Interior House Painting: How To Keep Dark Colors From Bleeding Through
Posted on: 24 February 2015
If you are planning to paint over a dark colored wall or wall art that makes use of dark colors, you will need to ensure that the wall is properly prepared in order to prevent the dark paint from bleeding through. While your walls make look great in the hours and days after applying a fresh coat of paint, you can be sure that the darker colors will eventually make their way to the surface. Thankfully, following the steps outlined below can help you to avoid this problem for the long term.
Materials You Will Need
- fine grit sandpaper
- sanding block
- microfiber cloth
- paint primer
- paint brush
- paint roller
- drop cloths
- painters tape
Step 1: Even Out Any Glossy Surfaces
If the walls you will be painting over contain any wall art, you will need to even out these glossy surfaces in order to prevent the outline of the art from showing through your fresh coat of paint. This should be done using a piece of wet fine grit sandpaper and a handheld sanding block. By wetting the sandpaper before using it on your wall, you will be able to avoid taking too much of the wall's surface off during the sanding process.
Step 2: Make Sure The Walls Are Clean
Dark colors are not the only thing that can bleed through your fresh paint job. Any debris or stains that are left behind on the previous coat of paint can work their way through the fresh paint if they are not properly removed. To get rid of any dust or other loose particles, simply wipe the wall down with a microfiber cloth in order to prevent leaving any fabric particles behind.
If your wall contains stains that cannot be removed using a microfiber cloth, you can use a mild mixture of warm water and detergent to remove these stains. Just be sure to allow ample time for the wall to dry before moving on to the next step.
Step 3: Protect The Floors And Surrounding Materials
In order to prevent your primer and paint from getting on any unwanted surfaces, including your floor, you will need to take a few minutes to place protective materials over these surfaces. Using painters tape, simply cover any trim surrounding the area that is being painted. You will also want to use this tape to secure several plastic drop cloths over your floors in order to protect your flooring materials.
Step 4: Apply Primer
Using your paint brush, apply primer around the edges of your wall, as well as any outlets or vents. Once all of the fine details have been taken care of, you can use your paint roller to apply primer to the bulk of the wall. After allowing ample time for the primer to dry, you will be ready to apply your fresh coat of paint without the need to worry about the darker colors bleeding through.
A Final Thought
While the process of painting over a dark wall is not difficult, it can be quite time consuming. Consequently, if you are dealing with time constraints, you may wish to consider hiring a professional to ensure this job is done correctly rather than trying to fit this project into your already busy schedule. For more information, contact Northwest House Painting or a similar company.
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