Anybody can roll paint on a wall. What separates a professional interior paint job from a weekend one is everything that happens first — and it is usually more than half the hours on the job.
Protection comes first. Floors get covered wall to wall, not just where we are standing. Fixtures, outlets, switch plates, and hardware come off or get masked. Furniture gets moved to the center and wrapped. If we have to rush this step, something gets ruined, and it is never worth it.
Then we fix the wall. Every nail hole, dent, scuff, and hairline crack gets filled and sanded flat. This is where a drywall background matters — we are patching walls all week, so the repairs under our paint disappear instead of telegraphing through the finish coat.
Bare drywall and patched areas get primed. Fresh joint compound is porous and drinks paint at a different rate than the surrounding wall. Skip the primer and you get flashing — dull patches that show through the color no matter how many coats you roll.
Caulk closes the gaps. Trim, baseboards, and door casings get caulked where they meet the wall. That single line is what makes the edges look sharp instead of homemade.
Only then does paint go on, and always two full coats. One coat looks fine while it is wet and patchy once it dries, especially on color changes.
The last step is the one people notice most: pulling tape carefully, touching up edges, reinstalling hardware, and hauling everything out. You should not be able to tell we were there except for the walls.
Ramy Drywall LLC paints interiors and exteriors across the Twin Cities. Call (612) 552-0309 for a free estimate.