A fresh coat of paint can completely transform a home, but achieving a flawless finish requires more than just skilled painters and quality materials. Proper preparation before the professionals arrive makes all the difference in ensuring a smooth process and a long-lasting result. Homeowners who take the right steps in advance not only help speed up the work but also contribute to a better finish. Here’s how to get your home ready for a professional paint job.

Decluttering the Space and Protecting Belongings
Before the painters start, it's essential to clear the area as much as possible. Removing furniture, wall décor, and any fragile items allows for easy access to walls and ceilings, preventing potential damage. If moving everything out of the room isn’t feasible, shifting furniture to the centre and covering it with dust sheets works well. This ensures that paint splatters don’t ruin upholstery or delicate surfaces. Curtains, blinds, and rugs should also be taken down or covered to protect them from dust and accidental splashes.

Cleaning Walls and Surfaces
Paint adheres best to a clean surface, so any dust, grease, or stains should be dealt with beforehand. Kitchens and bathrooms, in particular, tend to accumulate grime that could affect paint application. A simple solution of mild detergent and warm water is usually enough to remove most surface dirt, while stubborn stains may need a specialised cleaner. Once washed, walls should be left to dry completely before any painting begins.

Addressing Repairs and Damage
Small imperfections such as cracks, dents, or peeling paint can affect the final result. While professional painters will often carry out minor repairs as part of their service, homeowners can save time by identifying and addressing these issues in advance. Filling holes left by picture hooks or nails, sanding rough patches, and replacing damaged plaster where necessary ensures a smoother finish. This step is especially crucial in older homes where wear and tear is more pronounced.

Ensuring Proper Ventilation
A well-ventilated space helps paint dry efficiently and minimises the build-up of fumes. Opening windows and doors improves airflow and speeds up the curing process. If painting is planned for colder months, checking that heating can be adjusted to help maintain an appropriate drying temperature is beneficial. Proper ventilation not only enhances the outcome but also ensures a safer environment for those in the home.

Confirming Paint Choices in Advance
A professional paint job is a significant investment, so finalising colour and finish choices before work begins avoids last-minute decisions and delays. Testing sample patches on the walls in different lighting conditions helps homeowners feel confident in their selection. Once a choice is made, confirming it with the painting team ensures the correct products are ordered and ready for application.

Providing Easy Access to the Work Area
Painters need space to work efficiently, so clearing pathways and ensuring access to all rooms being painted is important. Moving personal items out of the way, keeping pets in another part of the house, and making arrangements for children to be elsewhere during painting hours can prevent interruptions. This allows the team to focus on the job without unnecessary distractions.

Discussing Expectations with the Painters
Good communication with the painting team helps set clear expectations. Discussing timelines, preferred working hours, and any specific requirements in advance prevents misunderstandings. If there are areas that need extra attention, mentioning them beforehand ensures they are included in the plan. A brief walkthrough with the painters before they begin allows both parties to confirm details and agree on the best approach.

Checking External Conditions for Exterior Painting
If the project involves exterior painting, weather conditions play a key role in achieving the best results. Heavy rain, extreme cold, or strong winds can interfere with paint application and drying times. While professionals monitor the forecast and adjust schedules if needed, homeowners should also be aware of how changing conditions may impact the project. Ensuring gutters are clear and trimming back any overgrown plants near the walls provides the painters with unobstructed access.

Allowing Enough Time for the Process
Quality paintwork takes time, and rushing the process leads to poor results. While professional painters work efficiently, drying and curing times must be factored in. Depending on the type of paint used and the number of coats required, some areas may need to remain untouched for a day or two before being fully functional again. Being realistic about timelines and allowing extra time for the best finish ensures a stress-free experience.

Final Walkthrough and Inspection
Once the painting is complete, a final walkthrough with the painters helps address any touch-ups or concerns before the project is signed off. Checking corners, edges, and high-traffic areas for any inconsistencies ensures a perfect finish. If there are any areas that require minor adjustments, noting them immediately makes it easier for the team to correct them before they leave.

