If you’re planning to update the interior of your home, a paint job may be part of the plan. You may not realize it, but there are a few steps that need to be taken before your hard-working painting crew arrives at your home. Preparation is key when tackling large projects like this; knowing how to get the house ready for its new look will help things go smoothly. Here are some things you can do now to prepare your home for a new paint job.
What to Do Before the Painters Come
Remove the furniture from the area to be painted
Many ask, “Do painters move furniture”? In most cases painters do not move furniture unless it is written in the contract as a service. When your painter has an open space, it makes it easier to finish the paint job quickly and efficiently. It's best to remove all furniture, but if that's not possible, move any pieces directly next to the wall 3–4 feet away. If you have fragile items, move them safely to another room.
Be sure to remove items from your closet space as well if you are getting it painted. This will ensure that there is no paint on your clothes and shoes when the job is complete.
Remove Pictures
Take down any pictures and artwork from the walls and remove the nails. If you want to hang up pictures in the same place, we tell our customers to leave the nail in the wall as a reminder of where it goes, and we will work around it. J&J Painting will fill in the holes left by your old pictures if you let us know ahead of time.
Clear Walkways
One of the most important things you can do when preparing for painters to come is to clear away any clutter in hallways and walkways so there can be unobstructed access to the work area.
Remove Curtains
Take down your curtains and store them in a safe place.
Roll Up Rugs
Remove all rugs from the work area by rolling them up. A lot of people make the mistake of leaving their rugs in place when painting, which can cause problems if there is a spill or drop of paint. The best way for a painter to work is when there are as few items in the way as possible.
Arrange Pet Care
If you have pets, it's always best to make sure they're taken care of before the painters come. It may seem obvious, but many people forget about their pets when it comes time for a big project like painting.
Clean Dirty Baseboards
Take the time to clean your baseboards.
If the baseboards are dirty, they will show through any paint that is applied. The dirt in the lines of the molding may cause your paint to peel off later on down the road.
As part of our interior painting services, we will prepare the working area of your home to ensure paint does not get on any surfaces. When you hire J&J Painting here is what you can expect from our team, we will:
Remove all outlet plates or outlet covers and switch plates
Remove blinds
Cover the furniture with plastic to protect it from any drips or splatters
Protect the floors with a drop cloth or floor paper.
Use plastic or paper on the light fixtures. This will protect them from getting smudged and dirty while we're painting around them—and it makes cleanup afterwards a breeze!
Fill any holes smaller than a quarter with caulk or Spackle. We can also do anything larger, but it would be considered a drywall repair and would cost an additional fee.
Do a dry wipe of baseboards to remove light dust
A professional house painting job can be one of the most impressive home improvements you have ever getting the largest possible return on your investment is an important consideration. To ensure that you get exactly what you're looking for, take the necessary time to prepare your house beforehand. Your end product will be that much better, and you'll also find the whole process a lot smoother and less stressful.