DIY vs Professional Painting: What You Need to Know

If you have decided that your home is ready for a freshen up, then a new coat of paint can be the perfect thing to give it a lift. As well as choosing colours and finishes, the other thing that you will need to decide is whether to hire a professional or do the job yourself.

In this article, Stag Painting & Decorating take a look at the difference between DIY and professional painting to help you decide which method you should use for your next decorating job.

DIY painting

There is no doubt that painting a room or your entire house by yourself is a much cheaper option, but it can be a difficult and time-consuming one as well. It can not only result in paint splatters on carpets and furnishings, but you may also find that the finish is uneven and that there are drips, dribbles or bubbles in the paintwork. This can be incredibly frustrating and is likely to be something that your eye is drawn to every time you look at the wall.

To avoid this, it is important to invest in the right tools. Buying the cheapest brushes and rollers will only end in a disappointing finish, no matter how expensive your paint might be.

A DIY attempt at painting is also likely to be unsuccessful if you are dealing with an uneven wall, intricate areas or a space which is in need of some repair work. These are all things which can make a decorating effort look amateur and you may have to spend more time and money fixing any mistakes.

Professional painting

Hiring a professional can be essential if your walls are in a particularly poor condition. There may be uneven plaster, holes in the wall, remnants of wallpaper or peeling paint. These are all difficult things for most of us to have to deal with, but a professional can ensure that it is all handled properly.

They will be able to strip the wall of anything that has been left behind and can also make sure that any issues are repaired, and the wall is smooth and ready to paint.

A professional is also important if you plan on using any kind of speciality finish. Things like lacquer and high gloss look fabulous on Instagram, but they can be really difficult to work with. Not only do they sometimes have to be applied differently, but they can also highlight imperfections.

A professional will be able to tell you what kind of finish you can expect from these speciality paints and can ensure that they are applied properly to a high standard.

Another issue that people tend to underestimate is dealing with high ceilings. If you are not able to comfortably reach your ceiling with a step ladder, then you put yourself at huge risk. This is because most people then turn to unstable, makeshift contraptions that could lead to them falling or straining themselves.

It is therefore much better to call in the professionals who have all the equipment that is necessary to be able to reach the very highest ceilings and still give you that fantastic professional finish.

You might think that DIY painting is going to save you some money, but the result can often be more expensive when you have to pay to fix the problems that have occurred during the process. It can therefore often be much better to bring in the professionals from the start who are able to deal with anything that might be tricky, whether it is the condition of your wall, some delicate cornicing or high ceiling.