A professional paint job not only enhances the appearance of a home but also adds to its durability and value. By preparing properly before the work begins, homeowners contribute to a seamless process and a flawless result that lasts for years to come.

FAQs

How long should I wait before putting furniture back after painting?
It’s best to wait at least 24 hours before moving furniture back into place. Some paints may take longer to cure fully, so checking with the painters on drying times helps avoid smudges or marks.

Will I need to be home while the painters work?
Not necessarily. Many professional painters work independently, but being available at the start and end of each day to check progress and answer any questions can be helpful.

Do I need to provide any materials or equipment for the painters?
Professional painters bring their own tools, brushes, and ladders. However, if there are specific paint brands or finishes you prefer, discussing this beforehand ensures they use the right products.

© APA Painters & Decorators

Painting the exterior of your home will beautify and increase the house's value. Also, repainting will prolong the structure as it will protect it from wear and damage that will affect the exterior properties of the house over time. Therefore, homeowners should invest in painting the exterior of their homes, and they should consider top agencies to ensure quality works that will protect their structures.

As one of the top agencies in the industry, APA Painters and Decorators are not only providing painting services but consultation on the best materials and how to get the best exterior paintings. You do not want to waste funds on painting your exterior without getting the desirable results, and that is why we are providing you with tips that work.

Wash dirt off your wall

Before you paint the exterior, you should get rid of dirt and dust, which would have accumulated over time. It would be best if you understood that the exterior is the most exposed place of the house to external factors, and they get all the beatings from rain, dust, sun and other weather factors. Thus, over time, the paints wear off, and before repainting to increase the value of the home and protect your wall, it is only right your pressure wash the wall using a pressure washer. After the pressure wash, leave the wall for some time to dry off before you start painting to get clean work and prevent dust from ruining your work.

Fix up damaged surfaces before you paint

Go to the entire perimeter of the external wall, check for damaged surfaces, and fix them up. You have to fill them for cracked walls, and for broken wood or glass, you will have to replace them. Painting over a damaged surface will mar your work and expose the wall to a greater risk of damage, and these damages will likely expand and widen. Get them fixed and paint to protect the entirety of the wall and improve the value of your home

Remove loose paints from the wall

Painting is a skill, and ensuring neat work goes beyond using the right colours but managing the wall appropriately, especially for repainting work. Losing paints on the wall ruin the quality of jobs when you paint over them. Also, painting over loose paintings will make the walls vulnerable to cracks, exposing the previous paints and defacing the walls. You do not want your walls to have different shades of your preferred colours, so you should check for and remove loose paintings before you repaint your walls. Go round the exterior walls and remove loose paintings with a paint scraper of medium grits sanding block

Protect doors, windows and light from paint stains

At APA Painters and Decorators, we ensure that all external items are covered with plastic bags to prevent paint slips from staining them. It is better to avoid these items from paint stains than clean them up. Wrapping these items will also reduce the workload of cleaning them up after painting.

Determine the suitable exterior paints

It would be best if you understood that there are different paints; while some may be suitable for exterior painting jobs because they can withstand external conditions, other paints will wear off quickly. Also, exterior colours dry up faster and can prevent the buildup of moulds on the walls. This is where you will need the services of professionals for consultation, as the painting of your external wall goes beyond your best colours but getting a suitable exterior paint.

Mind the weather when painting

The weather is another factor to consider when you want to paint your exterior wall. It is usually best to do the painting during the summer or on a day when the sun is at its highest. This period will ensure quick drying of the walls and avoid circumstances when the rain will ruin the work, a colossal waste. And the sun will help the pigment of the paint settle in as the solvent evaporates faster, leaving behind a solid job.

At APA Painters and Decorators, we have experienced professionals to ensure you get the best services. For proper management, always consider repainting the exterior after a period to protect and prolong the span of your house.

© APA Painters and Decorators

Painting is a form of art. In fact, to some people, painting is life. People paint for different reasons; it could be the professional painters who paint for a fee, or it could just be that regular guy or lady that just loves to paint. Whatever the reason for painting, one has to be sure they preserve the painting tools. Painting tools are not usually so cheap, and even high-quality tools are difficult to come by. So if you have the right painting tools, it would do you a whole lot of good to prolong the life of these tools, so you do not have to get another set too soon while you enjoy the benefits and advantages of quality painting tools.

