Painting a room seems like a simple DIY project to bring new life into your home. However, an inexperienced painter is likely to come across issues that can lead to wasted time and money. Here’s a list of the seven most common painting mistakes that we’ve come across, and tips on how you can avoid them.

1. Skipping the prep work

The Mistake:  Failing to properly prepare the walls before painting is one of the most common mistakes DIY painters tend to make. Cleaning, repairing, and priming are all crucial steps—skipping one or more can lead to peeling or chipping paint and uneven color.

How to Avoid It:  Thoroughly clean your walls, removing any dirt, dust, or grease on the surface. Then fill any cracks or holes with putty or spackle, then apply a coat or two of primer over the whole wall. This will create a smooth, even surface for paint to adhere to and a more uniform finish.

2. Using low-quality tools

The Mistake:  Opting for cheap brushes and rollers can result in uneven color, visible brush strokes, and lint or fibers stuck in your paint.

How to Avoid It:  Invest in high-quality materials. A good brush will have densely-packed, bouncy bristles that don’t shed, which provides a smoother finish. A quality roller will have thin fibers (nap size) to apply paint more evenly across smooth surfaces.

3. Overloading the brush

The Mistake:  Don’t dip your brush too deep in the bucket! Holding too much paint on the brush or roller can lead to drips, splatters, or an overall uneven coat.

How to Avoid It: For brushes: dip about ⅓ of your brush into the paint and then tap it on the rim. This will get rid of any paint that might drip off the brush and onto the wall or floor. For rollers: fill only the well of the tray with paint, and roll the roller across the slope to remove excess paint.

4. Underestimating your paint

The Mistake:  When it comes to paint, overdoing it can cause problems, but not using enough paint is just as common of an issue. Trying to stretch your paint too far by applying thin coats can result in streaky, uneven coverage.

How to Avoid It:  Apply paint generously and evenly. It’s better to apply two or three coats than one uneven one. Most of the time, that is—read the instructions for the recommended number of coats and drying times between each.

5. Not using protection

The Mistake:  Forgetting (or simply neglecting) to cover your floors, furniture, and fixtures can lead to paint splatters and stains, some of which will likely be permanent.

How to Avoid It:  Use drop cloths, plastic sheeting, and painters tape to protect everything you don’t want painted. Remove or cover all nearby light fixtures, switches, and outlet covers to prevent accidental splashes or stroke.

6. Prematurely peeling the tape

The Mistake:  Waiting too long to remove painter’s tape can cause the dry paint to peel off with the tape. On the other hand, removing it too soon can smudge the fresh paint.

How to Avoid It:  The safe zone is relatively small, but easy to spot. Remove the tape while the paint is still slightly tacky to the touch. But if you’ve waited too long, don’t fret! You can score along the edge of the tape with a utility knife to cut the dried paint and prevent peeling.

7. Rushing the project

The Mistake:  Being impatient can lead to all sorts of new issues. You may skip important steps (see #1), apply paint too quickly, or forget to allow enough drying time between coats.

How to Avoid It:  When planning your project timeline, keep in mind that paint takes time to dry, and you may come across bumps in the road. Allow yourself enough time for each step, including prep work, painting, and any surprises that may come in later. Patience is key to achieving a professional-looking finish!

Avoiding these seven painting mistakes can save you time, money, and frustration. If you’ve done one of these before, don’t worry—mistakes happen! But if this list has you worried about your painting project, it can’t hurt to call the professionals for help. Visit https://paintersincorporated.com/ to make an appointment with a team of painters who can do the job for you—without making the painting mistakes DIY-ers tend to make.