When it comes to painting, quality finishes depends less on the color scheme you choose and more on what happens before painting. That term is known as surface preparation, proper surface preparation is crucial in case you are looking to achieve a smooth and durable finish. For a proper finish, it is not an option to skip or skim the step of surface preparation. Ignoring this step will lead you to peeling, fading, and cracking paint. For that post, we talk with a team of professional painters, we uncover many things below. Join us, as delve into why surface preparation before painting is so important.
First, What Is Exactly Surface Preparation?
Surface preparation is nothing but preparing a surface before applying paint on it. Making sure that the surface is ready to adheres the paint without leaving any imperfections. Why surface preparation is crucial? Because with even the highest quality of painting materials, the paint won’t perform applied over a dirty, dusty, and a surface that is full of cracks and holes. In case, you hire professional painters, they will make sure surface preparation with thorough cleaning, sanding, and priming. All these steps ensures a solid foundation for the paint.
1.Benefits Of Surface Preparation In Short
- Provides proper adhesive base for paint, prevents against peeling or blistering.
- Provides a smooth and even looking painting surfaces.
- Enhance paint durability, leaving less likelihood of repainting in short terms.
Key Steps To Ensure Proper Surface Preparation
With our brief session with professional painters, we uncover what makes a surface ready for painting.
1.Thorough Cleaning
This is the first step preparing any surfaces for painting. Through cleaning off all the dirt, dust, grease, and mildew can eliminate issues like uneven and blotchy surfaces. The cleaning methods are going to vary because of your choice of painters. But, cleaning methods also vary from interior to exterior. For exterior, professionals may use power washing to cleaning things in a quick. For interior, soup and water can remove dust and grime, effectively.
All this is important, because painting materials finds it very difficult to adjust themselves properly on dirty and dusty surfaces. In other to enjoy long-lasting painting finishes you have to make sure there are no contaminants on then surfaces.
2.Addressing Cracks And Imperfections
Once the surfaces are thoroughly cleaned, it’s now time for addressing any such imperfections like cracks and holes. If there are even slightest of noticeable flaws they are going to leave you with peeling paint. With proper approach, you have to address all those holes and cracks. You can fill those holes and cracks with good materials like spackling or patching compound.
Filling those holes and cracks can make sure that there is a even surface, so there will be no uneven surfaces. With no uneven painting layers, you can enjoy long-lasting finishes with no such bubbling and cracking overtime.
3.Sanding The Surfaces
After thorough cleaning and addressing any such holes and cracks, it is now time to sand the surfaces. Sanding make sure that the paint adheres properly and evenly. It can help you get rid of any old, flaking paint, also minor surface imperfections that are escaping the naked eye. Choosing the right grit level is essential when sanding, fine grits are used for smooth surfaces, while coarse grits are used for rough surfaces.
Sanding provides the textures that helps the surface to better grip the paint.
4.Applying Primer
This is the final step in surface preparation, right before starting painting. Primers serve as a binding layer between the surface and the paint, enhancing the adhesion of paint. Ensuring the paint longevity, and color vibrancy. It is important to choose the right primer type according to your building materials. Also, different primers works differently from purpose to purpose. For instance, oil-based primers are used where durability is required, while latex primers are considered good for interior walls.
Primer is essential for having a color vibrancy throughout the year, as it makes sure that the paint adhere better and uniform throughout.
The Risks Of Skipping Surface Preparation
As discuss earlier, skipping or skimming surface can leave you with finishes that are frustrating. If not taken serious, it will leave you with costly maintenance and repairs later on. Here are some risks of skipping surface preparation.
1.Peeling Paint
The paint that is applied to a dirty and unprepared surface is likely to peel or blister over time. This is because the paint hasn’t adhered correctly. Hence, making it vulnerable to environmental damages like temperature changes and humidity.
2.Uneven Paint Layers
Unprepared surfaces with dirt, dust, or existing textures causes issues like uneven painting layers. Which will ultimately leads to cracks, holes, or ridges.
3.Reduced Durability
Poorly prepared surfaces won’t hold up as well over time, requiring retouches more often. By investing time in thorough preparation, you can ensure that the paint job in durable and withstand normal wear and tear.
Why Professional Painters Excel At Surface Preparation
When you are hiring professional painters for your painting needs, you are not just hiring people with paint and brushes. You are hiring people with good experience and wisdom. They can make sure your property looks its best, and they will ensure every step to make it happen. If you hire professional painters, you set back and relax, as they are going to handle everything on your behalf, from your vision to your budget.
Happy Painting.
