Can You Paint Over Painted Walls?
Usually, people repaint their walls long before the current paint job wears out. With color trends changing from year to year, fresh paint is one of the fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways to transform your home into a beautiful, clean, and well-maintained environment.
In addition to changing your wall color, there are lots of other good reasons to repaint walls. But no matter the reason, the question is, can you paint over paint? The short answer is yes, but it's important to understand the various factors that can make or break the job.
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You no doubt want stunning results and one of the best ways to expedite a top-notch paint job is with experienced repaint services. Professional painters know exactly which methods to use and how to create a gorgeous end result. Read on to find out which factors you should consider before you paint.
Can You Paint Over Painted Walls?
Yes, you certainly can paint over painted walls, but not with just any old paint over any old painted wall. As long as the underlying paint is sound, you can paint over it, but to achieve a professional result, you'll need to know the specific factors that will give you a high-quality paint job.
Anyone who has painted a room knows that the end result depends on how carefully the walls were prepared before painting began. Nail holes, cracks, and bubbled or peeling paint are just a few of the issues that will need attention before you repaint. And what about priming? Learn more about priming below!
If you're feeling unsure about painting over your painted walls, or simply don't have the time to do the job right, hiring a professional is the fastest and best way to achieve a successful and beautiful repaint.
How Do You Paint Over Painted Walls?
It may be tempting to just grab a brush, roller, a can of paint, a bucket and go to work. Not so fast! Prep is the key to any successful paint job. No matter how perfect the wall may look that you'll paint over, you need to complete some important prep steps before you paint.
If you're repainting kitchen walls, use a degreaser to remove oils, smoke, food grime, and dirty fingerprints from the walls. Even if they're blemish-free, thoroughly cleaning the walls is one of the most important steps to take care of before you paint. Never paint without cleaning your walls first.
In general, various wall conditions and certain colors will require a variety of different products, steps, and painting techniques. Use caution to avoid potential pitfalls. For example, the higher the repaint gloss finish, the more wall imperfections will show. Also, you'll need to prime before painting 2 coats of paint to cover a darker color with a lighter color or be prepared to paint your walls with three coats of paint.
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When and How to Use a Primer
Primer isn't always necessary to use before painting. If the old paint is sound and in good shape (no bubbling, chipping, etc.), you probably won't need to use a primer. But there are instances where the benefits of primer far outweigh skipping it.
Primer will act as a base coat, cutting down the number of coats of paint you'll have to use. Primer can help you save money because when fewer coats of paint are needed, you'll use less paint. Primer also does the job of sealing and promoting adhesion. It creates a surface that gives the longest lasting and most uniform finish.
When to Use Primer
If you're painting a light color over a darker or intense color, applying one or two coats of primer will prevent the dark color from bleeding through the new paint. The primer will seal off the dark or intense pigment so that the lighter color won't pick up the previous pigment and will go on purely.
Use a coat of primer when you're changing from a glossy sheen to a lower sheen. For example, primer can help if you're painting eggshell over a semi-gloss wall.
Primer can be a real benefit if your walls have been patched or repaired. One coat of primer can seal areas like patched nail holes or filled-in cracks. It also creates greater adhesion so the paint sticks correctly.
Apply one coat of mold and mildew-resistant primer over painted walls in rooms that get a lot of moisture, like a bathroom. The primer can seal off mold and mildew and keep it from growing and spreading.
Apply stain blocking primer on walls that have smoke or water damage. Pen, and marker are other stains requiring the same treatment. The primer will prevent the stains from bleeding through into your new paint. One coat should be sufficient unless stains are particularly egregious. Be aware that most stain blocking primers that are truly effective are either oil or shellac based. Examples that we use here at Singletrack Painting are Zinsser Cover Stain, Kilz Oil, and Zinsser BIN.
How to Use Primer
A variety of primers are available for specific purposes.
Stain-Blocking Primer – Various stain-blocking primers notated above are designed specifically to cover stains and prevent them from bleeding through the new paint. These primers range from those that specifically cover markers or crayons to those that block smoke and water stains from bleeding through.
Drywall Primer – Use drywall primer before painting if you've patched and repaired your painted drywall. The primer can seal off the porous drywall mud and even out the walls.
Masonry Primer – If you're painting over painted masonry walls, you'll want to use masonry primer. It's formulated to be efflorescence-resistant and will prevent the common white crystal-like deposits that can form on just about any masonry surface.
Multi-Purpose Primer – Designed for a variety of uses, if you choose to go with a multi-purpose primer, be sure that the label states that it can be used for your purpose. Always go with a respected and proven brand.
If you don't have time for DIY painting or the job seems too complex, you'll always get top-notch results when you hire a professional painter.
Singletrack Painting Works Quickly and Effectively
Understanding the factors that will determine a successful paint-over can be complicated. For the best result, be sure you've carefully followed the suggested prep steps before you try DIY. Professional painters can finish the job far faster than if you try to do it yourself, and the results will be fantastic!
Singletrack Painting will deliver the highest-quality paint job you can imagine. We're proud of our many years of experience with exterior, interior, and residential painting in the Denver metro area. No need to wait – request a quote today!
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