How to prepare walls for painting

Step 1: Preparation

To achieve the perfect finish you need to wash, fill, sand and dust the surface being painted.Move furniture and use a drop sheet to cover the floor and furniture.Remove any light fittings and switches. If they can’t be removed, mask or cover them.

Stains such a grease, oil, smoke, dirt and dust will affect paint adhesion – so even if your surface looks clean, wash it to ensure a perfect finish.Wash the surface using sugar soap, following the instructions on the packaging. Then rinse off using a fresh wet cloth.

A flexible gap filler is recommended for gaps at joins, or in the corners.A standard interior flexible filler is recommended for hairline cracks, holes and larger gaps on the surface.Use a medium grit sand paper to remove any remaining filler.For larger cracks and holes follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Apart from bare plasterboard, almost every surface must be sanded before painting.Before you start, protect yourself with safety glasses and a dust mask.Contact the British Paints Advice Line on 13 25 25 before tackling lead based paint.
For hand sanding, use a sanding block. Don’t push too hard. Let the grit do the work for you.Small areas can be hand sanded but a power sander will help save time. Follow the same steps as hand sanding, working your way from a course grit to fine.For perfect paint adhesion, make sure you clean up any dust residue.
Now you're ready to paint.