There are various ways to breathe new life into a home so that it looks like new. One of them is a paint change that can create the illusion of having a larger or smaller space.
However, home restoration often turns to chaos by not resorting to professional painters in San Diego or by not following the appropriate steps to paint a house on your own. That is why we will present the 10 most common mistakes that homeowners make when painting their homes.
Remember that these mistakes can occur not only during the painting process, but also before and after completing the job. For this reason, we will divide them into before, during, and after painting so you can easily identify them and avoid repeating them.
Mistakes before painting:
1.- Not selecting the right paint
One of the most common mistakes when painting a house is not selecting the correct paint. While it may seem like you only have to choose your preferred color, the reality is that you have to study the material of the walls you want to paint to select the appropriate paint for each surface.
For this reason, you can seek the support of professional painters in San Diego to review the materials in the walls of your home. You can approach our professionals at Brad Stoner Painting who can advise and assist you in painting your home or business.
2.- Not measuring the surface
Just as you need to check the wall material, you also need to know the total square meters of the areas you are going to paint.
It is very common for homeowners to buy paint without knowing the exact size of the project. Frequently, when this occurs, there is not enough paint to finish the job and the homeowner is then forced to go to the store halfway through the job and buy more materials.
3.- Not covering the furniture or protecting the areas that will not be painted
When you want to paint a house, it is important to cover the furniture near the walls to avoid accidents. However, in an effort to save time, many homeowners start painting without moving the furniture, which ends up in a mess.
Additionally, remember to protect the floor to avoid hard-to-clean splatters. Use professional painting tape on corners or edges you do not wish to paint.
4.- Not preparing the wall
Painting without preparing the surface is a common mistake. It is necessary to check the wall for cracks or fissures that need repair and clean it to remove dirt.
Professional painters in San Diego, like those at Brad Stoner Painting, recommend doing this step before painting to avoid imperfections on the wall. Additionally, you could potentially save paint by avoiding multiple coats to cover the gaps.
Also, remember to use painting tape along the edges to get a crisp clean finish.
5.- Choosing the wrong brush
It is common for homeowners to buy any brush to paint their house. However, by selecting an inappropriate brush, you may spend more on paint to cover the areas you are working on. Remember that there are different brushes depending on the space that needs to be painted.
Mistakes during the painting process:
6.- Not painting the edges
A very common mistake homeowners make when painting walls is starting in the center and forgetting to paint the edges. The ideal way to start painting a wall is from the corners towards the center of the wall, to achieve a more professional and uniform finish.
7.- Overloading the brush or roller
To save time and effort, it is common to dip the brush or roller into the paint and start painting to cover the most area with a single coat. However, this will result in a thick and uneven layer.
Therefore, make sure to squeeze the brush before applying it to the wall. This will make the paint look more even, and you will not use extra paint.
8.- Not waiting for the paint to dry
Another common mistake is not waiting for the right time to apply another coat of paint. In other words, people work on fresh or not fully dried paint. Therefore, this results in using more paint at the end of the process to make for a more aesthetically pleasing look.
However, you can certainly approach professional painters in San Diego and they can either recommend an ideal time to wait before applying a second coat, or do this project for you.
Mistakes when finishing painting:
9.- Not removing the safety tape
A common mistake is not using paint tape to protect the edges or areas you do not want to paint. However, it is common for homeowners to leave this tape on for a long time, even after the paint has already dried.
Therefore, if you have finished and are sure that you will not need another coat, remove the tape before the paint dries completely.
10.- Not cleaning the materials
Finally, a mistake that most homeowners make is finishing painting and storing all the materials they used without cleaning them. This can cause brushes or rollers to become stiff and unusable in the future. Additionally, the paint bucket can leave a mark on the floor if it is not cleaned in time.
In conclusion, to avoid inconveniences and achieve a professional paint job, it is ideal to approach professional painters in San Diego for better results. At Brad Stoner Painting, we have a specialized team for residential and commercial painting, which has positioned us as one of the best in the area. We offer a wide range of services for residential painting, from revitalizing exteriors to creating interior atmospheres.
