When it comes to painting your home, one of the most common mistakes homeowners make is rushing the preparation. At Sunpainting, we’ve been painting homes in Northbrook, Glenview, Highland Park, and across the Chicago North Shore for over 30 years — and we can tell you with certainty: the quality of a paint job is determined far more by what happens before the first coat goes on than by the paint itself.
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how we prepare a home for painting, and why every step matters.
Step 1: Free In-Home Estimate and Surface Assessment
Every Sunpainting project begins with a free, detailed in-home estimate. During this visit, we assess the condition of your surfaces — not just their size. We look for peeling paint, water stains, cracks, nail pops, mold, rot, and anything else that needs to be addressed before painting begins. This is how we build an accurate, no-surprise estimate and make sure we plan enough time for proper preparation.
Step 2: Protecting Your Home
Before we touch a brush or roller, we protect everything that isn’t being painted. This includes:
- Covering floors with drop cloths and protective paper
- Moving or covering furniture
- Removing outlet covers, switch plates, and hardware
- Masking trim, windows, and doors with professional painter’s tape
We clean up at the end of every single workday — not just at the end of the project. Your home stays livable throughout the process.
Step 3: Surface Cleaning
Paint doesn’t bond properly to dirty or greasy surfaces. For interior painting, we clean walls to remove dust, grease, and any residue from the previous paint job. For exterior painting, we power wash the entire surface to remove dirt, mildew, chalking, and loose paint. This step alone makes a significant difference in how long your new paint job will last.
Step 4: Scraping and Sanding
Any paint that is peeling, bubbling, or flaking must be removed before new paint goes on. We scrape loose paint by hand and use professional power sanders — including Festool dustless sanding systems with HEPA vacuum attachments — to keep your home virtually dust-free while we work. Sanding also creates a surface profile that helps new paint adhere more effectively.
Step 5: Patching and Repairs
Holes, cracks, dents, and nail pops are filled and sanded smooth before painting. For larger repairs — drywall damage, plaster cracks, water-damaged areas, or rotted wood on exteriors — we complete all necessary repairs in-house. You don’t need to hire a separate contractor for these common pre-paint repairs.
Step 6: Caulking
Caulking is one of the most overlooked steps in a professional paint job. We caulk along trim, around windows and doors, at baseboards, and anywhere gaps exist between surfaces. This step is essential for both appearance (crisp, clean lines) and protection (preventing moisture and air infiltration, especially on exteriors).
Step 7: Priming
Not every surface needs primer, but knowing when to prime is a mark of a skilled painter. We prime in situations including:
- New drywall or patched areas
- Surfaces with significant stains (water, smoke, or grease)
- Dramatic color changes — especially going from dark to light
- Raw wood or previously unpainted surfaces
- Exterior surfaces after extensive preparation
Skipping primer in these situations leads to uneven coverage, bleed-through, and a paint job that won’t last as long as it should.
Step 8: Paint Application
Only after all preparation is complete do we apply paint. We use premium products from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, and Behr, selected specifically for the surface and environment. We apply the number of coats needed to achieve complete, even coverage — and we don’t cut corners to save time.
Step 9: Final Walkthrough
When the work is complete, we do a final walkthrough with you — the homeowner. We want you to inspect every detail before we consider the job finished. If there’s anything that doesn’t meet your expectations, we address it before we leave. We don’t consider a project complete until you are fully satisfied.
Why Preparation Is the Difference Between a Good Paint Job and a Great One
A paint job applied over poor preparation will start to fail quickly — peeling, cracking, or bubbling within a year or two. A properly prepared surface with quality paint can look great for 7 to 10 years or more. The time invested in preparation is the single most important factor in the longevity and appearance of your paint job.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paint Preparation
How long should paint preparation take?
Professional preparation typically takes 1-2 days for most interior rooms, or 2-3 days for whole home exteriors. Rushing preparation is the biggest mistake you can make — proper prep work is what makes paint last 7-10 years instead of 2-3 years.
Do I really need to prime before painting?
Yes, primer is essential when painting over stains, changing colors dramatically, painting new drywall, or working with raw wood. Skipping primer leads to uneven coverage, bleed-through, and premature paint failure.
What’s the most important step in paint preparation?
Surface cleaning and repair. Paint cannot bond properly to dirty, damaged, or unstable surfaces. This is why we power wash exteriors and fill all holes and cracks before painting begins.
Why does preparation cost so much?
Preparation is labor-intensive but essential work. It requires skill, time, and quality materials. However, proper preparation extends your paint job’s life by 3-5 years, making it far more cost-effective than cheap work that fails quickly.
Can I do the preparation myself to save money?
While homeowners can handle basic cleaning, professional preparation involves specialized tools (dustless sanders, power washers) and expertise in identifying and repairing surface issues that amateur work often misses.
If you’re planning an interior or exterior painting project in Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield, Highland Park, or the surrounding Chicago suburbs, we’d love to show you what proper preparation looks like in person.
Contact Sunpainting today to schedule your free, detailed estimate. We serve the entire Chicago North Shore and Northwest Suburbs.
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Is there a step in our process you’d like to know more about? Or have you had a bad experience with a painter who skipped preparation? We’d love to hear from you — leave a comment below and our team will get back to you!