Tools needed
- Drop cloths or floor covering
- Painter's tape
- Putty knife
- Sanding sponge or sanding block
- Fine- to medium-grit sandpaper
- Vacuum with brush attachment or clean microfiber cloth
- Caulk gun
- Paint tray and liners
- Paint roller frame and roller covers
- Angled sash brush
- Extension pole (optional)
- Step stool or ladder appropriate for the task
- Stir sticks
- Utility knife
Materials needed
- Wall patching compound or spackle
- Paintable acrylic latex caulk
- Primer appropriate for the surface, stains, repaired areas, or color change
- Interior wall paint
- Clean rags
- Mild cleaner where needed
- Painter's tape
- Protective gloves and eye protection as appropriate
Step-by-step
- 1
Remove or cover furniture and protect floors with drop cloths.
- 2
Remove switch-plate covers only after turning off power to the affected circuit if necessary.
- 3
Clean dust, grease, and residue from the walls and let the surfaces dry.
- 4
Inspect the walls for burrs, raised paint edges, nail holes, cracks, dents, and open trim gaps.
- 5
Lightly sand rough spots, paint burrs, raised edges, and glossy areas that need better adhesion.
- 6
Vacuum or wipe away sanding dust before applying patching material or paint.
- 7
Use a putty knife to fill nail holes, dents, and shallow wall damage with patching compound.
- 8
Let the patching compound dry fully according to its label instructions.
- 9
Sand patched areas smooth and remove all sanding dust.
- 10
Apply paintable acrylic latex caulk to small gaps along trim, baseboards, window casing, or other paintable joints.
- 11
Smooth the caulk bead with a suitable finishing tool or a lightly damp finger and allow it to cure according to the manufacturer's directions.
- 12
Do not use paintable caulk for large holes, structural gaps, moving joints, wet locations, or areas where a different sealant is required.
- 13
Spot-prime repaired areas, stains, bare drywall, or surfaces that need a primer, then let the primer dry according to its label.
- 14
Cut in around edges, trim, and corners with an angled brush.
- 15
Roll paint onto the main wall areas using even, overlapping passes and maintain a wet edge.
- 16
Allow the first coat to dry as directed on the paint label before deciding whether a second coat is needed.
- 17
Remove painter's tape carefully according to the tape and paint instructions.
- 18
Clean tools, ventilate the room as appropriate, and dispose of materials according to local requirements and product labels.
Common mistakes
- • Painting over dirty, dusty, greasy, or damp walls.
- • Skipping the light sanding needed to remove burrs and raised paint edges.
- • Applying patching compound too thickly and not allowing enough drying time.
- • Failing to sand and dust patched areas before priming.
- • Using non-paintable caulk where paintable acrylic latex caulk is needed.
- • Caulking large gaps or structural cracks instead of repairing the underlying problem.
- • Painting caulk or primer before it has cured or dried as directed.
- • Using primer unnecessarily everywhere when targeted spot priming is sufficient.
- • Overloading the roller or brush.
- • Painting in poor ventilation or failing to follow paint-label safety instructions.
Maintenance & next steps
Keep a labeled touch-up container of the final wall paint for small repairs. Inspect painted areas periodically for peeling, staining, cracking, moisture damage, or recurring gaps that may indicate a larger issue.
Call a qualified painter or contractor for extensive water damage, recurring cracks, suspected mold, large drywall damage, significant peeling, high ceilings that cannot be accessed safely, or possible lead-based paint that requires professional assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to sand every wall before painting?+
Not always. Lightly sand burrs, rough patches, raised edges, glossy spots, and repaired areas so the surface is smooth and ready for paint.
Should I patch holes before or after primer?+
Patch and sand the wall first, remove dust, and then spot-prime repaired or bare areas before painting.
What kind of caulk can I paint over?+
Use paintable acrylic latex caulk where a paintable flexible seal is appropriate. Follow the caulk label for curing time before painting.
Do I have to use primer before painting?+
Primer is not always needed for every repaint, but it is often helpful on patches, stains, bare drywall, difficult color changes, and surfaces identified by the paint manufacturer.
How long should I wait between paint coats?+
Follow the paint label. Drying and recoat times vary with paint type, temperature, humidity, and ventilation.
