Prep your walls for the perfect paint job

I was in a small shop near my house last week, and simply stepping into the building made me feel good.  The smell of fresh latex paint always does that for me. It's nice, isn't it? It signals a building that's getting better, though paint — even great paint — won't quite do the job. It can't. You also need to complete good prep work on walls and ceilings first, and that's where a lot of homeowners could do better. Effective paint prep is all about seamlessly repairing damage caused by everyday living, and most of this has to do with filling dents and dings. Even if you hire a pro to do your painting, you'll save a lot of money while setting the stage for great results if you handle the prep work yourself.

Whether you've got walls covered in plaster or drywall, the ideal repair tools and techniques remain the same. You'll need a small tub of ready-mixed drywall compound, a four-inch wide drywall knife and an abrasive sanding sponge. You can get these basics for less than $30.

The trick behind repairing any kind of nail hole or small dent is to dimple the area before filling. Pound the damaged zone with moderate blows from the rounded handle of your putty knife or a screwdriver handle. Aim for a depression that's about 1/8-inch below the surface of the wall at its centre. The idea is to drive all frazzled edges of the damaged area below the surface of the wall.   

Next, apply a smooth skiff of drywall compound into and over the damaged-and-dimpled areas, using the blade of your putty knife. For best results, the compound must be thoroughly stirred first. Lumps are no good. Mix compound in the container by using a 1 1/2-inch diametre spade bit as a beater in a variable speed drill.

If you've spread compound successfully, you should end up with a bit of excess extending beyond the edges of the repair zone, and some slightly above the surface of the wall. Now wait for it to dry. This'll take eight to 24 hours, depending on room temperature and humidity. Fully dry compound readily forms dust when sanded with your abrasive sponge block; still-wet compound will be gummy. Don't rush things or you'll make a mess. If your repair area is deep enough, you may notice shrinkage of the first coat of drywall compound has created a hollow that's still visible after sanding. If so, swipe on another skiff of compound, let it dry, then re-sand. Two coats should do the trick for minor repairs, laying the all-important groundwork for a great new coat of paint.