Before the first drop of paint touches a wall, door, or cabinet, the groundwork must be laid — and that groundwork is prep. At Total Quality Painting, we believe that prep isn’t just part of the job — it is the job. Ask any painter worth their brush, and they’ll tell you: if you don’t respect the prep, you don’t respect the paint.

What Does “Meticulous Prep” Really Mean?

To the average homeowner, prep might look like tossing down some drop cloths and patching a few nail holes. But to professionals, prep is an entire system of steps that transforms the surface from whatever it is — damaged, dirty, uneven — into a canvas worthy of premium paint.

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what our prep process typically includes:

1. Initial Inspection & Surface Assessment

Every project starts with a detailed walkthrough under proper lighting. We’re not just looking for obvious things like holes or cracks — we’re examining sheen consistency, old paint adhesion, and moisture intrusion. If there's a failure beneath the surface, paint won't solve it — but we will.

2. Deep Cleaning of All Surfaces

Paint sticks best to a clean surface. Whether it's kitchen cabinets with years of grease, exterior siding with mildew buildup, or handrails coated in oil from fingerprints, we clean everything. For exteriors, we use pressure washing. Indoors, we often hand-clean with degreasers or TSP substitutes. Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons for early paint failure.

3. Repairs, Caulking & Filling

Our crews repair drywall damage, sand woodwork smooth, and fill imperfections until the surface feels like a piece of furniture. Joints are properly caulked with high-quality elastomeric sealants, not cheap latex that cracks in a season. We don't just patch over problems — we solve them.

4. Sanding the Surface Smooth

Sanding isn’t just for the end. We sand at multiple points throughout the process to flatten ridges, feather out patches, and create a surface that feels luxurious under your fingertips. It’s this level of detail that separates us from the fast-and-cheap crowd.

5. Priming for Perfection

(Stay tuned for a deep dive in our next blog — but here’s the short version.)

Priming creates a perfect foundation for paint to bond and perform. It also evens out porosity, prevents flashing, and ensures the final color is true. We choose primers specific to each substrate — not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Why Does Prep Matter So Much?

Because prep:

• Determines durability — Great prep leads to finishes that last years, even decades longer.

• Eliminates visual flaws — You don’t want to paint over imperfections; you want to erase them.

• Maximizes material performance — High-end paints like Fine Paints of Europe or Benjamin Moore Advance are engineered to perform best on well-prepped surfaces.

• Sets the tone for quality — When we prep like professionals, the final result looks like it belongs in an art gallery — not a rushed contractor job.

The Ugly Truth: Most Painters Skip These Steps

Walk into 9 out of 10 homes and you’ll see it — paint jobs that looked “okay” at first but haven’t aged well. Flaking corners. Visible seams. Uneven textures. That’s not the paint’s fault — it’s a prep problem.

At Total Quality Painting, we slow down to speed up. We do things right the first time, so you don’t have to repaint in 3 years. That’s our promise.

Want the Kind of Finish You See in Magazines?

It starts with the prep. And not just any prep — our prep.

Let’s talk about your next project. Whether it’s cabinetry, walls, ceilings, or exteriors, we bring the discipline, training, and craftsmanship to ensure it’s done right — from the ground up.