← All articlesPainting prep
Before You Paint: A 15-Minute Wall Inspection
A quick inspection that can prevent hours of touch-ups later.
Turn on the truth light
Aim a bright work light sideways across the wall and mark dents, ridges, nail pops, and bad patches.
Check corners and seams
Look for loose tape, cracks, and movement near doors, windows, and ceiling transitions.
Fill small holes cleanly
Keep patching material flush instead of leaving a mound that will show through paint.
Find contamination
Remove grease, dust, smoke residue, and handprints that can interfere with adhesion.
Inspect old caulk
Remove loose or cracked caulk instead of smearing new material over a failed joint.
Finish with your hands
Your palm can often find ridges that your eyes miss.
See the technique in action
Use the tutorial finder to open the closest That Kilted Guy playlist and its project tool list.
Find the matching tutorial