How Do Interior Painters Achieve Such a Smooth Finish?

You've just moved into a new home and are ready to give it your personal style with a fresh coat of paint. But as you begin prepping the walls, you notice how perfectly smooth and flawless the current paint job is. No brush strokes, no uneven texture, just a seamless, professional-looking finish. So how does an interior painting service get walls looking so polished? Read on to learn their secrets.

Prep Work

Before painters even open a can of paint, they dedicate time to proper prep work. According to Bob Vila, prep work comprises 30% to 50% of the time spent on a painting project. This means washing walls to remove dirt, grease, and grime. Next, they fill any holes or cracks with spackle and sand down any bumps or imperfections in the walls. Priming comes next — this helps the paint adhere smoothly. Prepping provides a blank, consistent canvas for paint application.

Proper Tools and Techniques

The tools and techniques painters use are essential for achieving a flawless finish. First, they use high-quality mini rollers with a smooth, felt-like cover. This creates less stippling and texture than cheaper rollers. Painters also keep a wet edge, meaning they maintain a continuous area of freshly painted, wet paint as they work across a wall. This prevents lap marks or changes in sheen. Brushwork around trim and edges is done with angled sash brushes for clean, straight lines. Proper tools plus practiced technique equals perfectly smooth walls.

Multiple Coats and Sanding

Typically, an interior painting service will apply two coats of paint for full coverage and an even finish. Applying multiple thin layers prevents drips and minimizes brush strokes. In between coats, painters lightly sand walls to smooth out any remaining texture or imperfections. This sanding also allows the second coat of paint to adhere evenly. Two smooth, sanded coats create a seamless painted surface.

Next time you see flawless, smooth walls done by an interior painting service, you’ll know the prep work, tools, technique, and care that went into creating that polished finish. To achieve results like this in your own home, it's critical to hire skilled and experienced professionals. If your walls are in need of a fresh coat of paint, contact Flores Drywall and Paint today to learn more about our services. We look forward to hearing from you!