the perfect paint job. We are going to cover what tools you need, what is the correct way to paint a room and walls as well as why it is better to hire a professional painter and decorating company in Surrey like igdbuilding.co.uk.
How to prepare for a house painting job?
Before start refreshing the walls you need to have the proper tools as well as choose quality paints.
What tools, brushes and paint rollers do you need for painting and decorating?
- painters tape;
- angled cutting-in paint brushes;
- roller with a nap cover;
- extendable roller;
- ladders;
- drop cloth;
- 5-gallon paint bucket;
- paint tray and disposable paint tray fillers;
- spackle, putty knife, cling film, sandpaper, primer.
How to choose paints to achieve a smooth finish?
- Consider whether you want to achieve a lighter or darker colour. If your space is small it is better to stick a light neutral wall colour.
- Choose the type of paint. They can be solvent-based or water-based paints (emulsion paint).
- Match the colour with your furniture. Also, make sure the hue complements the colour of the floor and other rooms (if you can see them from the room you are painting).
- If you want to create an accent wall pick one basic colour and experiment with different shades.
- Do not mix cool and warm tones because it may look kind of weird.
- Pick a finish. It can be matte, flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss or high-gloss.
- Always pick high-quality paints.
What is the correct order to paint a room?
The ceilings
The first thing you should start when painting a room is the ceiling. Start by covering the edges with a small brush. Keep in mind that a single coat of paint is usually not enough so you may have to repeat the procedure again. Once you finished the corners, continue with the rest of the ceiling surface. Make sure you use a roller with a double arm frame.
The walls
After the ceilings are dried, you can begin covering the walls. Start with the top of the wall and gently go downwards. Try to paint in long continuous strokes. Make sure you don’t dip the roll deep into the pot otherwise the excess paint will drip down on the floor or onto your fingers. You need to cut and roll the walls with at least two coats. You can also use rustoleum chalk paint.
The skirting boards, windows and door frames
For these areas, you may use a semi-gloss or a high-gloss finish. To achieve an accurate cut line you may cover the area above the trim with painters tape. However, before start painting the skirting boards or door frames make sure the entire wall surface has dried.
The doors
The doors should be the last step of the project. The first thing you need to do is to take the handle off and dust off the top of the door. When that is done you may start painting the edges with a small brush and then continue with the face of the door.
How do you paint a wall correctly?
- Prepare your space. Take everything out of the room – furniture, pictures, wall shelves and other accessories. Some accidental drips may ruin them.
- Remove the switch plates and tape them.
- Clean the space and the wall surfaces very well.
- Lay down a drop cloth to minimize the chance of drips.
- Prime the wall to seal the surface before applying emulsion paint.
- After that, it is time to apply the first coat of paint. Do not forget to follow the instructions on the paint tins.
DIY painting job or hiring professional painters and decorators
People often try to tackle paint job yourself just because it’s cheaper. However, many times it is a false economy. Well, sometimes this option can work out reasonably well. But, nine times out of ten, it does end up being a bit of a problem. It is always better to hire a professional painting contractor. It will definitely save you time, money and unnecessary headache.
If you make a DIY painting you might have to take additional time off work, or you might be working on a time scale, you might want the job finish for a special occasion and therefore the time scales could be reduced and be a bit of a problem. The worst option is when you do not have enough budget left to get the job completed.
Another factor that has a big bearing on the job are the materials you choose to use. Many people try to supply materials themselves but this could be one of the worst decision you can make and can substantially add to the price you originally set. Yes, you can buy cheap paint, but many times it is cheap for a reason. For example, good quality layer of paint can achieve a really good finish with two coats whereas cheaper and poor quality paints can take three-four or even more coats to achieve the same results. Although you initially save money buying cheaper paint, after that you will need to pay over with the extra labour.
Professional decorator and painters have expert knowledge and experience so they know which materials and what type of paints produce reliable results.
How much should you pay for a professional house painting?
Depending on the painter company and the area you live in the UK, you may expect to pay between £200 and £500 for an average size room. It is usually a room of 3 meters by 3 meters. This price normally includes painting the windows, skirting boards, one side of a door and a doorframe. This is allowed for two coats on the ceiling and two coats on the walls. This basically will need 2 days. These prices don’t include materials, paint fillers or sandpapers.
There are so many variables involved when it comes to painting and decorating. The only actual way to find out how much your project is going to cost is to consult a professional painter and decorator company.
Looking For Money-Saving Tricks?
Make sure the room that needs to be decorated is ready when the decorator turns up. Takedown all pictures that are on the walls, remove the picture hooks that you won’t use anymore, remove anything valuable from the room and whatever furniture is left in the room. This way you will save some money because some painters and decorators charge if the room needs emptying.
Another useful tip is to try and have two rooms decorated at once. You can work between two rooms rather than stuck in one room. In addition, it can be a cheaper option.
You always receive value for your money by hiring a professional painter, mainly because they can guarantee the job is done correctly the first time.