Painting Plan

Move or protect furniture, remove outlet covers, tape edges.

• Move furniture to the center or another room; cover with canvas/plastic drop cloths.
• Turn off circuit breaker for the wall and remove faceplates (label screws).
• Apply painter’s tape along ceiling, baseboards and adjacent walls; press down edges firmly for crisp lines.

Clean, scrape bubbles, spackle nail holes.

• Clean entire surface with a TSP substitute (or degreasing cleaner) and allow to dry completely.
• Use a 5-in-1 tool to gently scrape bubbling paint; fill holes and shallow divots with lightweight spackling in thin layers.
• Let spackle fully dry per product instructions (often 30–60 min for lightweight products).

Feather edges smooth and remove dust.

• Sand spackled areas with a 120–180 grit sanding sponge until flush and smooth.
• Run your hand over repaired spots; if you feel ridges, sand again. Wipe the wall with a damp cloth to remove all dust and let dry.

Seal repairs and normalize absorption.

• Cut in with a 2–3" angled sash brush along taped edges and around outlets.
• Roll primer with a 9" roller using a 3/8" nap in "W" patterns (3'×3' sections), blending as you go.
• Let primer dry fully (Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 dries to touch in ~30 minutes; follow label for recoat).

Cut in, then roll; maintain a wet edge.

• Cut in all edges and corners with the angled sash brush using the final paint color.
• Roll the paint the same way you primed; keep a wet edge to avoid lap marks.
• Check paint in several lights (daylight + incandescent) — matched paint should look consistent.

Finish strong and remove tape at a 45° angle while paint is slightly tacky.

• Allow first coat to dry (check the can; typically 2–4 hours) and apply a second coat the same way.
• Remove painter’s tape at a 45° angle while paint is still slightly tacky to ensure crisp lines.
• Let paint cure for 24 hours before heavy use; wait to reinstall outlet covers until fully dry.