How to Prepare Walls for Painting

Preparing walls for painting is a crucial step in the painting process. It ensures that your paint job will look great and last longer. This article will provide you with tips on how to properly prepare your walls for painting so that you can achieve the best possible results.

If your walls are an older surface:

Older walls that have been previously painted are easy to prepare and paint over, but it is worth spending the time to do some ground work before beginning. This can be done by filling any holes or cracks, sanding the surface, and making sure the area is free of dirt and grease by cleaning with a sugar soap solution.

If your walls are newly plastered:

Newly plastered walls are easy to prepare for paint work. Create the best possible base by applying a primer and undercoat using a rollar, ensuring a seamless paint application. Allow the primer to dry completely before painting.

If your walls have wallpaper:

Removing wallpaper may sound like a heartbreaking task, but with the right tools and solutions, it can be done in a flash. 

1. With a stripping knife or orbital scorer, make diagonal crosses in the wallpaper, being careful not to push onto the plaster behind.
2. Using a sponge, soak the wallpaper, section by section, with hot water. This process allows the material to soften before removal.
3. Begin removing the paper by inserting a wide stripping knife into one of the cuts. Keep doing this until all of the paper has been taken out.
4. If residue remains following step 3, use a wallpaper removing solution to aid the process.
5. Lightly sand the walls and clean with a sugar soap solution to allow for a smooth paint application.

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