Most paint jobs that fail early don't fail because of the paint. They fail because of what happened — or didn't happen — before the first coat went on. Interior prep is unglamorous, time-consuming work that doesn't show when the job is done. That's exactly why so many painters skip or rush it. Here's what proper interior prep actually involves and why each step matters for Boston homes.
Walls in Boston homes accumulate grease near kitchens, smoke residue in older buildings, and general grime in high-traffic areas. Paint applied over dirty surfaces bonds poorly and can peel within months. We clean surfaces with a degreaser solution before doing anything else — particularly in kitchens and along stairways where hand contact is constant.
Every hole, crack, and dent gets filled with joint compound before sanding smooth. This sounds simple but takes time to do correctly — compound shrinks as it dries, so larger repairs need multiple coats with drying time between each. Rushing this step leaves visible depressions after painting that are nearly impossible to fix without repainting. This Old House drywall patching →
After patching dries, everything gets sanded — patches feathered smooth, existing glossy surfaces scuffed to improve adhesion, and any rough texture leveled. Many painters skip sanding on repaint work because the walls 'look fine.' But paint doesn't stick well to glossy surfaces, and unsanded patches show as bumps under the new coat. We sand. Every time.
Primer is the most skipped step in interior painting. On new drywall, bare wood, or patched areas, primer seals the surface and provides a uniform base for the finish coat. Without primer, paint absorbs unevenly — patches and bare spots show through, sometimes requiring three or four finish coats to cover what two coats over primer would have solved. Benjamin Moore primer products →
Everything that isn't being painted gets protected before we open a can. Floors get drop cloths or rosin paper. Furniture that can't be moved gets covered. Hardware gets taped or removed. Trim and ceiling lines get taped. This takes time — typically 30–60 minutes per room — but it's what separates a professional result from one where you're cleaning paint off your hardwood floors for a week after. On older Boston homes with plaster walls and original hardwood floors, this protection step is non-negotiable. InterNACHI interior painting standards →
Need Interior Painting in Boston?
AURA Painting Inc serves all Boston neighborhoods. Licensed MA #193121, fully insured, 2-year warranty. Free estimates — most jobs scheduled within the week.
Call (617) 777-7700 ← Back to Interior Painting in Boston