Have you ever seen paint peeling off, uneven wall surfaces, careless painted trims, paint stained carpets, doorknobs and door hinges? These are typically the results of not carefully preparing a painting workspace. Properly preparing will guaranty excellent results both in terms of esthetics and durability of the painting. Not to mention that the results will really please your wife, or significant other, and will boost your confidence.

Here are the typical steps for preparing a painting workspace:

Remove what you can

• remove items from the project area such as furniture and rugs
• remove the outlet covers, doorknobs, pictures, hooks and nails
• place the large items in the center of the room and protect them with a plastic sheet

Protect what is left

• cover floor with drop cloths
• protect light fixtures with plastic sheets
• cover door hinges with masking tape or painters tape

Repair imperfections

• scrape and sand peeling paint, apply patching material, allow to dry, and sand the area
• remove dust and debris, apply caulking into gaps and seams, and allow to dry
• apply patching material over small hole, allow to dry, and sand the area

Prepare glossy surfaces

• scuff and sand all glossy surfaces to provide proper adhesion
• remove dust with a damp rag and allow to dry

Clean the surface

• apply a cleaning solution with a sponge, rinse and allow to dry
• for mildew affected areas use a mildew stain remover

Now it is really the time to take a break before you go onto applying primer and paint on the ceiling, walls, windows, doors, baseboard, door trims, window trims and floors .