How to Repaint Walls for Your Renovation Project

In any renovation project, proper preparation is key to achieving a flawless finish. To successfully repaint walls, thorough preparation is needed to ensure long-lasting results and enhances the overall aesthetics of the space. From cleaning and repairing imperfections to priming and protecting adjacent surfaces, each step plays a vital role in the success of the project. 

How Do You Prepare Old Painted Walls for Repainting?

Effectively preparing walls for repainting is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your walls look great when the job is finished. Applying new paint directly to old walls can be ineffective and lead to peeling paint, which would require even more time and effort to fix. 

To prepare the walls for new paint, you will have to take a few steps, including the following:

1. Clear the Room or Cover Items

To begin preparing the room for a fresh coat of paint, you will need to clear the room of anything that you don’t want paint to fall on. Furniture can be removed from the room, or it can be simply covered with a tarp until the job is done. Be sure to cover light fixtures if you are painting the ceiling to avoid any paint splashing onto it.

2. Sand Any Rough Surfaces

The next step to prepare your walls to be repainted is to smooth out any imperfections. Sanding helps to remove bumps, dent, or old paint drips, ensuring a clean surface for the new paint to adhere to. Sanding also promotes better paint adhesion and reduces the likelihood of peeling or cracking over time. 

3. Fill in Any Holes

Along with sanding out imperfections, you should fill holes in walls before repainting. Start by cleaning the area and then apply spackle or filler to the hole using a putty knife. Make sure it is smooth and flush with the wall surface, and allow it to dry completely. After it has dried, gently sand the area to blend it with the surrounding surface.

4. Clean the Walls

The next step is to clean the walls. You can clean the walls by getting a slightly dampened cloth and brushing over the entire surface of the walls. This will help the paint adhere better to the walls and prevent imperfections. Wait for the walls to dry before applying any paint.

5. Tape Edges

After the walls have been cleaned and smoothed out, you can apply painter’s tape around the edges of the walls to prevent paint from getting on unwanted surfaces. Do your best to get the tape as flush to the surface as possible so when the paint dries it will be a straight edge.

6. Prime the Walls

Before repainting walls, priming is crucial to ensure a smooth and long-lasting finish. Apply a coat of primer using a roller or brush to achieve even coverage. Allow the primer to dry completely before proceeding with painting. Priming helps seal the surface, promotes better paint adhesion, and ensures consistent color and finish across the walls. 

How to Repaint Walls

Once you have completed the preparation process, you can begin painting. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to repaint walls like a professional:

1. Choose your paint colors and finishes.
2. Purchase the necessary paint supplies, including paint rollers, brushes, and paint trays.
3. Pour the paint into paint trays and load the roller evenly.
4. Begin painting with overlapping strokes, working from top to bottom and from one side to the other. An effective approach is to begin rolling by making a “W” shape and then filling in the empty spaces. Do this in small sections, reapplying paint to the roller often. 
5. Use a brush to paint around edges, corners, and trim. A smaller brush ensures a clean and precise finish.
6. Apply additional coats as needed, allowing each coat to dry completely between applications.
7. Carefully remove the painter’s tape. The ideal time to remove the paint is one hour after the paint is applied to avoid accidentally removing any dried paint along with it.
8. Clean your brushes, rollers, and other tools with soap and water.
9. Dispose of drop cloths and any other disposable materials properly. 

Choose Lloyd’s Remodeling & Cabinetry

Whether you need a repaint or a complete remodel, Lloyd’s Remodeling & Cabinetry offers comprehensive assistance to homeowners seeking to revive their space. With a skilled team and attention to detail, we handle every aspect of the project, from design to execution. Whether it is updating kitchens, bathrooms, or entire living spaces, Lloyd’s ensures exceptional results tailored to each client’s needs. We have included a video of a large project we worked on over several weeks. This video highlights the preparation to repaint walls and ceilings. If you are in need of a remodel, contact us today and we will get you scheduled. 

Michael Lloyd

Mike has been in the cabinetry business since 2003 where he started as a CNC Machine operator in his father’s commercial production cabinetry factory. He has experience in all aspects of manufacturing cabinets from machining, assembly, and finishing. Mike Joined Lloyd’s Remodeling & Cabinetry as a co-owner in 2013 where he specializes in hands-on retail showroom sales. Mike’s expertise is in designing and developing all of our interior remodel projects. Mike is masterful at designing and executing full scale kitchen and bath remodels and has been very successful in meeting the needs of even the most meticulous customers. Mike doesn’t believe in “Selling a Job”, rather he builds a relationship with each customer who chooses to engage in the process with Lloyd’s Remodeling because he understands that “people buy from people”.