To get the best out of your painting job, you need to use top quality tools. With the right type of care, one can be sure that the rollers, brushes, and other painting supplies are ready for use the next time.

When we talk about quality painting, few people do it better than APA Painters and Decorators. As professional painters, it is their job to make sure that your interior and exterior painting needs and decorations are met. So as professionals, we will be discussing some ways we have been able to preserve our painting tools to give you the best quality of service over time. Some of these great tips are;

Ensure that the brushes and roller frames are preserved: Many painters are of the impression that the rollers and brushes covers are the only things to be cleaned after painting. That is not true, as the frames need to be cleaned as well. As soon as you are done painting, remove the roller or brush cover from its frame to prevent it from sticking and then clean thoroughly. This is easy if your tools are of higher quality. APA Painters and Decorators use products of top quality, one reason to contact them.

Make use of tray liners: Instead of buying new trays for your paint rollers, you can always buy a good number of plastic tray liners to help you carry out your painting effectively.

Clean your brushes and rollers the right way: If you do this right, your brushes and rollers will last a few more years. Upon finishing a painting job, remove as much paint as possible and then use a rag to wipe out what is left. Soak the rag with the right solvent (in this case, water for latex or paint thinner for alkyd) and wipe its bristles thoroughly again. Then, rinse the brush in water and wipe again.

Try to always soften stiff brushes and rollers: Even after washing and drying paintbrushes, they may still become stiff being dried. Soaking it in a solution of hair conditioner and warm water will do the trick. You wouldn't want your paintbrush stiff when you want to use it, would you?

Keep the stir sticks properly: It is improper and hazardous to not have one stir stick in hand when you want to use it. To avoid this, simply wipe the stir sticks after using them. The dried film of oil paint remaining on the stick won't affect the next stir.

Freeze rollers after proper wrapping: It is possible to clean a paint roller after use, even if it may be a little demanding. However, if you plan to use the same colour to continue your painting shortly, you might want to reuse the roller without cleaning. Simply squeeze the excess paint into its can, wrap the roller in aluminium or plastic foil, and store it in a freezer. This will make the roller useful for many days. It works perfectly for rollers or brushes used with latex or oil paints.

Store your brushes in their jackets: Buying quality tools like paintbrushes means it comes in a cardboard jacket. Upon its first use, try not to throw away the jacket as it may prove useful in preserving and storing the brush. If the paintbrush has become hardened with oil-based paint, wash it with vinegar and rinse with water, then sun-dry.

Conclusion.

There you have it; tips to prolong the life of your room painting tools. If you require professional painting and decoration, you can always contact APA Painters and Decorators. You will be glad you did.

© APA Painters and Decorators

Although depending on a professional designer to decorate your place is the easiest way to obtain excellent interior, many people decide to tackle the task alone. While there is nothing wrong with having faith in your own creativity, you should know the job requires more than relying solely on your imagination. As a non-expert designer, you can make mistakes that are sometimes difficult to fix. Continue reading, so that you can discover which are the greatest renovation mistakes amateurs often make and make sure you don’t let them happen:

• They have no plan – starting an interior design project without making a thorough plan is a crucial mistake that may ruin the image of your place. A complete plan should involve much more than going for that cool green wall and those beautiful rusty chairs. You should have a clear idea of what style you want to achieve before purchasing paint or furniture. The goal of your brand-new design is to ensure a harmonious atmosphere, which can happen only with an appropriate, well-judged plan.

• They have no budget – assuming the fact that your finances are limited to some extent, not estimating a remodelling budget would slow down the progress of your project. We all dream of furnishing our homes with luxurious items and using only materials of the highest quality, but can we afford that? To let your project go smoothly, sit down and determine a thorough renovation budget. Once you finalise expected costs, do your best to steer clear of buying pricey items that don’t meet the limitations of your budget.

