How to prepare your walls before painting

Clean and dry the surface

Wash off dust, soot, grease and any loose material, then let the wall dry completely. Paint applied over damp or dusty walls loses adhesion and can flake within months.

Treat any mould or damp at its source first. Painting over a moisture problem hides it only briefly.

Repair before you prime

Scrape back flaking paint, fill cracks and nail holes, and sand filled areas flush once dry. Run your hand across the wall — anything you can feel will be visible under fresh paint.

Feather the edges of patched areas so repairs do not read as raised patches through the finish coat.

Prime, then paint in the right order

New plaster, bare wood and bare metal all need the appropriate primer or undercoat so the topcoat sits evenly and keeps its colour.

Work ceilings first, then walls, then joinery. Cut in edges with a brush and fill the larger areas with a roller while the edges are still wet to avoid visible joins.

Respect the recoat time on the tin. Rushing the second coat pulls at the first and leaves patchy sheen.