During this time of year most of us love to decorate. The festive cheer we tack, tape or nail up in our homes, can really do a damaging number on our painted walls and ceilings. Don’t skimp on the holiday spirit, just learn how to erase it from your walls. Here are the steps you need to take to restore your walls to their pre-holiday beauty, without repainting the entire room. So, let’s get started!
1st thing you will want to do is make sure the surface you will be touching up is clean. Dirt, dust and grime can accumulate on your walls or ceilings, this will make it difficult for new paint to stick and cure correctly. Use a sponge, water and a mild detergent to wipe down the work area. Follow this with a towel dry and give it awhile to air dry. Make sure the area is completely dry before proceeding.
2nd step will be to make repairs. Lightly sand (with a fine-grit sandpaper) to smooth the surface around the imperfection to be fixed. Using a putty knife, plug nail holes, dents and blemishes with a quality spackle compound. Make sure the hole is filled completely and scrape off the excess. Allow several hours for the spackle to set properly, and use a sanding sponge or fine-grit paper to even out any raised areas. (If damage is more than 2″, you will need a wall repair patch and joint compound to fill the hole properly, follow directions on packaging)
3rd step will be to prime the area. Priming is a vital step as it ensures your paint will adhere correctly. Using a clean paint brush, remove dust from the area produced in the previous step. Next you will want to apply a quality primer to just the area being repainted. Overlapping primer on existing paint can cause an uneven finish. Let primer dry completely according to product specifications.
Now we are ready to paint. Step 4 is to apply the same paint in the same manner (brush, roller, etc.) in which it was done originally. It is always a good idea to keep extra paint after a job, but if you don’t have the same paint, you can have a sample paint matched at most paint stores. Let this dry thoroughly.
Last step is to check your work. Looking at different times of day and in different types of light, inspect your wall at an angle. Remember not to look too closely, if you look too long you will always find something that no one else will ever notice. So cut yourself a break, and enjoy your beautiful work.
If the job seems too big, or you just don’t have time for all this work, the commercial painting professionals at Mountain Valley Painting are always here to help. Call for a free estimate! 801-865-9987