Just Add Paint works hard to make sure we have the most knowledgable, hard-working, and enthusiastic staff in the business. We take our craft seriously and want to make sure our customers sing our praises from the rooftop at the end of every interior painting job. One part of making jobs run smoothly is using high quality tools and materials. Another part of the equation is getting in and out of your house as quickly as possible. (We love that you invited us in, and do NOT want to overstay our welcome)! We are happy to do as much of the “pre-paint room preparation” as you like, but we assume our customers would prefer to do some of the small stuff to save some money on the job. Well, at least this is what you have been telling us over the years. So here are a few quicks tips on How To Prepare Your House For Interior Painting In Mechanicsburg.
Remove Pictures And Wallhangings
Removing pictures and wallhangings is a fairly obvious place to start for interior painting. We don’t want to get paint on these things and also don’t want to damage them. If there are wallhangings that will go back in the same place, simply leave the nail or screw in the wall and we will know not to fill it. If you remove the nail/screw we will see the hole and know to patch it.
Remove Curtains and Blinds
Removing paint from curtains and blinds is challenging! If they are dirty, this is a good time to dust off the blinds and send the curtains to the dry cleaners. After removal, curtains can be laid out on a couch or bed and we will protect them from paint with plastic. If you are planning to replace the blinds or curtains, just let us know so we can patch the holes. We ask that you do NOT remove any wall anchors that might be holding up curtains or blinds. We have a method for dealing with these and prefer to start with them still being in the wall. And on a side note… large vertical hanging blinds are prone to breaking, especially if they are more than a few years old. Handle with care if you are dealing with this type of blind!
Remove Everything Possible From Tables And Shelving
You will need to remove lamps, picture frames, candles, nicknacks, books, plants, and everything else I can’t think of right now. We don’t like dealing with this stuff for a several reasons, but most of all because it is tough for us to organize it. Customers are much better off putting things in boxes or laying them out in a manner that these items can easily go back where they came from. We suggest moving boxes, or boxes with an open top so you can see where everything went.
Remove Contents Of China Cabinets
China cabinets are one of the scariest pieces of furniture I can think of. They are often antiques themselves, filled with lots of valuable antiques. I expect our insurance would cover an accident, but I would prefer not to find out. Please remove all breakable contents from china cabinets, and we will use furniture sliders to very carefully move this cabinet as needed. Failure to remove valuables from a china cabinet will result in an additional fee, and the need for a signature on a waiver.
Remove Contents From Bathroom
Some bathrooms we encounter have fairly epic amounts of “stuff” on the vanity beside the sink. Sometimes these items are personal, and we can’t believe you didn’t mind us handling them. We ask that you kindly remove all items from the countertop. This includes but is not limited to: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, medication, baskets filled with random items, retainers, clothes (surprisingly common, both clean and dirty), hairbrushes, curling irons, flat irons, cups, plates, candles, sprays, cologne/perfume, books, food, etc. You get the idea. Also needing to be removed from the bathroom: Shower curtains, rugs, and anything hanging on/over the doors. If you are able to remove towel racks and toilet paper holders that is also very helpful! We will mask off and/or cover everything else for protection from paint during your interior painting project.
Remove Grandfather Clocks / Pianos / Large Antiques / Giant Pieces Of Furniture
These items fall into a special category due to both homeowners and contractors simply being afraid to move them. (And in some cases we are just not strong enough). We consider these “professional mover” type items. Professional movers are always helpful with the biggest, most fragile of furniture. Moving companies have the best insurance available in the event that anything would be damaged. If these items are not movable for any reason, we will do our best to protect them from paint and work around them. Not addressing these items may result in a fee if they prevent wall access.
Remove Televisions, Computers, and Stereos/Electronics
As a rule, we do not move anything of this nature because of liability concerns. However, our worries have more to do with not knowing how to hook them back up than anything else. We may be willing to help with physically moving these items if a homeowner will be present to sign a waiver and a strategy is in place for storage. We do ask that you have a plan in place for internet access if someone is working from home and a router needs to be unplugged.
Vacuum
This is a much bigger issue with families who have pets. But also please be aware that moving furniture in even the cleanest of homes creates large amounts of dust. The biggest problem areas with dust related to interior painting are baseboards in carpeted rooms. Pet hair in general and carpet can be a challenging combination, so please make sure you remove as much dust as possible. “We really enjoy the way you got the cat hair to stick in the trim paint” – said no one ever.
Remove Anything Sticky
Paint will not adhere to anything that is sticky. Stickers, decals, glow in the dark stars, double-sided tape, and sticky goop of any sort must be removed prior to painting. Krud Kutter or denatured alcohol are often helpful when dealing with sticky spots.
Remove Furniture Where Possible
Last but not least, please remove as much furniture from the room as possible prior to painting. We always bring plenty of furniture sliders for the big stuff. The emptier the room, the smoother the painting process will go. Plastic drop cloths will be used to cover any furniture that our crew is not able to remove. Rooms with excessive furniture may incur a fee if they slow down the interior painting process.
Thank you for reading our blog: Just Add Paint’s How To Prepare Your House For Interior Painting In Mechanicsburg. Please feel free to reach out to us for estimates – and also if you are a DIYer and just have some questions we can answer in an email. We are happy to talk shop about all things painting even if you are planning to do a job yourself!
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Related blog post: https://www.justaddpaint.net/painting-tips-how-does-furniture-in-the-room-affect-the-cost-of-house-painting
