Common Painting Mistakes to Avoid When Painting Your House
There are so many common painting mistakes that you need to avoid when you’re painting your house. You can ruin the whole project with just one brushstroke if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Then, to fix it, you’ll have to paint all over again, which means spending time (and money) on painting your house. Luckily, you can avoid all of that nonsense with some advice from the team at McHugh Painting.
Keep reading for some handy tips to help you avoid the worst painting mistakes!
1) Forgetting To Clean & Prep Walls Before Painting
Paint should always go on a clean, good surface. And that means doing proper prep work, including cleaning before surface prep—especially in the kitchen, where walls and cabinet doors collect grease and grime from cooking.
The surface for the paint must be smooth and dry. If the wall is uneven, dirty, or damaged, the paint won't adhere properly and could peel or dry unevenly. Skipping this step is one of the common mistakes that can ruin the entire process of painting.
2) Not Including Primer In Your Prep
Priming should be the final stage of surface prep. Even if your wall didn’t need any repairs or sandpaper work, and you’re just looking for a colour change, you still need primer.
Primer creates a blank canvas for the new colour to shine through without being obstructed by the layers beneath. Skipping this step can cause the paint to get uneven or result in visible brush marks, especially when using a paintbrush on drywall or interior walls.
You can avoid some of the hassle by using paint that has primer mixed in, but when in doubt, applying a dedicated primer still works best.
3) Thinking You Don’t Need Painters Tape
Unless you have the hand dexterity of Picasso himself, it’s ALWAYS best to use painter’s tape. Sealing off trim edges, baseboards, and all the room’s electrical outlets will prevent painting accidents and drips.
So, it saves you a lot of time in correcting them. Plus, painter’s tape helps you achieve clean lines that make everything look professional.
4) Not Letting Paint Completely Dry Between Coats
Painting multiple coats helps seal the paint colour and helps the paint last longer. Some think that it’s unnecessary, but it really does help to keep things looking vibrant.
But when paint doesn’t fully dry before another layer goes on top, it can ruin EVERYTHING. So, you’ll want to make sure that you let every coat (including primer) dry completely before painting another.
5) Choosing The Wrong Paint Colours
Choosing the right paint colours for each room in the house can be a tricky deal. First, you need to choose colours that go with your home’s decor theme. Then you have to figure out how to arrange the colours differently for each room.
But having a whole home colour scheme is always best because it keeps all your rooms looking like they belong together without risking monotony. A whole-home colour scheme uses the same colour for every room. But the colours are arranged differently to keep things interesting.
6) Buying Cheap Paint
There’s nothing wrong with saving money on home upgrades, but they don’t say, “You get what you pay for,” for nothing. You will always be safer with a good-quality top-tier brand than with a bargain brand.
No paint brand formulates their paint the same way. Cheap brands typically use low-quality pigments that fade quickly. And the colours usually look totally different from the sample or paint swatch. Plus, cheaper brands tend to leave lower-quality results with streaks and lines.
7) Using the Wrong Tools for the Job
Using the wrong tools, whether it's the roller, paintbrush, or applicator, can lead to brushstrokes, splatter, and uneven finishes. It’s crucial to choose the correct tools based on your surface, paint type, and project scale.
For example, walls and ceilings typically need a roller to get even coverage, while trim, borders, and corners require angled brushes with firm bristles. Skimping here can mean using too much paint in tight spaces or too little paint across larger areas, creating lap marks or bleeding.
If you're working with oil-based paint, use natural-bristle brushes; for latex, go synthetic. Before you apply the paint, dip the brush only one-third of the way, this prevents overload and drips. A light coat works best for smooth coverage; multiple coats reduce the need to fix paint streaks or re-do sections.
Avoid All These Mistakes By Hiring A Painting Pro
The best way to avoid any and all common painting mistakes is to delegate the project to someone who knows house painting like none other.
At McHugh Painting, we bring you the best of the best results so you can spend your time on bigger and better things! Contact us today to get the ball rolling on your next painting project!