| Before putting your brush to the wall, you’re
aiming for a smooth, clean, dry surface for the paint to adhere effectively.
So prepare for a lasting result. Here is a step-by-step preparation
for interior painting. As you go along, remember to check off each
point.
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| Remove pictures, accessories, lamps, and everything
else. Roll up area rugs and cover. Use drop cloths on remaining furniture
and carpeting and take down draperies. Do not use newspaper to cover
carpets or fabrics, the ink will stay behind.
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| Forget painting around switch and socket plates, door
knobs and lock plates. Loosen set screws and lower ceiling light
fixtures. This will save you valuable time and headaches from trying
to paint around them.
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| Scrape away with putty knife or scraper and sand smooth.
Use liquid paint remover for thicker or stubborn coats making sure
you follow manufacturer’s suggestions. Finish with sandpaper
when dry. To save some time on large surfaces, like doors, you may
need a belt or orbital sander.
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| Fill in nail holes, cracks and joint gaps with patching
paste or compound. Large holes require plaster anchored by wire screen
or "hardware cloth." Sand smooth and level with adjacent
surfaces. Large repaired areas require a primer, while small areas
can be spot primed with your finish paint.
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| Remove with chemical wallpaper remover or a rented
steamer. Once the paper is off, residual paste must also be removed.
While it’s safer to remove wall coverings, in some cases you
can paint over the paper, as long as it has been firmly applied and
has no surface irregularities. If necessary, all loose edges should
be re-pasted down. A word of caution: metallic papers and some dyes
can "bleed" through. Make sure you test a small area before
proceeding. Your Benjamin Moore Retailer can recommend a special
sealer.
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| Applying masking tape around the edges of glass and
trim saves a lot of time and aggravation in the long run.
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| Wash down walls and trim to remove any dust and dirt.
If walls are especially dirty use Benjamin Moore’s special
oil and grease cleaner called M83. Kitchen and bathroom walls are
especially prone to fine grease film and M83 should be used. Enameled
surfaces should be thoroughly sanded before painting to ensure your
new coat of paint adheres well.
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