A prelude to painting

Surface preparation prior to that long-needed coating is as important as choosing the right colour(s), type of paint and brand to go with your tastes and settings. In fact, many seasoned painters and interior designers emphasise on proper preparation before going in for actual coating.

A good paint on a surface well-prepared always gives one the satisfaction of the final product. In fact, experienced painters say paints on well-prepared surfaces always last longer.

Better the surface cleaning and preparation, better will be the life and gloss of the paint and lesser the cost will be ultimately, says T. Narayan Rao of Monarch Paints in Jambagh. In fact, all major paint companies stress on proper surface preparation to avoid disappointment once the final coat is done.

The first thing one should do before the painting work begins, obviously, is to take away all the curtains and fixtures from their places. All the furnishings in the room should be placed in middle of the room and covered fully so as not to let the dust settle on them or the paint ruin some expensive showpiece.
Prelims

Carpets, rugs or any such loose covering on the floor should be removed and placed in safer areas. Use covers or dustsheets for the purpose. Oily and greasy marks can be removed by using a sand paper. It also takes care of dust particles or rust in case of metals.

Insects or termites (wooden surfaces) should also be taken care of. Applying two to three coats of Kiricide 15 days prior to the day of painting should help. The substance penetrates the surface. Make sure it is dried up by the time it is painted.

Once the walls are clear of their adornments, wash their surfaces with soap or detergent to get rid of dust and debris. That done, the about to be painted surfaces should be carefully inspected for any kind of holes, cracks or loose plaster.

The look of a room can be greatly diminish if painted on a damp surface, says Vijay Kapoor of Tirupathi Paints in Jambagh. Besides, damp surfaces are not really conducive for wall painting. One of the golden rules when painting a room is to ensure all the surfaces to be painted are dry and clear of dust. A damp surface also can lessen the life of paint, says Mr. Rao.
‘Fix its’

Hence the maxim, a stitch in time saves nine always holds true in case of damp surface areas. In case any damp spots are spotted, they should be dealt with immediately. There are several ‘fix-its’ like Algi coat RE104 or Dr. Fix damp guard available in the market to stop/block small leakages. These ‘fix-its’ should be applied only after the first primer coat.

In case the seepage is more or there is excessive leakage, professional help should be sought. According to Mr. Rao, a new primer ‘Zysocil Primer’ is now available in the market. This primer can be applied directly on the wall’s surface before the application of first primer coat. Cracks and holes are another aspect that should be dealt with care. If not tended to in time, the risk of the cracks widening or the wall surfaces peeling after a point of time is greater.

Loose and flaky plaster can be detected by tapping the wall or ceiling surfaces. Portions where cracks have developed or are doubtful should be very carefully examined, says Yusuf, a professional painter. Once the cracks or holes are identified, correction measures can be taken.

Specific crack healing solutions are available at paint shops. While some just cover up small cracks, there are others like ‘wall care putty’ that act both as putty as well as to hide or rectify cracks.
Repairing cracks

While covering up the holes or cracks, it is advisable to fill it up more than the levelled surface, Mr. Kapoor says.

It is always possible for us to smoothen and level it to the wall’s surface by rubbing it with fine sandpaper, he adds. Seek professional help in case the cracks are larger.
Primer coat

Once these problems are dealt with the wall should be dried before the first coat of primer could be splashed over it.

In case one is planning to go in for a new coat of paint that is lighter than the existing colour, a primer should be applied so that it neutralises the older paint. Last but not the least one must ensure that the area to be painted is well ventilated during and immediately after the painting.