Whether your house interior walls consist of : gypsum board/drywall, plaster, simulated plaster, plywood, or wood paneling; before painting it you will need to prepare the substrate (surface) to receive the paint or finish coat. Herein lies the work, however, some cases may prove to be less demanding then others, but it is so important to get it right here because this literally is the foundation on which you will build, for instance, if your walls consist of drywall or sheetrock, as it is most commonly known; you must inspect it thoroughly before proceeding. Check to see if there are any small holes, cracks, mapping lines; not to mention pits, large holes and possibly failing drywall tape. A careful inspection should shed some light on what you really need to do in order to get the walls ready and worthy to receive paint. And if you do need to remove the existing tape and replace it with new tape, then by all means do so. If you have a large hole in your walls you may need to install a piece of new drywall and finish it out. Sometimes, installing a whole new drywall panel is necessary when the hole is extremely large, but whether you're installing a new panel, partial panel, or just skimming over some areas try to do a good job by keeping your work smooth and neat. After all, every thing that you do at this stage will definitely show up in the finish work. So remember to keep it neat and smooth throughout your repairing and preparation stages.
If your interior walls consist of plaster and repairs are in order, again, smoothness and neatness are the operative words. Superficial or cosmetic repairs to plaster can be done by most homeowners, however, if you have a more serious problems such as: plaster falling to the floor; failing lath, large size crevices and cracks---call a reputable plaster contractor right away! But as I stated earlier, many simple repairs can be successfully done by the homeowner.
Your walls might consist of wood, if that is the case, be sure to take the time to inspect it carefully to see if you have any problems, if so, try to correct them as neatly and professionally as you possibly can. You can fill in dents and small holes with a good wood filler, and then sand it smooth with an electrical sander, or maybe you can hand sand it and avoid using electrical sanders that can quickly cause damage to your wood. And with using any electrical tools always work safely and wear full safety gear. If some of your wood boards or paneling need to be replaced then do so. The key to beautiful walls is properly preparing your substrate to achieve a uniform and symmetrical look...and that applies to any type material that your walls may consist of.
If your interior walls consist of plaster and repairs are in order, again, smoothness and neatness are the operative words. Superficial or cosmetic repairs to plaster can be done by most homeowners, however, if you have a more serious problems such as: plaster falling to the floor; failing lath, large size crevices and cracks---call a reputable plaster contractor right away! But as I stated earlier, many simple repairs can be successfully done by the homeowner.
Your walls might consist of wood, if that is the case, be sure to take the time to inspect it carefully to see if you have any problems, if so, try to correct them as neatly and professionally as you possibly can. You can fill in dents and small holes with a good wood filler, and then sand it smooth with an electrical sander, or maybe you can hand sand it and avoid using electrical sanders that can quickly cause damage to your wood. And with using any electrical tools always work safely and wear full safety gear. If some of your wood boards or paneling need to be replaced then do so. The key to beautiful walls is properly preparing your substrate to achieve a uniform and symmetrical look...and that applies to any type material that your walls may consist of.
