15 Things Not To Do When Painting Your Home, by Chism Brothers Painting

Last Updated: September 14, 2011

You can never be too cautious when working on a meticulous painting project. These are forteen things you shouldn’t do when painting.

1. Don’t skip the tape.

Even the most experienced painters can accidentally go off-line when painting. Grab some painters tape to get clean lines and edges.

2. Don’t paint without primer.

When you don’t use primer, the paint doesn’t adhere as well and the color doesn’t appear to be as vibrant. So for best results, use primer, or get a paint that is made to be used without primer.

3. Don’t underestimate the amount of paint needed.

The rule of thumb is 1 gallon for every 400 square feet. You don’t want to run out of paint three-quarters way through a project; even if you go out to buy more of the exact same color sometimes you can tell when it’s a new batch of paint.

4. Don’t assume walls are clean.

People don’t usually think to wash their walls before painting, but paint looks much better when it has a good, clean surface to adhere to.

5. Don’t skip surface prep.

Surface preparation, like sanding and filling in holes is just as important as making sure your walls are clean. The finished product always looks better if the surface was properly prepared.

6. Don’t be impatient.

The old saying: “haste makes waste” always holds true. Don’t start sanding until the patching compound is dry, and don’t do a second coat of paint until the first is dry, or you might have to redo all your work. In the end, it’s worth it to not be hasty.

7. Don’t start a painting project without first checking what materials you have or need.

If you run out to buy more supplies halfway through your project, it’s more likely that you’ll come back and forget a few details about where you left off. Doing a quick inventory before you begin painting is always worth it.

8. Don’t brush when you should roll.

When you are working with a large surface areas, it’s always more efficient to roll. Brushing larger areas tends to leave brush-strokes that show even after the paint dries.

9. Don’t paint when the humidity is high.

Paint doesn’t set as well in humid air, so if it’s humid, either put a dehumidifier in the room or wait a day or two to paint. This typically will not be a problem in San Diego.

10. Don’t use the wrong kind of brush.

Make sure your brush is in good condition and is high quality like Wooster or Purdy. A good brush will hold more paint and apply paint better than the cheap brands.

11. Don’t paint with lots of furniture in the room.

The more furniture there is in a room, the more likely you will be to accidentally get paint on something. Try to move as much as you can out of the room before painting, and make sure the remaining items are completely covered.

12. Don’t forget to protect the floor.

It is nearly impossible to remove dry paint from a surface without damaging the surface, so be sure to cover up all of the floor with a drop-cloth.

13. Don’t splatter the door knobs.

Unless you like the look of speckled door-knobs, we suggest you cover them up with a piece of tape or better yet, remove them during your painting project.

14. Don’t paint the wall plates.

For the best-looking results, take a few extra minutes to remove the plates and tape around your light switches and electrical outlets.

15. Don't go cheap if you do decide to hire a painter

Either paint yourself or hire a real professional painting company. If you go for a cheaper bid, believe me, the paint job won't look as good and you'll be disappointed. You might as well do it yourself. I've been guilty myself of hiring someone with a lower price before and I end up spending more time managing their work and being nit picky. A true professional paint company will do a very high quality paint job, and yes, you will have to pay more for that service. You are paying for their expertise, using the right paints, managing the job, putting the colors where you said to put them and the finish product looks wonderful. How much more will you pay? There are many folks who paint homes yet lack the professionalism and business knowledge to really do a good job. I believe you'll need to budget 30-50% higher in most cases.

These things are commonly overlooked in do-it-yourself painting, but if you take note of this list you will save yourself from frustration and will have much better results.