Older homes will pick up scrapes and scratches over the years as part of the wear and tear of normal life.
Walls accumulate chips and knocks while ceilings can attract stains from a leak fixed long ago, kids games that got out of hand, smoke stains and even an insect squished in panic.
If you own an older property, and you’re thinking of putting it on the market, then a few hours of painting will hide years of bumps and marks.
You can either take on the task yourself or hire a professional. It’s an inexpensive improvement, and while it might not increase the asking price, it will enhance buyers’ impression of your home.
If you have the time and patience for painting, then it’s a good idea to complete the work a few weeks before a marketing campaign. You don’t want buyers walking through the property and inhaling paint fumes.
Most homeowners will think painting is a simple enough job, but there are a few watch-outs. They’re listed below to help make the job easier.
- Use ceiling paint – Avoid white paint intended for walls. Ceiling paint has a different consistency and should not drip. When you’re at the shop, get the right paint for the job.
- Don’t get ‘stucco’ – Stucco or popcorn ceilings can be tricky to paint. Sometimes this texture can fall off in sheets when you start to paint it. So, test-paint a small section, and go slowly. Stucco ceilings seriously date a property so get rid of it if you can.
- Roll in one direction – With ceilings, always keep a wet edge when rolling. That way, you’ll avoid streak marks. Undertake small sections at a time, and move quickly from one section to the next to maintain that wet edge. Be warned: it’s hard work on your shoulders and neck. If you need a second coat, roll at right angles to the first coat.
- Let there be light – It’s best to paint with daylight. Getting this job done in the evening after work, and having only a ceiling light to illuminate the room, makes accurate painting a challenge. The more light, the better.
- Ceiling dealings – It’s so easy to use a roller on a wall and bump the ceiling. To avoid this, run a horizontal strip of tape about six inches from the top of the wall. Use a brush or small roller to paint this buffer zone.
- Floor it – It’s the same deal with the floor as the ceiling. Create that buffer zone, so you don’t bump the floor or carpet with your roller.
- Pet subject – Keep the pets away. They might knock over a paint can or rub up against a wall of wet paint, spoiling the finish and spreading paint everywhere.
- Go undercover – Use drop sheets to cover your floors and any furniture that you could not move out of the way. Old sheets work better than paper which can move and leave gaps on the floor for spills.