How to Paint a Wall: A Quick Paint Primer

The very first encounter of the working world I experienced was as a Painter’s Helper, working for my Father. To a 16 year old, it all seemed fairly simple and boring, it was not Astrophysics, just slap some paint on a wall,take the money and run. Never remotely considering painting a wall as a skill, my Father’s references to Painters as Professional Tradesmen were laughable in my ignorant mind. In reflection, having witnessed thousands of shabby and misguided painting applications, Dad, I apologize.

Most individuals who endeavor to paint do so for financial considerations, and the urge to “go cheap” often rules the project. Inexpensive paint primer, wall paint, paint rollers and other tools doom the effort to failure before it gets off the ground. Paint and Painting Tools is an arena in which you truly get what you pay for. Not all paints are good quality, and paying a little more for a National Brand is worth the expense. If a particular brand of Interior House Paint was previously used with pleasing results, why not stick with it?

The use of textured paint and poorly coordinated wall paint designs by novices can look amateurish without proper instruction in technique. Many times a local Home Improvement Stores give free instructional classes in these areas enabling a Weekend Warrior to become proficient quickly.

After purchasing all of the necessary items, lay them out to ensure all the needed items are present. Move furniture, remove curtains and blinds, and spread a drop cloth over the floor. Sand and fill any cracks with spackling, and examine the walls closely for any blemishes, like past paint drops or runs and remove them. After the spackling dries sand the walls smooth, then wash the walls with a commercial wall cleaner and damp sponge. After the walls dry, take masking tape and tape off baseboards, frames, fixtures and windows.

Filling the paint roller tray with paint primer, take a paint brush and “cut in” one wall, then use the paint roller to paint the wall with primer. A smooth wall requires a smooth nap roller, a rough or textured wall needs a heavy nap roller. After completing one wall remove the masking tape while the primer is still wet. Repeat this process for each wall until the room is completely primed. Let the paint primer dry thoroughly.

Utilizing a clean or new paint roller and tray, paint the room with Latex Paint in the same manner as you did when using primer. When finished, you can tell all of your friends you know how to paint your wall like a Professional.