The holidays are fast approaching, and the cooler weather means more time indoors spending time with family and friends. If you are looking for a project to keep you busy during the cold weather season, now is the perfect time of the year to update your home with an interior painting project. There are several benefits to painting your home’s interior during the winter months; for example, less humidity means your paint will dry faster with a more even finish.

How to Prepare to Paint Interior Walls During the Winter

• Preparation: When it comes to painting, the key is preparation. Before beginning your interior painting project, your surfaces must be free of dust and dirt. Use a tack cloth to remove debris so that your surfaces are smooth and ready for paint. Cover furniture and floors with drop cloths and use painter’s tape for your baseboards, trim, and electrical sockets.
• Mixing paint in a large container: If you are painting a large area, your paint color must be consistent. If your paint is stored in several smaller containers, pour all of your paint into a large container and mix well so that the color will be evenly applied to all of your surfaces.
• Ceilings, walls, and trim: When painting a large area, it’s almost a given that you will encounter some drips and spills. To avoid accidents, paint your space in a specific order; for example, begin with your ceilings, then walls, and complete your project by painting your trim last.
• Even paint strokes: For larger spaces and walls, use a roller with an extension pole for difficult to reach areas. To ensure that you achieve a smooth surface, make sure that you cover the roller with paint evenly before removing the excess to avoid drips and spills. Apply paint evenly in the shape of a W and without lifting the roller, begin to fill in the gaps. Once you have painted the section, reapply paint and repeat the process until your project is complete.
• Avoid painting lap marks: If your paint layers are not applied evenly, the finished project will appear to have broad stripes that will be noticeable and spoil the surface’s appearance. Lap marks are often caused by painting over a partially dry edge. To avoid lap marks, work quickly, and make sure that the paint’s edge is moist before applying the next stroke.
• Be patient and let the paint dry: Once the first coat of paint has been applied, don’t rush the process. You will need to make sure that the first coat is completely dry before applying a second coat. To speed up the process, open your windows and allow the crisp fall air to work its magic.  Keep in mind that not all paints have the same dry time; for example, oil-based paint needs to rest approximately 24 hours before applying another application; on the other hand, latex paint typically dries within 4 to 6 hours.
• Clean up paint: Clean up can be a chore in itself, but it is still an essential part of the painting process.  Latex-based paint can be washed out of brushes and rollers with soap and water. Oil paints require paint thinner or solvent. Store leftover paint in a tightly sealed container for touch-ups. Contact your local compactor site or landfill to learn more about safe paint disposal protocols.

Interior & Exterior Painting in Amagansett, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, Hampton Bays, Montauk, North Haven, North Sea, Noyack, Quogue, Shelter Island, Sag Harbor, Sagaponack, Shinnecock Hills, Southampton, Springs, Wainscott, Watermill, Westhampton, Westhampton Beach, New York

The holiday season is a busy time of the year, so if you don’t have time for a DIY project, don’t despair. The experts at L.W. Winslow Painting, Inc. are ready to provide you with professional interior painting services that will make your home beautiful while adding value to your investment. To learn more about professional residential interior painting services, contact the experts at L.W. Winslow Painting, Inc. today.