Five steps to a perfect paint job!
First, make sure the surface is clean and remove any loose or peeling paint, dirt or debris.
Second, protect everything that you don’t want to get paint on and get every thing that will be under your feet out of the way. Moving portable items is much better that covering them up and hoping you don’t ruin them. Having room to work is less stressful especially when doing a job that is difficult or unfamiliar.
Third, paint completely every thing you want to paint. Put on a full wet coat of paint. Don’t keep going back over an area if it’s not covering. Let it dry and give it another coat. Decide whether or not another coat is going to be needed before you remove your masking and act on your decision.
Fourth, remove the masking and protection completely and clean any areas that accidentally got paint on them.
Finally, take time to look at the job you did. Is everything you wanted painted covered completely and to your satisfaction? Is all the masking and misdirected paint removed? If not, now is the time to fix it.
It might seem silly. But, if you think about it, whether you are a professional painter or a do it yourselfer doing each step fully and correctly is a recipe for a perfect paint job.
I have heard that you should put a line of silicone caulk along the corner between the wall and ceiling to help make a straighter line between the two colors. Is this true? Is there a better way?
Jenifer,
Use acrylic caulk and not Silicone.
Caulking a corner at a color change can smooth out irregularities and make a visually pleasing line much easier to get.
Silicone isn’t paintable and you’ll not get the paint to stick to it. Use a good quality acrylic caulking instead. Many good acrylic caulks have Silcone as an additive as it helps with flexability and longer life. If it says silicone formost on the lable don’t use it for painting. Use it where a flexable seal is needed but won’t be painted.