The walls in your house are a reflection of you and your personality. Walls are one of the most visible parts of your home. They should be comfortable to look at, inviting, and reflect your taste and style. But if you have flat paint on your interior walls every little mark shows and cleaning doesn’t cut it. It’s time to touch up those dull and tired walls with some new paint.

Why touch up your paint?

Paint touch ups are a simple way to spruce up your home without spending a lot of money or hiring a professional painter. The project involves painting over any imperfections, like scuffs, small holes or marks without having to painting the entire wall. A new coat of paint will make your interior walls look fresh and new; it’s an easy way to improve the look of your home without breaking the bank.

Why does a flat paint sheen needs touched up more than an eggshell finish?

First, you have to understand why paints appear flat. With flat paint the pigment is ground very coarsely. The rough surface texture scatters light in all different directions making the paint less reflective and appear flat.

When you brush up against your walls you are polishing the surface making the area shinier than the rest of the wall. Not only does this rubbing cause an unsightly visible spot, the course pigment grabs dirt off anything it makes contact with. Then when you attempt to clean the scuffs you further rub and marr the flat finish.

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Basically, this type of paint gets dirtier faster and is harder to wash than higher sheen paints that absorbs moisture less, get dirty slower, scuffs less and cleans up better. The good news you can fix an unsightly finish with a simple DIY painting project.

How to touch up paint on a wall

Touching up your walls and other aspects of your home is just part of basic house maintenance. The process is simple. Complete any prep work to repair all damaged areas before painting. Make sure to clean the area before painting and match the paint color correctly. Many of these smaller repairs are quite simple to complete. Of course, for the best touch-up results, it’s all about the details.

We have a few pro tricks so you can achieve a flawless finish the first time – and every time!

Pro Painter Tips For A Flawless Paint Finish

Before You Begin

Consider using a melamine-foam based white sponge. A popular version is the “Magic Eraser” brand. WIth one of these magic sponges, it is possible to remove smudges without painting at all! Because the sponge wears away when cleaning it is less likely to cause shiny spots on walls with flat paint. Simply blot the area with an absorbent white towel to remove the white residue.

Keep It Clean

Dirt and grime can prevent the paint on your wall from adhering to the wall, causing it to bubble or blister. Scrub the walls with a soapy sponge to clean them off completely. Also, after repairs, wipe the dust off with a damp cloth. Dry both with a clean towel before painting.

A Dab Will Do

To repair all of the random nail and screw holes, dab on a bit of spackle with your finger. Using your finger controls the amount of mess and allows you to properly fill small holes. Go back over the holes with a putty knife to remove any excess spackle.

Hole In One

To patch larger areas, use an aluminum mesh wall repair patch. Cut a piece of metal mesh that is slightly larger than the hole. Put the metal mesh patch over the hole and secure it in place with duct tape. Apply a layer of mud over the mesh patch, extending about three inches past the edges of the patch.

Remove the excess mud from the repaired area, leaving the area as smooth as possible. It’s okay if you can still see the aluminum mesh through the mud; you want the layers to be very thin. Let dry and add then coats until you cant feel the metal with the palm of your hand. Sand with fine-grit sandpaper.

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Prime Time

Typically you must paint a layer of primer before painting over patching material. If not, you will see a foggy spot where the repair was made after the final paint coat. However, if you choose a self-priming patching material, you can bypass this additional step. There are a number of brands on the market; look for the words ‘self-priming’ or ‘with primer’ on the packaging.

Waste Not, Want Not

Not even the most impeccable paint jobs are immune to damage. Do yourself a favor. Never throw away leftover paint. After a new paint job, use a piece of painter’s tape to label the can of paint with the name of the room it was used. Using the same batch of paint will give an almost perfect match to the naked eye. This will make future touch-ups much less frustrating.

Hydrate

Using paint from the original job is the best bet for matching the color. However, over time the tone of the paint on the wall changes differently than the tone in the can. This is because the moisture in the paint evaporates. A quick fix is to dilute the paint by 5 to 10 percent with water for latex paint or mineral spirits for oil-based paint to match the original finish.

Trust Technology

If you do not have the old paint, go to a local paint store with matching paint technology. Make certain to request the same brand of paint, and a flat paint type. Using a different brand, color, or type of paint can cause the new paint to not match the original paint, which can make the wall look sloppy.

Less Is More

The way to achieve a seamless blend is with a pro’s technique called “feathering.”  Paint the smallest area possible and use a paint blend to incorporate the edges. After you’ve applied paint to the body of the patch, take the same brush and drag it outwards, over the top of the existing wall paint. Do not add extra paint. Minimal paint on the edges spreads the new paint so it blends with the rest of the wall.

For the best results only use little paint. Pour a bit of thinner into your paint to make it more manageable. It will be easier to apply and give a less streaky smooth finish.

Put the beauty back in your space

By following these tips, you can touch up your flat wall paint like a pro in no time! Not only will your walls look as good as the original paint job, but you’ll also save yourself the money and hassle of hiring a professional.

Whether a full gut job or decluttering and refreshing existing spaces, Dumpster Rental Charlotte is here to support your home improvement project. Go to our online booking portal to reserve a dumpster or click to chat. We can’t wait to serve you!

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