Expect dry weather.

Moisture means drips and slow drying, so avoid painting on a time period .If you must paint when wet, take your time and take advantage of the slow-drying paint to correct your mistakes before moving on to the next coat. But don’t work too hard, or it will show up when you’re done.

Perform a thorough visual inspection and preparation.

Any cracked, chipped, or peeled areas should be lightly sanded or scraped (and then rinsed well) before applying a new primer and paint, because the weight of the new coat will cause the old paint to loosen. “You’ll end up wasting your time and money if you don’t address that first,” says vice president of consumer marketing at Behr. Grease stains may also need a little soapy scrubbing, followed by a clean water rinse. If not, quickly wipe the walls with a damp cloth so the paint has a clean, dust-free surface to adhere to.

Buy high-quality paint brushes, roller covers, and painter’s tape.

If you’re splurging on great paint, you definitely don’t want to spend a penny on the app. Good brushes and roller covers provide excellent coverage so you don’t waste time or paint on reapplication, and high-end painter’s tape is the best when it comes to sealing drips and smudges.

Know your nap.

The more textured your walls are, the thicker the lint you want on the roller cover so it can get into the cracks and provide full coverage. But if it gets too thick, you’ll create a texture where you do not want it, so be prepared to offer your salesperson details on what you’re painting.

Protect everything you don’t want to paint.

You will never regret the time you spend covering floors, furniture, and hardware before starting a residential painting project. Dust rags are a must, and small tape-secured plastic sandwich bags are an easy way to protect door knobs.

Remove light switch and outlet covers.

If you’re impatient, you will be tempted to skip this five-minute step, but don’t.

Use primer.

Paint and primer combinations are fine if you have already got a clean, smooth surface, but if there is a problem with the wall or it has been quite eight years since you last painted, bite the bullet and accompany a separate primer.If you need to cover an especially challenging surface (for example, glass or high gloss paint), use an adhesive primer such as Benjamin Moore’s Insl-x Stix Water-based Adhesive Primer or KILZ Adhesion Interior / Exterior Adhesive Primer.

Box your painting.

Ask your salesperson to help you with a realistic estimate of how much paint you will actually need so that you can buy it all at once. Then instead of using one gallon at a time, combine all of the paint in a large container and mix well. This is known as “boxing” your paint, and it keeps your color consistent from start to finish.

Let the roller do the work.

Today’s residential painting flows easily, and you’ve already chosen a good roller cover (right?), So you don’t need to apply a lot of pressure. Make sure to use an extension pole so that you can reach the maximum amount of area with the least effort and without straining your back.