How To Paint A Room

The fundamentals necessary for interior painting jobs

How To Paint A Room

How To Paint A Room

Here's the tools you will want at your disposal during the process, and the steps to take to get it done right.

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The necessities

The necessities

  • Paint tray

  • Canvas or plastic drop cloths

  • Clean, moist and dry rags

  • Ladder, stepladder, scaffolding

  • Rubber gloves

  • Protective eyewear 

  • Comfortable clothes

  • Extension handle

  • Sandpaper (120 to 320)

  • Roller Masking tape

  • Screwdriver

  • Sanding block

  • Shop vacuum cleaner

  • Container of water

  • Pad

  • Water or thinner (depending on paint)

  • Paintbrush

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Before you get started

Before you get started

  • Apply paint when the temperature and humidity permit. The ideal temperature is between 15 °C and 25 °C (60 °F and 77 °F). The relative moisture content is between 30% and 55%.

  • Don’t paint cold walls. They should be the same temperature as the room.

  • Make sure the surface is clean and in good condition for painting.

  • Have your entire equipment ready (see Checklist on preceding page).

  • Put on comfortable clothes.

  • Protect glasses against splatter by covering them with a plastic mask held in place by an elastic band.

  • Ventilate the room before and during painting.

  • Try to prevent drafts that could hasten evaporation and produce an uneven finish.

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While you paint

While you paint

  1. 1. Cover or mask off surfaces you don’t want to paint and make sure drop cloths are carefully placed.

  2. 2. Stir paint but not so vigorously that bubbles which could remain on the surface after drying form.

  3. 3. Pour the quantity of paint needed into another container to avoid contaminating the original paint can. Lightly close the paint can to preserve the paint.

  4. 4. Apply paint generously, leaving no skipped spots or excesses (see “Handling Brushes and Rollers” section).

  5. 5. Let dry completely.

  6. 6. Lightly sand rough spots if necessary using grades 120 to 220 of sandpaper and vacuum up dust.

  7. 7. Generously apply a second coat, without leaving behind uncovered spots or excesses.

  8. 8. Clean tools.

  9. 9. Let surfaces dry completely and make sure the paint has properly hardened before cleaning them. (see maintaining surfaces)

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