If you’ve decided to do your painting project yourself instead of hiring a professional painter, there are some common painting mistakes you’ll want to avoid. When DIY homeowners decide to tackle their painting project themselves, there’s a common tendency to skip important steps. We will try to spell out many of the most common painting mistakes so that your DIY project can turn out great!
COMMON PAINTING MISTAKES AND WAYS TO AVOID THEM:
1.) NOT COVERING FLOORS AND/OR FURNITURE
Covering your floors and furniture with drop cloths and tarps takes a lot of time and material. Many DIYers think “I don’t need to worry about covering ‘that’, I’m really careful and I won’t spill the paint!”. Unfortunately, that mindset has led to many hours of cleaning up unnecessary messes. The problem isn’t always spilling paint as much as it is the splatters from the roller. Tiny droplets of paint typically fly off the roller as paint is being applied and those droplets can travel an incredible distance. It is in your best interest to invest in the drop cloths and cover everything.
2.) NOT TESTING THE COLOR BEFORE PAINTING THE ROOM
Another one of the most common painting mistakes is not testing the color(s) in your room before painting. Stores that sell paint always sell smaller sample cans and can mix any color you wish to take home and paint test swatches. Paint chips are just a starting point. They give you a rough idea of what the paint will look like in your room. However, you always want to take the time to paint test patches of the colors you think you like on different walls in the room. Look at those colors in different lighting situations and at different times of the day. In different lighting, colors can change drastically.
3.) KEEPING KIDS AND PETS OUT OF THE PAINTING AREA
Kids, pets, and wet paint are a bad combination and easily fall into the category of common painting mistakes! It’s difficult enough to keep yourself out of the wet paint. Trying to keep pets and children from knocking over a paint can, not stepping in the paint tray, or leaning on a freshly painted wall is nearly impossible. The best option is to send the kids and pets to Grandma’s house during the painting hours. You’ll save yourself a ton of stress and you’ll complete the job twice as fast!
4.) GETTING PAINT ON THE CEILING FROM THE ROLLER
Accidentally hitting the ceiling with the roller filled with paint is one of the common painting mistakes that can be quite frustrating. To avoid this, use a hand masker and mask off the perimeter of the ceiling.
After masking off the ceiling, cut in the paint (paint a strip of paint along the top of the wall next to the ceiling) so you have a strip of horizontal paint to act as a buffer. Using a good quality angled paintbrush makes cutting in the line much easier. Once you have painted your cut line, you can easily use your roller to roll into that buffer line and avoid getting near the ceiling. Taking the time to tape off the ceiling and cut in the paint will be time well spent.
5.) USING THE WRONG SHEEN
A flat sheen (flat, eggshell, satin) is better for surfaces that have imperfections. A higher sheen like semi-gloss or gloss paint will only highlight imperfections. Choosing the right sheen for a project is one of the most common painting mistakes made. This can be easily avoided by talking to a paint representative to ensure you are getting the right sheen for your project.
6.) NOT USING PAINTERS TAPE OR LEAVING IT UP TOO LONG
Not using painter’s tape or leaving it up too long can cause a big mess. Paint can easily bleed through tape onto areas you don’t want if using the wrong kind of tape. For the best results, choose a good quality painter’s tape. Press hard to seal off edges around windows, ceilings, and baseboards. This will prevent the paint from bleeding underneath the tape. The next important step is to remove the tape before the paint dries. If the painter’s tape is left on until the paint is dry, the tape can peel the new paint right off the wall!
7.) LOADING THE BRUSH OR ROLLER WITH TOO MUCH PAINT
Loading the brush or roller with too much paint made our list of common painting mistakes as well. If too much paint is loaded, you will end up with messy drips, splatters, and wasted paint. Further, the paint will not spread evenly and sometimes fail to dry properly. You are much better off putting 2 thinner coats of paint rather than trying to get away with a thicker single coat. To properly load a brush, dip the brush so that only the bottom ⅓ of the bristles are covered. You don’t want to dunk the brush in until the paint touches the ferrule.
8.) NOT PURCHASING ENOUGH PAINT
Not purchasing enough paint will not only be frustrating in the middle of a job but can cause problems with color matching. When you purchase enough paint all at the same time, you can rest assured the color will be the same. It’s also a good idea to mix all the paint in a larger container to ensure consistent color.
When you purchase smaller cans, each can be a slightly different color even though the color formula is the same. Mixing it all will ensure the entire project will match. Measure your room a couple of times to ensure your measurements are accurate. There are many paint calculators online to help you estimate the amount of paint you’ll need once you’ve measured. It’s always best to purchase a little extra paint, just in case. It’s also nice to have some leftover paint for touch-ups later.
9.) PAINTING THE 2ND COAT OF PAINT TOO SOON
A lack of patience is one of those common painting mistakes that we can all understand. Painting provides instant gratification and we all get excited to see the finished product. However, if you rush the process and don’t let the first coat dry properly, you risk ruining all your hard work. Applying the second coat too soon can leave a mess of visible brush strokes or roller lines. It can also result in peeling paint. You’ll want to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying time between coats to get the most professional result.
10.) USING THE WRONG PAINTBRUSH
Using the wrong paintbrush for your project is an avoidable mistake if you read the information on the cover. Synthetic brushes are best for water-based latex paint, and natural-bristle brushes work best for oil-based paints. Purchasing a good quality brush will be key to the ease and outcome of your paint application. A good brush is worth the price in helping to achieve a smooth, professional finish.
There are, of course, a multitude of common painting mistakes that can be made. However, if you’ve done your homework, asked professionals for advice, and prepared for the job properly, you can end up with a beautiful job.
