4 Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Painting Their Homes

Painting is an excellent way to refresh your home’s appearance, increase its value, and protect both interior and exterior surfaces from wear. However, many homeowners fail to realize that there’s more to painting than simply opening a tin of paint and brushing or rolling a wall. As a result, it’s easy to make a raft of mistakes that affect the finish and cost a great deal of time and money. If you’re about to kickstart a painting project and want to be in the best position for success, be aware of these common mistakes to avoid: 

Not Using the Professionals

If you’ve never performed any home painting before, there’s a lot to learn. If you don’t have time to expand your knowledge and complete the job to a high standard, it’s generally always better to enlist the services of trusted professionals.

However, not everyone does. They adopt an ‘it’ll be fine’ attitude and go full steam ahead with their painting project. It’s only after it’s done that they realize it doesn't meet their high standards. You can avoid that sense of regret by recognizing the project's scope before it begins. Knowing it’s more than you can comfortably handle, you can hire the trade pros before opening that first tin of paint. 

Skipping Surface Preparation

There’s no denying that painting can be a very fast process when you paint over the top of any surface, be it a wall, ceiling, floor, or piece of furniture. However, skipping proper surface preparation is one of the biggest mistakes you can make; many people end up painting multiple times.

Without preparing the surface, dirt, dust, and grease can prevent the paint from adhering properly. If there are any cracks and holes in the surface, they’ll show through the final coat. Additionally, if you haven’t addressed peeling paint before painting, it will continue to flake under the new layers. To ensure a quality finish, always spend time cleaning the surface, scraping off loose paint, sanding any rough areas, and patching holes and cracks. 

Not Using Primer

When you’re short on time, you may decide to skip primer, thinking it’s unnecessary for the surface you’re painting on. However, primer is more valuable than you think. It prevents color unevenness, reduces the risk of poor adhesion, and prevents stains from bleeding through. It’s especially important if you’re trying to cover stains, paint over dark colors, paint new drywall, or are switching from oil-based to latex paint. 

Choosing the Wrong Paint

Walk into your local decorating store, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of paint options. There seems to be something for every surface, finish, and need. As a result, choosing the wrong paint for the wrong surface is a common problem. 

You might use flat paint in high-traffic areas, choose an interior paint for an exterior surface, or ignore moisture-resistant paints designed for bathrooms and kitchens. To avoid repainting, learn which paints are suitable for different surfaces. Flat and matte paint are ideal for low-traffic areas, while eggshell and satin are suitable for living spaces. You would opt for semi-gloss or gloss paint for trims, kitchens, and bathrooms. 

If you’re about to start a new painting project, be aware of the common mistakes people make, like choosing the wrong paint, not hiring experts, and not preparing the surface. Awareness of these errors can reduce the risk of making them yourself, improving your chances of a professional finish.