A new paint job can instantly transform the interior or exterior of your home from drab and dated to fresh and welcoming. It’s one of the most effective ways to update the look of your home and make it feel inviting. Freshly painted walls should create a beautiful backdrop that sets the stage for your décor or landscaping.

When the painters are finished, you want to see rich color, crisp edges, and a smooth texture. The right product, preparation, and process are all essential in ensuring a quality result that will last for years.

But what if you’re not happy with what you see? How do you know if you got a bad paint job? Here are 5 red flags that your painter has been cutting corners.

No Preparation

A good paint job starts with thorough preparation. Before any paint goes on the walls, the paint crew should fix drywall damage or wood rot, spackle over hairline cracks or nail holes, clean the walls, and sand out uneven surfaces. If this step isn’t handled with care, imperfections will show through the paint.

Uneven Color

Uneven color occurs when pain has been incorrectly applied or the wrong process has been used. Telltale signs to look for include lines, streaks, splotches, or patchy-looking paint. Uneven paint color can be the result of not preparing the surface properly, not mixing the paint well, using the wrong type of paint or primer, or not applying enough coats.

A professional paint crew should ensure good quality results by sanding and scraping the surface before getting started, using quality paint, and following a thorough process that ensures full coverage.

Roller or Brush Marks

If the painter isn’t using enough paint on the roller, you may see roller marks on your walls after the paint dries. This can also happen if there is too much paint on the roller and the pressure being applied leaves a streak at the edges. In addition, brush marks and roller marks can be left behind when the paint is poor quality, dries too fast, or is applied incorrectly.

Professional painters should always apply two coats of paint. This will usually eliminate roller and brush marks, and it will ensure sufficient coverage, so paint doesn’t look streaky. Be sure your painters use proper technique that leaves your walls looking smooth and even after the paint dries.

Bumpy or Textured-Looking Walls

This is another problem that is often caused by lack of sufficient prep work ahead of time. If the wall hasn’t been cleaned well, bits of grime or debris can show through the paint leaving lumps and bumps on the surface. Textured-looking walls can happen when paint hasn’t been stored properly, is too thick, or isn’t applied correctly. Worn-out rollers may also leave a textured look behind when the painting is finished.

A quality paint job requires careful attention to the surfaces being painted, the tools used, and the paint itself. If your paint job ends up looking like orange peel texture, it’s time to find a different paint crew.

Visible Flaws in the Paint

Drips, peeling or flaking paint, bubbles in the paint, uneven edges, and other visible flaws should never happen with a professional painter. If you can see visible flaws like these once the paint has dried, you know you have received a bad paint job.

We recommend taking a close look at the paint crew’s work early in the process, so you know you are getting the best quality result for your investment.

Get a Quality Paint Job Every Time with CorsPaint

What should you do if you notice that you’ve received a bad paint job? Call CorsPaint! Better yet, get the job done right the first time with our professional paint crew. We are Gainesville’s top-rated house painting company, and we guarantee beautiful, quality work every time. Our painters start with thorough preparation and follow a careful process to ensure a flawless finish. Contact us today to get a free quote!