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Common Painting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Painting is a wonderful way to freshen up a building, but it doesn’t always look the greatest if not done correctly. If you want to ensure your time and money are put to good use, there are a few common mistakes that should be avoided.

Improper masking. Nothing makes a paint job appear shabby like uneven lines and paint where it doesn’t belong. It can be time consuming, but definitely worth the effort to carefully mask off all lines, windows, ceilings, edges, and floors. Crisp, clean lines of contrasting colors are the key to obtaining a professional appearance.

Using the wrong color. It greatly helps to do a test patch before tackling the whole project. Sometimes, the paint just looks different when dried on the wall. Other times, you may need to apply a primer before the paint. A test patch will show you what you’re working with before you go too far to turn back.

Not properly preparing the surface before painting. It is never wise to paint over mildew, wallpaper, water damage, and other stains without properly preparing the wall first. Talk with a professional, but in many cases you may need a special product to prevent the problem from seeping through the fresh paint. It is also important to meticulously repair any cracks, holes, or other trouble spots. Paint is a great product, but it doesn’t work miracles!

Ignoring weather conditions. Most paints are more prone to peeling, cracking, and bubbling if applied in extreme temperatures. Follow the label directions, or those of a professional for best results.

Using old paint. Paint that has been stored for an extended period of time can break down in its composition. It really isn’t that expensive to begin with, and definitely pays not to risk using old paint. Your project will turn out better and last longer if you don’t cut corners to begin with.

Following these tips will help you avoid many of the troublesome areas of painting projects. If you really want to achieve a professional look, you can request free estimates from certified painting contractors who are very experienced in their trade.

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Here is what has been said about our House Painting Contractors:

Thank you John for a superb job especially the way you cleaned up at the end of each day, it was nice to come home after work and find our home in same manner as we had left that morning except for the beautiful new paint on our walls and trim. I will highly recommend Burke Painting to any of my family and friends who are looking for a custom painter.

I've already recommended you to a couple of my friends. Thank you for a first rate custom paint job, my doors look like they have a factory paint finish on them. Exactly what I was looking for. -- Darlene - Lafayette