Top Issues of Interior Painting and How to Avoid Them
Interior painting can be a fun opportunity to watch your favorite rooms in your home transform for the better. But there’s a lot of problem-solving that comes with a painting project. And you don’t want to get all the way to the end only to discover that the room doesn’t look how you were expecting.
We’re here to help! Let’s count down some of the most common causes behind issues with interior paint finish and longevity, as well as tips for avoiding those problems.
Common Interior Painting Problems
8. Leftover Paint or Adhesive
If you’re repainting a room, failure to remove all the old and damaged paint from the walls and ceilings will cause uneven textures and finishes. Similarly, failure to remove wallpaper completely before painting walls means you’re likely leaving scraps and adhesive behind. That’s going to prevent smooth, seamless paint application when it’s time to get the brushes out.
- To Avoid This: Carefully select solvents and scrapers for your project based on the type of paint that is on your wall. Apply the product, use the tools as directed, and make sure walls are clean and dry before applying primer and new paint
7. Moisture Damage and Discoloration
If you’re seeing spots on your wall that are darker or degraded in color compared to the surrounding paint, you likely have moisture damage at and below the surface. This is unsightly and frustrating if you’ve put a lot of effort into painting the area. And leaving it unattended runs the risk of the damage worsening and causing even more aesthetic and structural issues in your home interior.
- To Avoid This: If you’re noticing this damage around an entryway, improperly or incompletely caulking interior windows could be to blame. Interior caulking is one of the surest ways to prevent moisture damage. But it’s important to use the right amount of caulk, to apply evenly, and to allow it to dry completely before moving on to the next phase of your painting project. Any water damage should be checked by a painting contractor immediately in case you need wood rot repair and replacement to prevent cracking or crumbling walls, ceilings, doors, or windows.
6. Too Much or Too Little Paint
Have you ever run out of paint in the middle of a project? How about loading up the brush or roller to make sure you have enough, only to have paint drip on the floor or on a surface of another color? Not planning for or using the correct amount of paint is an easy problem to have. The good news is that there are multiple steps you can take to avoid it.
- To Avoid This: Calculate the amount of paint you’ll need by researching how much paint is typically needed for the project you’re doing and for the square footage of your space. Learn about paint storage so no paint goes to waste. And when painting, avoid overloading the brush or tray. Test on a part of the surface you won’t see to determine how it applies before taking the plunge.
5. The Wrong Kind of Paint, Stain, or Primer
Being in the paint aisle at the home improvement or hardware store can be overwhelming, and you might accidentally choose the wrong paint. This is going to affect how well it adheres, what it looks like, and how long it lasts, all for the worse.
- To Avoid This: Pay careful attention to the labels. Be sure you are matching your paint, primer, and wood stain to where you’re painting (interior or exterior), the surface type, and any other special considerations you have. You’ll need to be even more specific when working on specialty finishes.
4. Painting an Unprepared Surface
Some of the previous items on this list should be a clue: surface preparation mistakes go hand in hand with interior paint failure, degradation, and lack of appeal.
- To Avoid This: Completely remove the paint, primer, stain, adhesive, and whatever other material is on the surface. Be sure the drywall or other underlying surface itself is in good shape structurally and that it’s clean and dry. Then you can work on getting your primers, paints, and stains on.
3. Painting in the Wrong Order
Painting areas of the room out of order can lead to inconsistent finishes and unnecessarily long projects.
- To Avoid This: Start with ceiling painting. Then paint the walls. Then paint any trim or skirting boards. Then the windows. Finally, door painting.
2. Temperature and Drying Issues
If you paint in a room that’s too hot or too cold, the paint won’t dry evenly or completely. You’ll be left with a finish that doesn’t look its best and a frustrating desire to repaint. Likewise, not allowing primers, paints, or stains to dry before doing more means your finish will look different than you planned.
- To Avoid This: Your paints and primers should include information about drying times. Follow those instructions, and confirm the surface is completely dry before adding another coat. Keep the temperature mild in the room you’re painting.
1. Going Over Time and Over Budget
Making any of the mistakes we’ve covered so far means you’re either spending too long painting or will have to repaint, which involves the additional cost and time of more paint removal and reapplication.
- To Avoid This: Work with a painting contractor. Professional interior painting services may mean a larger investment than your initial DIY project. But the interior house painters at TRICO PAINTING will really be helping you protect your home and your wallet in the long run. Getting it right the first time means avoiding paint removal, repaints, and other frustrations that come with common interior painting mistakes.
Don’t wait until you feel stuck and stressed to get help with your projects. Trust your home to the experts at TRICO PAINTING so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a more beautiful home. Ready to get started? Contact us for your interior painting quote today.