Common painting mistakes and how to avoid them
The eight errors we see most often on Nigerian sites, and what to do instead.
By Tunde Bakare · · 1 min read
Most of these cost nothing to avoid and a great deal to correct.
Painting over damp
The most common and the most expensive. If the wall is not dry, nothing you put on it will stay.
Skipping primer on bare masonry
The topcoat ends up doing a job it was not formulated for.
Thinning paint to make it spread further
Thinned paint covers less, not more. You apply more coats to reach the same opacity and end up using the same quantity, with a weaker film.
Recoating too soon
Rolling a second coat onto a tacky first lifts the paint underneath and leaves a texture no further coat will hide.
Cutting in after rolling
Do the edges first, then roll into them while still wet. The other way round leaves a visible band.
Using the wrong finish for the room
Matt in a hallway, gloss on a large wall — both look wrong within the year.
Buying exactly enough
No margin for touch-ups, and later tins will not match.
Ignoring the weather forecast
Exterior work needs a dry window either side, not just on the day.