education ::  surface prep :: interior surface prep tips Preparing the surface is the most important part of any painting project! If the paint doesn’t have a smooth, clean surface to adhere to, it simply won’t look very good or last very long. You will probably need to spend as much time on surface prep as you will painting. Follow these steps: If you can’t move the furniture out of the room, push it all into the center and cover it with drop cloths. Remove outlet covers, wall heating vents, light fixtures, and other hardware. Scrape flaking paint or rust from the surface. The Wooster Prep Crew® wire brushes are very helpful here because they have more bristles to work faster and durable wrap-around handles to protect your fingers. The Wooster Sky Scraper® scraper also works well for this, especially on wood. If you are repainting over a semigloss or gloss paint, the gloss should be removed by sanding or else the new coats of paint may not adhere. A liquid cleaning/dulling agent can sometimes be used instead of sanding. Look for cracks in the surface. Now is the time to repair them. Fill the cracks, chips, splinters, and nail holes with patching plaster, spackling compound, or wood putty, whichever is appropriate. When the patch is dry, sand it lightly and feather the edges of any rough areas so they’re level with the rest of the surface. Spot prime to "seal" those areas. If you’re working on metal, sand the entire object so that any rough areas are level with the rest of the surface. (The smoother the surface, the better it will look after it’s painted.) Wash the surface with a good detergent solution to get rid of grease, dirt and dust. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow it to dry completely. Here’s A Key To "The Professional Look" Use the proper primer on the entire surface if it is newly constructed, stained by water or smoke, prone to mildew, rusted, or aged. Your paint store can provide recommendations. Primer really helps to seal and even-out the surface and/or prevent rust. The paint will go on smoother, adhere better, and last longer. Tape off baseboards, moldings, window frames, or any other areas that you don’t want painted. (Note: Tape will help to avoid paint smudges and drips, but it does not guarantee a sharp edge. You should still paint carefully, trying not to touch the tape.) For painting ceilings, cover the entire floor with drop cloths. When painting walls, you can probably get away with only covering the floor next to the wall you’re painting. Now you are ready to paint!