Painting can be a fun do-it-yourself weekend project, but getting perfect results often means hiring professionals to do the job. Bringing in the experts doesn't mean that there's nothing for you to do, however. Hiring a painting contractor to repaint a room (or your whole house!) will produce the best results if you follow these four steps before your painting crew arrives.
1. Remove Clutter and Clear Paths
Part of being a professional is bringing the right equipment to get the job done. Depending on the size of your project, your painters may show up with a relatively hefty toolkit. Because they will be carrying in ladders, brushes, trays, and paint cans, you'll want to make sure that the path to your project room is as clear as you can make it.
Not only will removing clutter make it easier for your painters to get through your house, but it'll also reduce the risk of damage to your items. As a general rule, you should always clean as well as you can before contractors arrive for any significant project.
2. Clean the Room
If you're hiring a professional painter, then there's one simple rule you should always follow: empty the project rooms. Properly cleaning the places that you're painting means removing as many items and pieces of furniture as you can. Professionals will do what they can to protect carpets and furniture, but too much clutter can make their work more difficult and slower.
If you can't remove everything, then move furniture away from walls and as close to the center of the room as you can. Some painters will take care of this for you, but doing it yourself means that the job gets done faster and costs you less money.
3. Leave Your Windows Bare
You should always remove curtains and blinds before a painting team arrives. Professionals will mask off window trim, but it's impossible to avoid damaging hanging curtains. Taking these items down yourself keeps your painters from wasting time on this step. Removing blinds is also a good idea since it tends to be challenging to protect them from paint splatter.
4. Prep Your Walls
Finally, consider doing some essential wall preparation on your own. Remove dust bunnies and cobwebs that are floating around in the corners, and give each wall a quick dusting. If you have the time, it can be helpful to clean your walls with a sponge and soap. Washing your walls before painting usually produces the best results, and doing it yourself frees your contractors to spend their time on actual paintwork.
Professional painting contractors can produce excellent results, but they rely on you to take a few preparatory steps. Doing what you can to make their job easier will ensure that your interior painting projects go off without a hitch.
Talk to a painting contractor, like Carvey Painting & Decorating Inc, to get more tips on how to prep your home for painters.