Should you paint your house yourself? Learn How To DIY
How to Prep a House for Painting? Painting a house can be a hassle, however, going the DIY route can save you hundreds of dollars on contractor bills and supplies. If you decide to go the DIY route, there are several important aspects to consider before you begin to paint your house in Toronto:
- How big is the project? Is it realistic? The average size for detached houses in Toronto or Richmond Hill area is above 1800 sqft, so don’t expect to paint the entire of your home within a few hours, especially if it’s your first time. Be sure to plan and set aside time to finish the project properly.
- Are you prepared? Do you know how to prep a house? Do you have the necessary budget set aside to complete the project? Costs will vary, and there are several ways to reduce costs, but remember that at the end of the day, you pay for what you get. Be ready to set aside $100-$300 for tools and supplies.
- Do you know what kind of paint you want? Do you want a slight sheen or a matte finish? Does the color of the paint increase or decrease the appeal of your house? Start with purchasing paint samples, while the color may be to your liking, the sheen may not.
If you do decide to do the job yourself, be sure to prepare your house to be painted properly. There are also even more ways to lower further the cost of painting your home, be sure to read the section on reducing costs if saving money is something you’re interested in.
Use This List Before Preparing Your house to Paint it
The most critical step in painting is when you want to prep a house for painting. By failing to do it properly, you risk delaying your project as well as increasing the costs. At the same time, by prep a house for painting you can save time, lower costs, and achieve the desired results of the project.
Prepare the essential supplies you will need. Some basic supplies are:
- Paint Brushes. You’ll need these to do more detailed work your roller can’t do. It’s recommended to paint the edges of the wall with a paint brush. The paintbrush will also be extremely useful to have at the end of the job when you’re checking for imperfections.
- Paint Tray. Essential to the job. Be sure to pick a paint tray size that fits your roller and will allow you to complete the project without having to stop and refill too often.
- Paint Roller will save you hours as you can paint a large portion of the wall at a time. Be sure to know what size roller will be needed. Bigger rollers can complete jobs faster but will not be able to paint tight corners, edges, and hard to reach areas. Using a bigger roller can also increase the risk of your paint running and if misused can also drip and make a mess.
- Painter’s Tape. To prep a house properly, you will need it to tape off areas you don’t want to paint accidentally. Additionally, the tape can also be used to create patterns such as stripes or zig zags. You can also forgo the use of tape if you are confident in your skills with a brush.
Don’t Forget the Quality Paint
- Paint. Be sure to know exactly how much you’ll need. One easy way to do so is to use an online paint calculator. Be sure to buy a sample first before committing to an entire can.
- Ladders. An optional piece of equipment that will make your life much more comfortable when painting near or on the ceiling.
- Drop Cloth. You can’t prep a house for painting without having a drop-sheet. It’s recommended that you use a drop cloth to cover furniture and the floor to prevent unwanted paint from reaching them. It is also possible to replace a drop cloth with bed sheets or a sheet of plastic.
- Drywall Filler, Sandpaper, and Primer. These may be needed if your wall has damaged areas that need to be filled in. Primer is also required when the new colour is a lighter shade than the original, but you can paint extra coats to cover it.
Be sure to consult a professional home painter for advice and do some research of your own, some tools work better on certain wall surfaces while others may ruin the entire project. Be sure to be smart about your painting supplies by getting the right brushes and rollers for your wall texture.
Prepare Your House Like A Pro!
Once you have all the supplies you need to paint, follow this simple guideline on how to prepare the room for painting:
- Remove any accessories or pictures from the wall you’re painting. Remove or cover any furniture in the place to prevent dripping paint accidentally onto it. Be sure to use a drop sheet to avoid dripping paint on your floors by accident.
- Make the wall ready, if it’s dirty or greasy clean it with a damp sponge and soapy water. Be sure not to soak your walls by making sure your sponge is wet and not soaked.
- Inspect the walls for any holes, scratches, or dents. If your wall is damaged, then you may need to fill, sand, and prime the damaged area.
