Getting good results when painting a room really begins with how you prepare it beforehand. But even though prep work is one of the most important parts of the job, it’s often overlooked.
Paint Like the Pros. We have a few tips that will help you with the preparation process. The steps may seem small, but you’ll see the difference in the crisp-looking results.
The first order of business is to take care of the cracks. A rubberized coating will seal these imperfections and keep them from coming back.
You’ll want to take this opportunity to fix imperfections before you paint. Spackle is your go-to tool for filling holes (inset), and paintable caulk will take care of gaps in the trim.
Next, you’re ready to tape off the trim to prevent it from getting painted. It’s often difficult to get two pieces to meet there without covering up part of the wall. To prevent this, just stick the end of the painter’s tape to the wall, lay a putty knife across at an angle, and then tear off the tape. Then butt the “mitered” ends together to create a clean corner (inset photo).
Even when you apply tape, it can still seep under the edge. The best way to prevent that is to carefully align the tape with the edge of the trim, and then “burnish” it with a putty knife. This ensures a tight seal that will keep paint out.
