How to Paint Over Dark Colors the Easy Way

professional interior painters, farmington ct

professional interior painters, farmington ctAchieving a good paint job is rarely as effortless as people think unless tackling coverage over dark paint. If you want to know how to paint over dark colors the easy way, there is good news. What you do for coverage of a darker paint than what you are going to replace it with is almost the same as the usual procedure.

Anyone who is looking for professional results should hire professionals. The truth is that only an experienced painter with the right tools and know-how can achieve exceptional results. That being said, here are easy steps for painting over dark colors.

Gather the Right Supplies

If you would like to be happy with the results of do-it-yourself painting over dark colors, begin with the correct supplies for the job. The investment you make will be worth more than the money spent. First, buy a high-quality roller with the appropriate nap for the project; thicker for rough surfaces so that any bumps or crevices will be filled during the painting or a foam roller or thinner nap for type for smooth walls, which usually applies to indoor surfaces.

Just as important as the roller is the primer that you buy for the project. The best primer should be chosen when you are covering dark paint. Choose a quality paint to go over the primer, as well, such as an acrylic-based paint.

Prep the Surface

Surface prep does as much or more than anything else to determine the quality of a paint project. Walls should be clean and holes should be filled with filler and then sanded until smooth. Also, dust baseboards and moldings as needed. Reduce paint bleed by applying painter’s tape before you begin. Painter’s tape does not bubble up when applied, unlike masking tape. The problem with air bubbles is that they allow the paint to seep underneath the tape and ruin the work.

An example of another type of prep experts use is to remove cover plates from light switches and electrical outlets. Use painter’s tape to protect the switches while painting the wall surfaces behind them.

exterior painting techniques, canton ctMultiple Layers of Primer

The real secret to successfully covering dark paint on walls is primer. Nothing like the paint itself, primer is designed to bond paint to surfaces. It is a blend of solvent, resin, and various other additives. In other words, primer is not simply just thicker paint. Primer can cover stains and dark paint, whereas using only paint would allow bleed-through.

To ensure full coverage of primer, roll it on an M or W shape. After the primer has dried, apply a second coat of primer.

Apply Paint

The last step is to apply paint after the primer has dried thoroughly. It may be necessary to add two or more coats of paint to ensure that the dark paint underneath the primer does not detract from the finished look of the new paint color.

For residents of central Connecticut who want to paint over dark walls wunbeatable results, simply schedule the work to be done by the experts at Franklin Painting.

Scroll to Top