• They let clutter in – even the most picture-perfect interior design can be destroyed if you allow clutter to take control over your place. From a remodelling point of view, clutter means purchasing all sorts of small or bigger items that are supposed to complete the décor of your home. Surely you can refresh the space with a tasteful piece of art or a beautiful potted plant, but you shouldn’t have too many of these all over your home. Knickknacks, artwork, as well as floor and table lamps, are among the objects that can style up your place, as long as you don’t go overboard. In case you don’t know how to keep clutter at bay while decorating, you would be better off without any of these.

• They get the wrong area rugs – area rugs deserve special attention, since they have a huge impact on the overall appearance of a premise, especially when it comes to designing a living room. Choosing the wrong size or colour of an area rug is a typical mistake no-pro designers make, so bear in mind that your addition should be a match for the colour palette of the room, as well as its dimensions. An area rug that is too small would shrink the premise optically, while a colour mistake would create a sense of discomfort and lack of harmony.

• They don’t consider illumination – ensuring sufficient light in their premises is a step amateur designers usually overlook. Since the task is not as simple as you may think, the best you can do is to ask an expert for their opinion. When it comes to illumination, you should aim at getting the most of natural light and then look for artificial versions to boost comfort at your place. To provide the light that absolutely meets the needs of your premises, rely on professional help or try to supply the place with as much natural light as possible. Other sources of light like a desk lamp or a chandelier have to be picked in a way that ensures not only functionality but a well-balanced design as well.

Making any of these mistakes would leave you far away from your dream design. Make sure that you have a good plan and always look for a peaceful, yet practical design for your place.

© APA Painters & Decorators

Painting is probably one of the most popular DIY jobs that people initiate without the help of professionals. And while it is not an overly complex task, it does require a little planning and careful consideration. If you are not careful, you may end up making some of the most common mistakes with painting, which will jeopardise the final result. In this guide, we will take a look at what you should consider the next time you grab a brush and paint. Let’s begin. 

• You don’t prepare the room – often you will think that you will be careful enough not to make a mess, or that the area is small enough and you will not need to protect it with covers. But know this: painting is a messy job. It is always a good idea to cover the floors and furniture in the room. A simple plastic cover will do the trick nicely, catching any drips and splatters. Don’t forget about light switches and doorknobs. It is best to remove switches, especially if you are painting around them. Make sure you use painter’s tape there, which brings us to the next point.
  
  
• You don’t use painter’s tape – using painter’s tape is the best way to ensure that the edges are clean and that the finish is nicely polished. Use painter’s tape around all of the baseboards and windows, to prevent bleeding. You then only have to remove the tape once the paint has fully dried. Delaying this for too long may lead to the paint peeling off. 

• You don’t clean the walls – another common mistake people make with painting is ignoring the cleaning process of the walls before that. Dust and hair particles are well stuck to the walls, and it is a good idea to remove them. Do this by cleaning the area to be painted. Water alone does fine, though you may want to consider the drying time. You may clean the walls with a vacuum cleaner as well. Use the appropriate attachment to clean around baseboards and corners. 
  
  

• You don’t buy enough paint – if you want to avoid having to run to the store in the middle of the painting process, you best ensure you get enough paint. Measure the area to be painted properly and consider how much of it you can cover with a single bucket of paint. There should be an expert to help you with that. Bear in mind that if you are getting a colour mix, it is highly recommended to get all of the necessary amount on your first go, as further mixes can be slightly different. 
  
  
• You use the wrong paintbrush – using the right brush for a painting job is essential. One with polyester or nylon bristles works best. A brush with natural bristles is best for oil-based paint. By using the right brush, you ensure that you will be able to paint quickly and effectively. 
  
  
• You use the wrong paint – for areas that have already been treated, and you want to add new paint over them, it is essential to consider whether it is an oil-based formula. Applying latex paint over it may lead to peeling and cracking. 
  
  
• You dunk the brush in the can – when reaching for the paint with your brush, make sure to avoid dunking it in. This will only lead to wasting a lot of paint and drips. Only dip the brush a third of the way. 
  
  

Knowing how to avoid all of these mistakes will ensure that you make the most of your paint and see the project to successful completion. 

© APA Painters and Decorators