Painting Mistakes to avoid

FM Painters aims to be the best Painters Fargo ND has to offer, which is why we've come up with a list of common painting mistakes to avoid. Because we'd love to give you advice on painting even if you don't choose us for your next project.


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​1. Boy Scouts motto: Be Prepared!
Never never never skip out on properly prepping the area you're about to paint. A simple lazy mistake now could cause more trouble for you down the line. More than your moneys at stake here, we'er talking about your sanity.  If you want to avoid painting headaches of touching up missed spots or fixing accidental smears on areas you didn't want painted then prepping is the first step. 

• Cover everything you don't want to get paint on.
  • This includes your floor, furniture, appliances, base boards, door and window molding etc...
• Don't buy cheap-o painters tape.
  • When it comes to painters tape quality matters. Be willing to spend up on painters tape, the cheap stuff in this case is definitely not as good as the slightly more expensive stuff.
• Paint and Primer in one
  • You can go through the hassle of laying down a base coat of primer first and letting it dry before adding your actual paint color, but the paint and primer in one's now a days will save you a lot of time.
• Eliminate dust and dirt
  • Clean the surfaces you plan on painting. Dust and dirt will make your paint job look terrible in the end.

​2. Be patient. Wait for your paint to dry

• Always wait for your first coat of paint to completely dry before applying your next coat. If you paint over wet paint it can streak and look uneven. Patience young grasshopper!

3. Choose the right paint for the right room

• How do you want your room to look? There are many different paint finishes to choose from, full gloss, semi-gloss, eggshell, matte, flat. You should use a more glossy finish for bathrooms or rooms where moisture will be present as mold and mildew will tend to seep through duller finishes.
• The best Fargo Painters know all about the harsh winters in North Dakota. That's why you should always use the correct paint for the outside of your house as well.  Using the incorrect paint on the exterior of your house could lead to cracking.  Don't throw your money down the drain by improperly painting the outside of your house.

4.  Bad tape jobs

• Painters tape is great for making clean lines but if you don't take it off properly or in the right amount of time it can cause all your hard work to look bad. 
  • Peeling your tape off to early and too late. If you peel your painters tape off too early, your wet paint may run down into the area you were trying to avoid painting. If you leave your tape on too long and the paint has dried to it, it can flake off and leave your clean edges looking rough.
  • Uneven tape: You may not notice it now, but once you paint over an uneven tape line and remove the tape you'll have to live with the unevenness for a long time, which is not good for those of us with OCD! Ensure your tape lines are even and overlapping
  • Smooth out your tape: If your tape is not completely pressed onto the wall and there are bubbles or pockets, paint can seep down and you will definitely notice this later once you remove the tape. Touch-up time!

5. Clean your equipment!

• If you don't clean your paint brushes and rollers they won't be useful next time you have to paint, including when you have to add a second or third coat! Cleaning your brushes thoroughly will keep the brush nice and clean for the next use. Improperly cleaned brushes and rollers can have paint flakes in them which will get into your next coat or affect your next paint job! 

There you have it. A short list of important things to remember when painting your house. We hope you can use this information for your next painting project. And remember if you're looking for the best Painters in Fargo ND call FM Painters at (701) 809-9090!

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