Our Process

The prep

Interior & Exterior Painting Prep: Why Proper Preparation Matters for Your Red Deer Home

Interior Painting Prep: The Foundation of a Smooth, High-Quality Finish

Interior painting prep is all about creating a clean, even surface for the new paint to adhere to. In every Red Deer home we work in, Acorn Painting follows a consistent, meticulous process:

Filling all holes and imperfections to restore the walls to a smooth, even state.

Sanding patches and surfaces so the finish looks uniform with no visible texture differences.

Spot priming repaired areas, ensuring proper adhesion and preventing flashing.

Wiping down walls to remove dust, residue, or oils that could affect the finish.

This level of preparation produces sharper lines, smoother surfaces, and a professionally polished result that holds up beautifully over time.

When it comes to achieving a beautiful, long-lasting paint job, nothing matters more than the prep work. At Acorn Painting, we’ve learned that proper preparation is the difference between paint that looks great for a season and paint that holds up for years—especially in Central Alberta’s harsh climate.

Whether we’re working inside your home or refreshing your exterior, our process is built around thorough preparation, top-quality repair materials, and a strong focus on safety.

Exterior Painting Prep: Built for Alberta’s Climate

Exterior painting prep in Alberta demands even more attention to detail. The freeze–thaw cycles, sun exposure, and wind in the Red Deer area can wear down a home’s exterior faster than many homeowners realize. That’s why our exterior prep process is designed for durability:

Washing or pressure washing to remove dirt, mildew, and loose paint.

Scraping and sanding anywhere the existing paint is failing.

Spot priming any bare wood, protecting it against moisture infiltration and improving adhesion.

These steps ensure the new paint bonds properly despite Alberta’s temperature swings and seasonal extremes.

Proper prep affects everything—appearance, durability, safety, and overall quality. Many companies try to skip or rush these steps, but Acorn Painting believes that great prep prevents peeling, cracking, and premature wear. It also allows premium paint products to perform the way they’re meant to, saving homeowners money in the long run.

Beyond the technical side, we also prioritize safety at every stage of interior and exterior preparation. From ladder and equipment protocols to dust control and safe surface cleaning methods, this is an area where we consistently go further than most painting companies

Why Doing Prep Right Matters

Interior Painting: Clean Lines, Even Coverage & A Smooth Finish

After we’ve filled holes, sanded, spot-primed, and wiped the walls clean, the interior painting process begins with careful planning and precise technique:

• We apply two coats as our standard to ensure rich, even colour.

• Cutting in edges and trim is done with clean, controlled lines for a crisp professional finish.

• Rolling walls in consistent sections avoids streaks, lap marks, and uneven sheen.

• We follow manufacturer drying times, allowing each coat to cure properly before moving to the next stage.

• Between coats, we inspect the surfaces again to catch any missed imperfections and repair them on the spot.

This attention to detail is what gives interiors a uniform, high-quality finish that noticeably stands apart from rushed or one-coat jobs.

Exterior Painting: A Process Designed for Alberta’s Climate

Exterior painting in Central Alberta requires a process built around both technique and weather awareness. After washing, scraping, sanding, and spot-priming any bare wood, we move forward with a system that’s flexible and durable:

• Spot priming ensures bare or sensitive areas are fully sealed before colour goes on.

• We use spraying, brushing, or rolling depending on the surface, material, and conditions — choosing the method that provides the best coverage and durability.

• Two coats is our standard, giving exterior surfaces a strong, even finish that can stand up to temperature swings and UV exposure.

• Weather is monitored closely, and we adjust our schedule if Alberta’s rapidly changing conditions threaten the quality of the paint. If needed, we pause until temperatures, wind, or humidity return to a range where the product will perform properly.

This careful balance of technique and timing ensures the paint bonds correctly and ages well, even in Alberta’s demanding climate.

Why Our Painting Process Works

High-quality paint only performs at its best when both the prep and the application are done properly. By using consistent two-coat systems, following manufacturer dry times, inspecting surfaces between coats, and adjusting for weather when needed, Acorn Painting delivers finishes that stay beautiful longer and protect your home better.