How to Eliminate Streaking When Painting With a Semi-gloss Paint

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Things You'll Need

  • Paint scraper

  • Bucket

  • Warm water

  • Dish detergent

  • Lint-free cloth

  • Latex paint conditioner

Streaking paint can quickly ruin many hours of hard work, leading to a frustrating painting experience. Semi-gloss, a common paint finish, makes walls somewhat shiny and reflective, making the room seem brighter. Like most paint jobs, preparation of the painting surface is key to a successful, streak-free, semi-gloss paint job on your walls.

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Step 1

Look for chipped or peeling paint. Remove it with a paint scraper to create an even and smooth surface for the paint.

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Step 2

Fill a bucket with warm water and a few drops of dish detergent. Use a lint-free cloth to wash the walls clean of dirt, oils and dust. This is one of the biggest factors in preventing semi-gloss streaking.

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Step 3

Prime your wall with a latex primer. This will create an even coat of color and help the paint adhere and avoiding streaking.

Step 4

Add latex paint conditioner to the paint to avoid brush streaks. Occasionally the paint may be too thick, and brush streaking will occur. A latex paint conditioner will help the paint spread evenly on your walls.

Tip

Using paint rollers whenever possible eliminates brush streaking as well. Choose a roller with a thin nap for the smoothest surface.

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