A good paint job is decided before the roller ever touches the wall. Most of the difference between a smooth, even finish and one that peels or streaks comes down to preparation and technique. Interior Paint rewards patience: clean surfaces, the right primer, and a steady hand do more than any shortcut. Here is the order that works.
Start with a Clean, Sound Surface
Paint sticks to a surface, not to dust, grease, or loose flakes. Wash walls with warm water and a mild detergent, paying extra attention to kitchens and around light switches and door frames. Rinse and let it dry.
Then check for damage. Fill small holes and cracks with filler, let it dry, and sand it smooth. Sand glossy areas lightly too — a shiny surface gives paint nothing to grip. Wipe off the dust and you are ready for the next step.
Primer: When You Need It and When You Don’t
Primer is not needed on every wall. If the surface is already painted, sound, and a similar colour, you can usually paint straight over it. Primer earns its place on bare drywall or fresh plaster, for a big colour change, over stains, and on patched areas.
Spot-prime patches and use a stain-blocking primer where marks keep showing through. One even coat is enough — it is a base, not the finish.
Cutting In First, Then Rolling
Cutting in means painting the edges with a brush before the roller comes out: corners, ceilings, skirting boards, and the edges around windows and doors. Use a good angled brush, loaded lightly, in sections about a metre wide.
Keep a wet edge. Paint the cut-in section, then roll the wall next to it while the brushed paint is still wet, so the two blend into one even coat instead of leaving a visible frame.
Rolling Technique That Leaves No Marks
Load the roller evenly and roll off the excess on the tray — a dripping roller is the most common cause of runs. Start in the middle of the wall, roll in a W pattern, then go back over it with straight, overlapping strokes.
Keep the pressure light and steady. Pressing hard squeezes paint out of the roller and leaves ridges at the edges of each pass. Work from top to bottom so drips land on wet paint.
Drying Time and the Second Coat
Most interior paints need a second coat, even when the first looks good. The first coat covers; the second gives the colour its full depth.
Wait for the first coat to dry fully before starting the second — painting over tacky paint pulls the first coat off and leaves a rough surface. Follow the drying time on the can; a second coat applied too soon causes more problems than it fixes.
Fixing Drips and Roller Marks
Catch a drip while the paint is still wet and a gentle roll over it makes it disappear. Once a drip has dried, sand it flat with fine sandpaper, wipe off the dust, and touch it up with a small brush. Roller marks usually mean the roller was overloaded — a light sand and one more even coat fixes both.
Preparation takes longer than painting. A clean, primed surface and steady rolling turn an ordinary can of paint into a finish that looks like it was done by someone who does it every day — and the range at Ortega Paint makes the job easier from the first coat.
- Jenn D
- jenndiesii@gmail.com