Paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to completely transform a room’s appearance. Plus, it is a task you can perform yourself when modifying your home. This project can take a couple of days, so plan to make sure you have time to finish. If this is your first time painting, it is common to have a lot of questions. We answered some of your most frequently asked questions on painting and prep:

How much paint do I need to purchase for a given surface?

Typically, you can use 2.5 gallons to cover 400 square feet. Take into consideration that textured walls will need more product. To calculate the square footage of a wall, you will determine the length times the width (length x width). If your ceiling is 7 feet and 8 inches tall, and your wall is 12 feet and 3 inches long, you have 94 square feet. You may be able to paint around four of these walls with one coat. You should also take into consideration how many coats you will need. If you are priming the wall, you may get away with just two layers; however, bold colors may take more coats. It will also take a lot of coats to take a dark wall and make it a light color. These all should be considered before purchasing your paint.

Where do I start? Walls, ceiling, or trim?

Different people may have different approaches. There is no “wrong” way. Just make sure you can keep clean lines and no overspills or runs. Most people tend to start from the ceiling down. This way if paint runs, you can cover it as you go. Perhaps, start with the ceiling followed by the walls. You may decide to remove your trim to paint to avoid splattering on the floors.

How do I remove wallpaper?

Peel away as much as you can by hand. You may need a wallpaper shaver to get started. If the wallpaper is extremely difficult to remove, consider using a liquid stripper. These chemical options need time to soak into the wallpaper to break down the paste below the paper.

If you have more question you would like us to cover, feel free to leave a question below in the comment section. Painting can be an effective way to change your home. Remember to tape off everything thoroughly to avoid splattering.

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