The most important aspect of learning how to paint like a pro is knowing what needs to be done, when, and how. Any seasoned painter will tell you that preparation is more crucial than every other detail of the job. If you get your preparation right, everything else will just fall in line.

To start with, always inspect the surface to be painted. Look out for cracks, flaking or peeling, and get the area sanded or scraped to smoothen it. Where necessary, you should even consider washing the wall to get rid of tough stains.

Next would be to ensure you have all the necessary painting tools. Roller covers, brushes, painter’s tape, sprayer, you name it. Borrow, hire, or purchase your own from reputable dealers in the area. The last thing you need is for your painting job to be affected halfway through the project due to lack of equipment.

For the roller covers, you should know that they are available in different nap sizes. Whichever size you pick depends more on the surface texture. More texture on the walls would require a thicker nap on the roller cover for it to reach into crevices and cover a larger area. Plus, longer naps hold more paint.

While on equipment, you should look for an expert who is able to provide you with an estimate of how much paint will be required to complete the task, so that you can purchase it all at once, and score some major discounts. Plus, it is also convenient to mix all the paint at once and use it for the entire project, rather than having to stop and mix new paint occasionally.

Still on preparation, cover the areas and things you don’t want to be painted. From furniture, floors, doorknobs, and other hardware. Light switches and outlet covers are to be removed if you don’t want them to be stained or glued to the wall by paint.

Now, once you have ascertained everything is available, wait for a dry weather to start painting. This is mainly because the paint will dry faster during this period. However, if you can’t wait or you happen to live in an area where the weather is mostly humid, take advantage of the slow drying to undo any errors.

Always use a separate primer if you are working on a rugged surface, or an area that was last painted more than 8 years ago. The paint-and-primer combination is only ideal for clean and smooth surfaces that happen to get a painting retouch occasionally.

While painting, let the roller do its work. If you picked the right roller cover, there would be no need to apply too much pressure. What you should be more concerned about is finding an extension pole that can reach those high regions using very little effort.

Lastly, always paint from the top to bottom so that you can roll over any drips or spatters, thus saving you the hassle of repainting. It is a great practice that has enabled professional painters like us to build remarkable reputations. We are revered by residents and businesses a like for our quality painting services Cape Town wide. We could also help with your interior décor, wood varnishing, roof painting, floor painting, or redecoration if you contacted us on 087 550 2598. Our qualified and highly experienced painters are readily available to meet your painting needs. Check out our website at capetown painters for more information.

Infographic by Home improvement