Britmar Painting and Wallpaper’s Work Process

Britmar’s Written Process Description for Work Products

To ensure that every project result is consistent, we strictly follow the standard Britmar Painting and Wallpaper Work Process outlined below.

1. Drywall Repair

  • We repair any drywall damage such as cracks, holes, and nail pops through caulk and/or joint compound/tape and drywall patches. Once the patching compound has dried, the repaired surfaces will be sanded to create a smooth surface.
  • The repaired surfaces will be primed before proceeding with the final painting stage.

2. Wallpaper,  Border Removal, and Wall Preparation Prior to Painting or Re-wallpapering

  • There are different methods of wallpaper removal depending on the wall surface and what kind of wallpaper was used. We will use the best method depending on those factors.
    • Plaster walls with vinyl wallpaper will require a steamer to effectively unstick the wallpaper from the wall. This will result in minimal damage which can easily be repaired.
    • Sheetrock walls with vinyl prepasted wallpaper will require a solution of a certain type of wallpaper remover mixed with water. This solution will loosen the prepasted glue so that we can safely proceed with scraping off the walls and/or ceiling. This method prevents the walls from getting damaged while we do our work.
    • If you have fabric-backed wallpaper, it will be removed as carefully as possible to minimize the damage to your walls or ceiling.
  • All remaining glue residue will be carefully removed from the walls. After that, the walls will be washed before we proceed with the painting.
  • If there are damages to the walls, it will be repaired using our methods for drywall repair mentioned above. (See #1)

3. Interior Painting

  • Our Initial Room Preparation
    • Upon arrival at the project site, we will tour the area with the customer.
    • If there are any imperfections to be repaired, such as nail holes, we will discuss it with the customer.
    • To protect non-furniture items, it will be moved away from the walls or it will be placed safely on top of the furniture in the room.
    • Any furniture will be moved away from the walls to allow easy access to all the surfaces that will be painted. Doing so will also provide a comfortable and wider working area. The furniture and non-furniture items will then be covered with plastic or cloth tarps.
    • The floors will be protected with plastic, towels, or drop cloths to ensure protection from paint splatter.
    • To protect the surfaces of your appliances, (such as thermostats, security motion detectors, and the like) they will be covered with painter’s tape to protect against paint splatter.
    • Removable electrical plates will be removed prior to paint application and will be returned upon completion.
  • Walls, Ceilings, and Wood Trim Preparation
    • The walls, ceilings, and wood trim will be cleaned appropriately to make sure the surfaces are sufficiently primed to accept a new coat of paint.
    • Any imperfections on the walls and ceilings will be repaired using a joint compound. Gaps between walls and wood trim will be filled in with caulk.
    • Once everything is dried, all of the joint compound repairs will be sanded to achieve a smooth surface.
  • Painting
    • The repaired areas and any surface to be painted will be given a coat of primer. The primer is necessary if a significant color change will occur.
    • We apply coats of paint with a roller and brush.
    • We apply two coats of paint on all the surfaces.
    • We see to it that all the paint edges are perfectly straight.
  • Completion of Job (Daily and Final Completion)
    • At the end of each day, all painting materials will be collected and stored in an area that does not interfere with the customer’s usual routine.
    • Once the job is completed, all the painting materials, trash, and debris will be collected and removed from the house.
    • All the furniture and non-furniture items will be moved back into its original position.
  • Prior to Payment
    • Upon completion of the job, we will give a tour of the area to the customer to make sure that everything is done to their satisfaction. Should any missed areas require a touch-up, we will do so immediately.

