Prep and Paint Instructions:  Part 1


Thinking about getting some painting done around your home?
I can prep and paint for you, but if you prefer to DIY, here are some tips!

That's great and you have most likely heard a lot of tips. Well, some of the basics are still so very important and be sure to follow some basic rules.

Step 1 is Prep Work:
Under most circumstances, it shouldn't take you longer to do the prep than the actual painting.

1.  Remove those switch plates. Fill  holes and voids with spackle.

2.  Sand as needed and clean those walls and woodwork.

3.  Test the surface.  A very important step if your not a pro is to find out if the surface you're going to paint was previously painted with latex or oil.
You will need some denatured alcohol to test. Just put some alcohol on a rag a rub it on the surface you are going to paint.
If the paint comes off on the rag you have latex. and you can now use a latex primer.
However, if you have a oil finish you will need to use an oil base primer. Do not leave out this step!

    Note: You can put latex over latex but never latex over oil. This goes only for the finish coat. The reason you use an oil based primer over oil is that either oil or latex made be applied as your finish coats.    

Here is an exterior job I did not long ago:


Check out my blog next week for step two of your paint job....
If you have a question you can check my web site at www.watkinshomerepair.com or email at watkins.mitch@gmail.com

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