For the average DIY-type, approaching any kind of interior painting job can be a daunting prospect. Nevertheless, throw a little textured paint into the mix and you’re looking at an entirely different challenge.
Whichever way you look at it, successfully painting over textured paint can be tricky to say the least. These days, textured paint isn’t nearly as popular as it used to be. But while most households are choosing not to experiment with textured finishes, there are still millions of textured walls and ceilings that demand rather urgent TLC.
The question being – can you paint over textured paint? Or more importantly, should you?
In both instances, the short answer is yes. It doesn’t have to be particularly taxing to paint over a textured surface, while doing so can result in a far more chic and elegant finish. Hiring the pros is always an option, but so too is tooling-up on the gear you need and tackling things yourself.
So for those who intend to go for the latter option, here’s a brief overview of the steps you’ll need to take to successfully paint over textured paint around the home:
Step 1 – Prepare
As always, you need to remember that the quality of the final result will be heavily influenced by the preparation process. In this instance, you’ll need to address the fact that most textured surfaces are no less than magnets for dirt, grime, grease, debris and cobwebs. All the kinds of things that are going to make it difficult for the paint to adhere efficiently to the surface. Therefore, the first step is to give the surface a meticulous clean by any means necessary, after which you’ll also need to give the whole thing plenty of time to dry.
Step 2 – Taping And Protecting
Given that painting over a textured surface typically means applying quite a lot of paint, you can count on things getting rather messy. As such, you need to go to extremes when it comes to taping-off and generally protecting the surrounding area. Grab a bunch of good quality drop cloths and plenty of painters tape to get the job done.
Step 3 – Priming The Surface
The next step is to add a generous coat of primer to the surface, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. As you are dealing with a three-dimensional surface, you will need to use a deep-pile roller to ensure it gets into all those cracks and crevices. While doing so, keep a close eye on any tiny threads of the roller material that could come loose and end up stuck on the wall. You’ll need to get rid of these after you’re done with the priming.
Step 4 – Paint The Wall
When you have given your primer enough time to dry, you can use another deep-pile paint roller to begin the painting process. Once again, you’ll need to be somewhat generous with the paint application, in order to ensure it gets into all those trickier recessed spots. That said, you don’t want to get carried away and end up with running and dripping paint all over the place. Don’t forget that just as is the case with any other surface, you’ll probably be looking at a much better finish if you give the whole thing a second coat after.
Step 5 – Final Touch-Ups
Last but not least, it’s simply a case of standing back, taking a look at the wall from a bunch of different angles and noting any areas that need to be touched-up. Always remember that when dealing with a textured surface, things can look very different from one viewpoint to the next. Even if things look great head on, things could be quite different from a 45-degree angle.
In Summary…
Freshening up a textured surface doesn’t have to be as difficult as it first appears. Nevertheless, it’s not the type of thing you should attempt without a strategic plan of attack.
Along with the tips outlined above, it is also important to ensure you use the highest-quality paints and provisions available. The quality of your paint, brushes, rollers or applicators in particular will affect the quality of the final result.
For more information on how to effectively paint a textured surface or to discuss your requirements in more detail, reach out to a member of the team at Homm CPS today.