A single coat of paint in a home holds significant power in transforming the look of a space. While painting your home’s interior areas may seem simple enough on paper, some homeowners can underestimate the effort, precision, and planning it takes to ensure that they execute the job correctly.

When a residence has less than an appealing paint job, the effort will speak for itself, and no homeowner wants to live with the results. Here are five common signs of a bad interior paint job to look out for:

No Prep Work Present

Before any paint project, you must complete the appropriate prep work steps to ensure that you have a solid foundation before applying color. Prepping your surfaces means repairing flaws like dents and crack and sanding down old high-gloss material to ensure that new paint will stick to the walls.

Remember that you should also prep your surrounding surfaces, use painter’s tape to cover trim and accents, and put drop cloths on the floor to catch stray paint droplets.

Stains and Other Flaws Are Present Through the Paint

Another step in prep work, applying laying primer on your home’s walls, ensures that color layers smoothly and dries with an even, vibrant result. Primer also aids in a longer lifespan and prevents discoloration.

The Paint Does Not Complement the Surface

While the wrong color in your space can be unappealing on its own, using the wrong kind of paint can be a disaster. For example, you’ll need to consider your paint type options depending on the room you’re coloring and how much traffic the room sees.

Entryways that allow access to the house, laundry rooms, and bathrooms can benefit from high-gloss paint while matte colors flatter dining areas and living spaces.

The Paint Is Blotchy and Streaky

Blotchy and streaky paint jobs can be the result of applying paint on wet or dirty surfaces. Before applying primer to your home’s walls, surfaces must undergo proper wash, rinse, and drying techniques.

You must also allow each primer layer and paint to dry in between coats to produce the best results.

The End Result Appears Chalky

Chalking occurs when the paint begins to break down shortly after a paint job. Common signs of chalking might include the development of white, powdery film, color fading, and pigment release when lightly brushing with your fingertips.

Chalky appearances can indicate improper cleaning procedures before the start of the project.

Because of the technicalities an interior job entails, many homeowners opt for hiring contractors to complete the task, as the risk of skimping on essential steps is significantly lower. However, if you decide to take on the daunting task yourself, knowing these bad interior paint job signs can help you stay ahead of the game and avoid committing these “renovation sins” during your projects.