Painting a wall can be a daunting task, especially if it is your first time. Preparing the surface and cutting it in is one of the most important steps in painting a wall. Cutting in is the process of painting around the edges and corners of the walls, trim, and other fixtures like light switches and outlets. It is important to cut in before you roll on the actual paint color, as it provides clean lines and ensures that you won’t get any streaks or visible brush strokes along the edges. Here’s how to cut in when painting a wall:
Gather supplies: Start by gathering all of your supplies, such as painter’s tape, drop cloths, paintbrush, paint stirrer, ladder (optional), and paint bucket with lid. You will also need a quality angled paint brush; this tool helps make cutting in much easier.
Prepare the area: Before you begin painting, make sure to cover furniture or floors with some type of drop cloth or plastic sheeting to protect them from spills or splatters. Use painter’s tape on windowsills, baseboards, door frames, etc., to keep from getting excess paint on them while cutting in.
Pour the paint into the tray: Next, pour a small amount of paint into your roller tray; don’t fill it all the way up, as you will need room for stirring later. Use your stirrer tool to mix up the paint until all lumps are removed, and it is an even consistency throughout. For best results, use an ‘extender’ additive which helps prevent cracking along seams or corners as well as preventing spattering while rolling on your main coat of paint color.
Add just enough extenders to cover one wall at a time; this prevents any extra waste due to unused products going bad over time before being used up completely.
Begin cutting in: Now take your angled brush and dip it into the roller tray with only about 1/2 inch of bristles getting wet with paint at a time; this helps avoid too much dripping onto other areas when cutting in against seams or corners. Starting at one end of the wall, move slowly around each corner, carefully following any lines found on window sills or ceiling edges. For example, use short strokes going back and forth until the entire edge is painted evenly without drips or runs occurring along seam lines where two colors meet (wall color vs. ceiling color). Repeat this step around the entire perimeter of the room until complete before moving on to the next step below…
Finish Up: Once you have finished cutting in each wall, check for any missed spots that may have been left behind during the initial cut-in steps above; if necessary, touch them up now with a small brush while they are still wet, so they blend seamlessly into surrounding areas without standing out visibly after drying has occurred overnight (this gives walls a professional look once dry). Finally, remove the painter’s tape, being careful not to pull off any newly dried cut-in edges before continuing to roll the main color onto walls for a final coat(s) – just remember that proper preparation is key when it comes to successful painting projects, both large & small!
