Shurline Paint Products- Wall preparation

Last week we chose our tools, and the right paint. Today Luke showed us how to prepare the wall properly, ready for painting.

Unless you want your furniture to look like a Jackson Pollock painting, it's best to take it all out of the room. If you can't, move it as far away from the wall as possible and cover them with plastic or dustsheets. Then throw your drop sheets on the floor.

Small holes, cracks and other surface blemishes are easy problems to fix on your own. But with extensive damage, you might have to call in a professional. Large cracks could indicate uneven settling of your foundation. If you can fit the tip of your little finger into a crack, consider having the foundation inspected.

But for minor problems, that's where your spackling comes in. You can use your finger of a putty knife to fill the holes. It's actually better to over fill them and their surrounding area, because once it dries you can sand it back with some fine sandpaper.

That way you'll end up with a nice smooth finish. If you notice any loose paint from the previous job, sand that back too.

Now your paint performance depends on good paint adhesion, and paint adheres best to surfaces that are clean. So wash down the walls with sugar soap or a suitable detergent.

This will remove any accumulated dirt, dust and grime ensuring a nice clean surface to paint. Once it's washed, rinse the wall thoroughly with water and let it dry completely. That way the soap residue won't react to the new layer of paint.

If your wall has any water stains or serious discolouration, it might be necessary to apply stain blocking primer to stop the stains from bleeding through the new paint.

And even if there are no stains, primer should be applied. It's the first coat used to seal the wall, and it creates a nonporous surface for the topcoat to adhere to. You can even tint the primer by adding a little bit of your paint into the primer can.

Now your wall is ready to go. Next week, Luke will show us how best to apply the paint, and be letting you in on a few essential tips as well.

For more information on the Shur-Line paint products your local paint or hardware store.

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