How To Paint a Wall

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Never picked up a paintbrush? Don't worry. You can still paint a wall like a pro!
Added January 23, 2008

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You Will Need

Sandpaper
Damp rags
Painter's tape
Drop cloth
Primer
Paint roller
Replacement roller pad
Paint
2 or 3 inch brush
Roller pan
Fan (optional)
Small painter's brush (optional)

Step 1.
Smooth bumps & wipe

If painting a new wall with no previous paint, use sandpaper to smooth any bumps. If there are any holes, spackle and sand them. Then wipe with a damp rag.
Step 2.
Cover trim & floor

Cover the trim with blue painter’s tape and cover the floor with a drop cloth.
Step 3.
Apply primer

Apply a thick coat of primer with a thickly padded roller. This will hide any surface imperfections and keep the paint from peeling. Allow the primer to fully dry.
Choose paint colors a shade lighter than what you really want—colors often dry darker than you expect—and test them on a small, discreet spot.
Step 4.
Paint edges

Tackle the edges first. Using a two- or three-inch brush, apply a band of paint along the edges of the ceiling, windows, doors, baseboards, and cabinets. This is called “cutting in.”
Small rooms take about one or two gallons for the first coat; the second coat takes about half as much.
Step 5.
Use roller to paint

Pour paint into a roller pan and use the roller to paint in an up and down motion. One technique: roll out a W shape in paint and then spread it evenly into a square.
Don’t paint from side to side—it can look streaky.
Step 6.
Wait for 1st coat to dry

Wait an hour or so for the first coat to dry.
Want to make it dry faster? Put some fans in the room.
Step 7.
Apply 2nd coat

Apply the second coat with a fresh roller pad with a lighter shag. Use less pressure the second time around—just make sure the paint is distributed evenly.
Step 8.
Fill in spots

Use a two-inch brush—or even a small painter’s brush from an art store—to fill in or even out any spots you missed or that are too bulky or streaky.
Step 9.
Let dry & remove tape

Once the second coat is dry (in about an hour) carefully remove the painter’s tape.
Step 10.
Enjoy wall

Enjoy your newly painted wall!
Fast-food restaurant walls are often painted yellow or orange because studies show those colors make people eat faster.

Comments View all (4)...

You should always move the roller in the direction of the metal 'arm' that holds the roller pad. Don't roll the way the video shows. This is because the pressure is applied most where that metal edge is, so more paint will be applied on that edge and rather than leaving big drips behind, it's better to smooth out those globs of paint with the roller pad trailing behind. It also helps to make a W pattern, then a sideways W pattern whenever rolling paint. This ensures a good initial coverage, then a smoothing out of the coverage on the 2nd run.

Reply about 1 year ago by admanb

I need a how to get someone else to paint my walls for gratis video.

Reply about 1 year ago by jenw

I would like to get your video how to paint a wall

Reply about 1 year ago by ARod313

i've been hearing a lot about the paint glider paint tray (http://www.paintglider.com). does anyone know if this is any good? the video shows to use a flat tray. i don't know how much of a difference it makes. has anyone used the paint glider paint tray?

Reply 3 months ago by peterpgc

View all comments (4)...