4. Wallpaper Installation

  • Initial Room Preparation
    • We will ask for a tour around the area to determine what needs to be done.
    • Any imperfections that need to be repaired will be identified.
    • Any furniture in the room will be moved to allow room for access to the surfaces that will be wallpapered. The furniture will also be covered with cloth tarps or plastic.
  • Initial Set-up
    • If the wallpaper does not have a prepasted adhesive, we will set up a working table in a nearby room to prepare the wallpaper for installation.
    • If the wallpaper already has prepasted adhesive, we will just set up a water tray inside or near the room that will be wallpapered. We will also insert cloth materials and plastic tarps below the water tray to protect your flooring.
    • In case the prepasted wallpaper does not adhere properly, we always bring extra glue so that the wallpaper can be applied properly.
    • Wallpaper should not be installed over the basic builder’s paint or bare sheetrock. It is instead recommended to apply quality paint as a surface coating before installing the wallpaper. This way, future wallpaper removal won’t become too difficult and it will not cause damage to the walls.
  • Wallpaper and Border Installation (General Instructions)
    • We will follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when it comes to wallpaper installation to ensure proper application.
    • To make sure that all the wallpaper materials will have the same shade and pattern, we purchase wallpapers with the same “pattern number” and “run number”.
    • We will also initially check whether the wallpaper already has prepasted adhesive or none so we can decide how to install them.
    • We will consider the pattern repeat of the wallpaper since it will help us determine how much wallpaper to purchase. If the pattern matches are larger, we may need to trim more excess wallpaper. We also consider whether the wallpaper has a drop match or a straight pattern match.
    • If the corners are not vertically straight, we will have to overlap the wallpaper over a part of the total sheet length, double-cut it, and overlap it over itself. If this is the case and the wallpaper is also vinyl-coated, or it is a solid sheet vinyl, or a vinyl-over-vinyl wallpaper, we will use glue to make sure that the wallpaper adheres permanently.
    • Once the job is complete, we will remove all of our wallpaper tools, coverings, tables, and trash. We will also leave the affected areas broom clean.
  • Prepasted Wallpapers (Special Instructions)
    • We will apply extra wallpaper adhesive to prepasted wallpapers if it is recommended by the manufacturer.
    • Prepasted wallpapers are usually rolled inside out and prior to application, they are dipped into a tray of clean water for a few seconds to activate the glue. The wallpaper will then be folded against itself by way of booking the paper glue side to glue side. The process of rolling or booking the wallpaper will allow it to relax before it is installed.
    • We will hang the first piece of wallpaper in a non-conspicuous corner of the room to make sure that it is vertically straight by using a level. This will be done after smoothing out all of the bubbles and the excess glue. After that, any excess wallpaper will be trimmed from the top and bottom parts of the sheet.
    • All the other wallpaper sheets will be hung in a similar way.
  • Non-Prepasted Wallpapers (Special Instructions)
    • For non-prepasted wallpapers, varying types of glue will be required. The most common ones are Heavy Duty Clear or a clay paste.
    • We will apply the glue using a roller dipped in a 5-gallon bucket of glue. Once it is applied, the wallpaper is booked or folded against itself glue side to glue side to allow it to relax before hanging. The first sheet of wallpaper and the succeeding ones are applied the same way as described on “Prepasted Wallpapers”.
    • There are some textured wallpapers that require it to be “double-cut. We will overlap the sheet over the prior wallpaper sheet by approximately an inch. After that, we will cut down the middle. Any excess from both of the sheets will be removed and the seam will be worked into itself so that it virtually disappears from sight.
    • There are also some textured wallpapers that require the sheets to be reverse hung. These are mostly non-prepasted wallpapers. Not doing so can make each wallpaper sheet visually appear as a separate stripe.
  • Border Installation
    • Border installation is almost similar to wallpaper installation with a few differences.
    • Most borders are already prepasted. They are also usually dipped into a water tray and then booked just like prepasted wallpaper.
    • If border installation is being done over painted sheetrock, the border can be installed directly after it has been prepared.
    • If border installation is being done over vinyl-coated wallpaper or solid sheet vinyl wallpaper, then we would need to apply a vinyl-over-vinyl border adhesive.
    • There are some borders that require pasting wallpaper paste directly to the wall. The “dry” border will then be installed directly on the wall.
    • The borders will also come with instructions detailing how they should be installed.
    • Once the job is complete, we will collect all of our equipment, get rid of the trash, and we will leave the area broom clean.
  • Prior to Payment
    • Once the job is completed prior to payment, we will accompany the customer on a tour around the area to determine whether some areas require a touch-up or if everything has already been done to the customer’s satisfaction.

5. Exterior Painting

  • Exterior Pressure Washing
    • If pressure washing is required to sufficiently clean the exterior, it is available upon request.
    • To avoid direct contact with pressurized water, we will cover trees and/or shrubs with plastic tarps or cloth.
    • The pressure setting is minimized to protect less secure areas. If it is still too strong, other steps will be taken to protect those areas.
    • We will clean up all debris that will be dislodged by the pressure washing.
  • Pre-Paint Preparation
    • Loose paint will be removed, the woodwork will be repaired as necessary, and any non-painted areas will be primed properly.
    • We will do spot sanding if required to make sure the finish paint adheres to the surface.
    • Any surfaces that won’t be painted will be covered to protect them against paint splatter and drips.
    • We will caulk the areas around windows and doors if needed.
    • Non-stationary items, furniture, hoses, and the like will be moved or covered to protect against paint splatter.
  • Painting
    • We will apply two coats of paint to ensure proper coverage & finish.
    • We will apply the paint with a brush and/or roller, depending on which is required to ensure proper adhesion to the surface.
  • Completion of job
    • At the end of each day, all our painting materials will be gathered up and stored in an area that does not interfere with the customer’s normal routine.
    • Once the job is complete, we will gather our equipment and get rid of the trash from the exterior area of the house.
    • Any furniture, hoses, non-stationary items, and the like are moved back into their original setting.
  • Prior to Payment
    • Once the job is completed prior to payment, we will accompany the customer on a tour around the area to determine whether some areas require a touch-up or if everything has already been done to the customer’s satisfaction.

6. Minor Carpentry

  • We install and/or replace baseboards, crown moldings, wainscot, and chair rails.
  • To minimize wood filings and dust inside the house, we will do all our cutting in an outdoor setting if it is possible.
  • We will create pre-drilled holes before finish nails are installed and tapped below the surface.
  • We will sand the surface before painting and we will use putty to cover all the nail heads.

7. Popcorn Ceilings Removed and Prepared for Painting

  • We will move non-furniture items into a different room or we will place them safely on top of the room’s furniture. This is done to provide a wider working area and to allow access to surfaces where the popcorn will be removed. All the items will be covered with cloth tarps or plastic and the floors will be covered with drop cloths or towels to provide complete protection from popcorn ceiling splatter.
  • All the remaining unprotected surfaces will be covered with plastic or painter’s tape to provide splatter protection. These surfaces include thermostats, fireplaces, security motion detectors, and the like.
  • The popcorn ceiling will be removed in 4-foot-by-4-foot sections. This will be done by wetting the popcorn and leaving it to saturate for a minute or two. After that, the popcorn ceiling mix will be scraped off using a finishing knife. All the excess material will be deposited in a trash can.
  • The processes mentioned above will be repeated until the popcorn ceiling is fully removed and any excess material is washed clean.

This wraps up Britmar Painting and Wallpaper’s work process. Call us today at (856) 582-2459 and get the chance to work with licensed and insured professionals who follow a standardized work process! Apart from Washington Township, our services can also be availed by residents and business owners within Gloucester, Camden, and Burlington Counties.

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