Brighten up your Home!

One sure-fire way to breathe some FRESH into your home is by painting. Here are our step-by-step instructions to get you started! 

Extremely important… PREP your area!! These steps will ensure a good outcome:

• Roll up any rugs and remove all furniture or move it to the center of the room. Cover with a drop cloth to keep items clean.
• Using a putty knife, fill all nail and screw holes with putty. Overfill each hole slightly. Use medium-grit sandpaper to smooth excess putty flat.
• If necessary, caulk spaces between trim/baseboards and wall. Run a line of caulk along the space, then immediately use a wet sponge to remove excess. Let dry.
• Wipe down walls with a sponge dipped in warm water. If your room is carpeted, vacuum.

Now, you are ready to PAINT:

• Use painter’s tape to tape off all trim work, outlets, and other permanent structures. Be sure the edge of the tape lines up exactly where the wall meets the trim for a clean line.
• If primer is needed (if you’re painting a lighter color over a darker color, for example, or if it’s been a long time between painting), pour just enough primer into a painter’s tray so that it covers the bottom but doesn’t pool up the sides. This will keep it from drying out and causing drips. Prime walls. Let dry according to package instructions.
• Next, paint walls. Start by pouring mixed paint into a small container (small enough to hold in one hand). Dip a two-inch brush only about a third of the way into the paint, then tap the brush against the side of the container to remove excess and prevent drips. Paint the areas around the trim, cutting in about two or three inches from tape. Work in four-foot sections to prevent marks that appear when the paint starts to dry.
• Use a roller to paint larger sections of the wall. Fill a paint tray in the same manner you did with the primer. Dip the roller into the paint, using the top of the tray to remove excess. Roll paint onto the wall in three-foot sections, painting in a ‘W’ motion. Without lifting the roller from the wall, fill in empty spaces with vertical strokes. This will ensure even coverage.
  Continue until the entire wall is covered.

There is NO DOUBT you will enjoy your beautiful Tahoe home more this winter with some freshly painted walls!!