Has the child moved?Is it time to paint their room the color you want?Are the empty walls full of pinholes from Justin Bieber, Beyoncé and Vance posters?
You may need to do some repair work before covering their problematic paint color with a more refined option.
Clean the walls.The quality of any paint job depends on how well you prepare your walls.Start by putting on a pair of large, thick rubber gloves and goggles, then wash the walls with the cleaner TSP (trisodium phosphate), then rinse with clean water.This will be the start of the best paint job your house has ever seen.
Check for defects.Once the walls are sparkling, survey their surfaces inch by inch.Check for scratches in the drywall texture (likely from moving furniture) or ink stains left by super creative kids.Move a light on the surface.When you find a hole or gap, put a piece of tape next to it so you can easily find it while repairing.Use tape.Pencils or pens will bleed paint.
Ink stains: Seal ink stains by spraying a primer called KILZ on those spots.Cover imperfections in the drywall texture with simple drywall mud.
Pinholes: Paint alone will not cover pinholes or nail holes.Fill the pinhole with filler compound.Apply with a putty knife, spreading it thinly on the wall.Let it dry, then lightly sand with fine-grit sandpaper.
To repair torn drywall, cut away any loose paper.Seal exposed drywall with an antifouling primer.This prevents the drywall from absorbing moisture from the soon-to-be-applied joint compound.Allow the primer to dry, then sand the exposed drywall edges to remove the paper.Cover the gouge with a thin layer of joint compound, feathering it along the wall.If necessary, apply a second coat, also feathering.Wait for it to dry and sand it smooth.
TIP: When using a joint compound, cover with a primer before painting to prevent the “glitter” that occurs when the joint compound absorbs the paint and darkens the finish.
Abrasion: Use a rag or microfiber cloth to remove dust and debris that dulls the appearance of the paint.Dusting will make cleaning more efficient.
Joe Campbell of Arizona Paint, a Rosie Certified Partner, recommends using a damp cloth or rag to remove wear.Depending on the paint finish, some marks come off easily.If not, use a mild dish soap.For stubborn stains, ammonia, vinegar, or baking soda diluted with water will work in most cases.
Never mix ammonia with bleach.The fumes are toxic and the mixture can damage the paint.Avoid using bleach or a rough brush.Open windows for ventilation during and after cleaning.
Apply a colored primer.If the walls are already painted, spray the primer over the holes and scratches you repaired.However, if you’re painting walls that have never been painted before, you’ll need to prime them.
Most primers are white, so ask your paint store to add a little tan (a clay pigment) until the primer is a slightly grayish color.
Once the gray primer is applied to the wall, it will accentuate any imperfections.This will give you another chance to get it really smooth before painting.Once you paint over the primer, you can clearly see any areas where the paint has rolled too thin.
Before you paint, place a large spotlight about a foot away from the wall.Keep the nose the same distance from the wall and let the light show you the last little imperfections in the texture.Use an 8- or 10-inch drywall knife to spread diluted drywall joint compound over cracks.Let it dry.Then repaint those spots before painting.
Retouching paint: “One of the biggest and most common mistakes when retouching paint is choosing a different shade than the original paint,” says Campbell.”It can make things worse by painting imperfections with mismatched paint.”
Campbell recommends using the original paint color and the tool used to lay down the original paint coat.If a scroll wheel is used, use it for retouching.The same goes for brushes, sprays, etc.This will help the paint mix.
Another trick is to thin the paint slightly with water for a seamless blend.This will make the finish less noticeable, as a thinner piece of paint will look better than a thicker piece of paint.
Stir the paint thoroughly, especially if it’s been sitting in a garage or other non-air-conditioned storage cabinet for a long time.You want the paint to be as smooth as possible for a nice, clean look when it dries.
Apply a new coat: Choose a flat paint for the restored walls.It hides imperfections like nail holes better than a glossy finish.
Use good quality paint tape to protect the ceiling when painting the edges of the walls and vice versa.It also helps keep paint from catching on windows, woodwork, trim, and anything you don’t want paint on.
Don’t paint straight vertical lines.You’ll end up with visible lines showing where one stroke stops and another starts, and the gloss on the wall will be inconsistent.
Instead, using a roller, draw a large “W” on a blank wall, followed by a few large “Xs” on top.Fill in the gaps by rolling paint on vertical lines.
Get cheap results with an inexpensive roller.Invest in a good roller that will spread the paint evenly and will last more than the job.
Join Rosie on KTAR News 92.3 FM every Saturday from 8am to 11am.If you would like to send us questions or comments, please email us at mailto:info@rosieonthehouse.com.Follow us on Twitter and “Like” us on Facebook.For more do-it-yourself tips, visit rosieonthehouse.com.Since 1988, Arizona-based homebuilding and remodeling industry expert Rosie Romero has been the host of the House radio show United Saturday Morning Rosie.Call 888-767-4348 with questions and comments.