- When you are satisfied that your wall is clean and ready to be painted, start taping off areas you don’t want to paint such as door and window frames, plug sockets, and light switches. When this is done, you are ready to paint.
Another important thing to consider is the ventilation of the room, paint fumes are toxic, make sure the room is well ventilated before you start painting. However, if you use high-quality brands such as Benjamin Moore, and purchase the right Low-VOC paint, the paint smell will not be something you should be worried about.
Tips on Lowering Cost Of Painting A House in Toronto
After you learned how to prep a house, there are several simple things you can do to lower the cost of a painting project further, here are some ideas:
- Learn how to cut in paint properly. This technique is used to paint edges and will remove the need for painters tape.
- Calculate the exact amount of paint you need. Running out of paint will delay your project while having too much excess paint can be a waste as it could dry out before it’s needed again.
- Stick to a single colour. If you paint each room a different colour or want to add in accent walls, you will likely need to buy new paint for each room and will probably be left with excess paint you won’t use. Keep it simple and use as few colours as possible.
- Be sure to get quality paint. This will reduce the number of coats needed, last longer, and be less likely to bubble or run. Buying quality paint will give you better results than using cheaper paints, but be sure you’re paying for the quality of the paint and not the brand name.
- Consider using a primer if the original colour of the wall is darker than your desired tone. Utilizing the primer can reduce the amount of paint needed as fewer coats will be required.
- Plan and look for sales, deals, and bargains. Anything you can get cheaper with the same performance will significantly benefit you. Plan your project ahead of time and keep in mind that most paint sales happen in early spring. You can also follow your favourite paint brands on social media to get discounts on their products.
Prep Your Home For Painting Properly, Save Hundreds!
- Invest in brushes and rollers, and they will repay themselves if you reuse them.
- Reuse your brushes and rollers. If you stick to a single colour, you can wash and reuse rollers and brushes. By wrapping brushes and rollers tightly with plastic wrap and storing them in your fridge, you can prevent them from drying out overnight and use them again the next day.
- Take notes on what paint you used for each room. It can save you time and money by not having to sort through dozens of paint when it’s time to repaint.
- Spend where it counts and save where it doesn’t. Save your money for quality paint and brushes while buying a cheap tape, roller handles, or paint trays to save money.
- Reuse and recycle. Take care of your brushes and rollers by cleaning them properly after each project. Water-based paints can be washed off using just water and soap while oil-based paints will require washing using paint thinner first then water and soap.
- Sell and buy used paint, brushes, rollers, and other supplies. Buying used items will give you a substantial discount, but be sure you are satisfied with the quality of the item before you hand your money over. Selling tools and paint you no longer have a use for allows you to recoup some of the costs, but keep in mind you may need to repaint sometime in the future.
- Buy paint with features you want. Some paint may offer features such as having less smell, require fewer coats or a lifetime warranty. Decide which features matter to you and avoid paying for features you don’t need.
- Be smart about your colour choice. Recoating your walls can be substantially cheaper than repainting. Choosing a darker colour will require more coats to fully cover while a lighter colour will be done faster and easier.
While painting your house yourself can be a hassle, with proper preparation it can be a breeze to do and will undoubtedly save you hundreds of dollars as well as potentially increasing the value of your home. Discover the hidden aesthetic your home holds today and start planning your next project.
However, maybe writing about a house painting project in Toronto is much easier than doing it in real life! We have so many calls from clients complaining about the difficulties they have faced during a DIY project. Sometimes it takes much longer than what they expected or in many cases painting their home by themselves costs more than hiring a professional painter.
If you are thinking about painting your house anywhere in Toronto, Richmond Hill, North York, Vaughan, Markham, Etobicoke and all around the GTA, give us a call! We are here to help you. Our professional home painting consultants can come to your house and not only they will provide you with a free estimate. You can ask them all your questions, from how to prep a house to how to choose the right colour, even if you decide to Do-It-Yourself.
