DIY Guide: Prepare a Wall for Painting

When it comes to Do It Yourself (DIY) projects, you want the end result to look like a professional helped you accomplish your task. You can save a lot of money with DIY projects, and all it takes is a little preparation and effort.

Painting a fresh coat of color onto any wall in your home is a great DIY project. The key to great results in painting is preparation of the wall. With this guide, you will have the tools to help you prepare a wall like a professional.

Items you will need for this project include:

Protective cloth (drop cloth, old sheet or newspapers)
Screwdriver
Bucket
Mild Detergent
Sponge
Tools for wall imperfections, such as sand paper, putty knife, and putty

Step One:
Clear the room you are painting of all furniture, decorations, mirrors, pictures, and loose items. Prepare the floor with protective covering such as a drop cloth (a plastic drop cloth works great), an old sheet, or newspapers to avoid paint splatters. Use painters tape and other tools to protect any hard to remove light fixtures, or vent plates.

Step Two:
Use a screwdriver to remove all outlet and light switch covers. If you choose not to remove switch covers, you can use painters tape around the covers for a professional look. If you choose to remove the light switch covers, make sure the electricity to the room is switched off before you begin unscrewing the plate. You can find the main circuit box underneath the stairs, in the hallway, or outside of your home. After you have switched off the electricity, use a voltage detector to double check to make sure the outlets in the room you are painting are no longer live. Once you have determined that it is safe, unscrew the outlet plate and remove it for easy painting.

Step Three:
Prepare the wall by examining the wall for imperfections. Such imperfections might include, holes, loose or peeling paint, scratches, ridges, and so forth. Gather the correct tools for each imperfection and if you are sanding, make sure to protect your eyes and mouth from dust particles. Also make sure the room is well ventilated for your safety.