Revamping your home with adding a mirror or just a lick of paint is a cheap and cheerful way to improve its overall aesthetics, however, it has to be done properly for it to be an improvement. Before you pick up that painter roller, you should know these important things to ensure you end up with a result you are happy with.

Have all the necessary equipment

You need to have all your equipment and materials ready to go before you start painting. Having to stop mid-way is not ideal and you can end up with a finish that doesn’t look the best. Your safety is priority, so to avoid injuries or falls, use a sturdy ladder or purchase a paint roller extension if this eliminates the need to get up on a ladder altogether.

When it comes to paint rollers, you have five main types to choose from, including:

  • Manual Rollers

You’ve probably seen or heard of a manual roller before. They are made up of the roller itself and a handle.

  • Pad Rollers

Rather than having a roller on the end, they have a flat pad. Instead of rolling, they lay flat against the wall. Pad rollers are great for reducing paint splatters and mess. They come in handy when doing corners and edges as you can get in close without having to go over the area with a paintbrush.

  • Textured Rollers

This type of roller creates texture or a pattern once it’s rolled over a surface. They come in many different designs, some popular ones include stone and timber effects.

  • Speciality Rollers

If you’re using textured paints, you will need to use a speciality roller to ensure it applies correctly and you get the desired effect as it is thicker than regular paint.

  • Mini Rollers

These rollers are good for small projects and hard to reach areas.

Make sure you use a roller that is suitable for the job.

Get a few samples before buying an entire tin of paint

You may have your heart set on a colour based on the charts or cards at the paint shop, but often once painted, it can appear darker or lighter. This can be because of the surface you are painting on. It can also be affected by the amount of natural light or shade that gets in the space. Once you have a colour in mind, get a few different samples that are similar to that to test them out before committing to a colour.

Select the right paint for the job

It’s not only the colour you need to factor in when painting. There are paints to suit almost every surface. Some include interior, exterior, and textured. Choosing the wrong paint for the job can be a disaster, think indoor paint accidentally painted outside. It is not going to have the endurance to withstand outdoor conditions and is undoubtedly going to look poor in no time.

To sheen or not to sheen?

The next decision is deciding whether you want a high gloss finish or a matte. Both have their pros and cons. Matte paints tend to hide minor imperfections better than gloss, whereas gloss is far easier to clean than matte. Determining which one is better for your space will depend on what you are painting and the finish you prefer.

Clean your walls

  1. You mustn’t skip this step. Not cleaning your walls sufficiently is going to make your paint job look shoddy. Dirt will mix with the paint and it can leave you graying looking lumps throughout it. Not only will you be left with a poor quality finish, but a dusty or dirty wall can prevent the paint from adhering which means you’ll more than likely have to redo it. You can clean your walls by:
  2. Brushing all the dirt, webs and dust off.
  3. Using a brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner, give the area a once over to pick up any small particles you may have missed with the brush. So you need a vacuum cleaner with brush attachments. Click here to find the best vacuum cleaner with brush attachments.
  4. Get a bucket and fill it with warm water and detergent, dip a sponge into the water and wring out before wiping over the entire surface. Clean the sponge out often so you are not pushing dirt around on the wall.
  5. Using a bucket of clean water only, wipe over the entire surface with a damp sponge.
  6. Make sure you don’t forget the skirtings and trims.
  7. Ensure the wall is entirely dry before attempting to paint it.

Its time to prime

Preparing your walls is key to achieving a professional finish. Priming gives you a clean surface to paint on and is your best chance of getting a smooth finish. Some paints have primer included to save time.

Start small

You may have ambitious goals of painting the entire house in a weekend but painting takes time. It’s important that you don’t rush and do it properly.

Speak to a professional about your painting goals

If painting is new to you, it’s a good idea to seek advice from a professional painter before picking up the roller. If you’ve tried painting before and it is not your cup of tea, why not hire a professional to take care of it for you? Here at MDC Specialists, we are committed to delivering helpful advice and producing finishes that are second to none. We would love to help you achieve your painting goals.
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