1. Your furniture, floors, and carpets should be protected from start to finish by drop cloths or poly plastic.

2. All wood surfaces to be painted should be thoroughly washed with a mild detergent or solvent to remove all dirt, grease, mildew, soap, or oil film that may have accumulated over the years. This step will help insure proper adhesion of the fresh paint.

3. Watermarks, smoke stains, pen marks, and other unsightly blemishes that could "bleed through" the new paint should be properly primed and sealed.

4. Any loose paint or other imperfections on walls or ceilings should be removed by scraping and sanding.

5. Cracks and holes in walls and ceilings should be repaired with spackle or drywall compound, sanded smooth, and primed. Drywall meshtape can be applied over cracks where necessary for a more permanent repair.

6. Holes in the woodwork should be filled, sanded smooth, and primed. Imperfections and damaged areas should be smoothed by sanding.

7. Open joints and gaps between different surfaces should be caulked and filled for a cleaner, more finished appearance.

8. Glossy surfaces should be dulled by sanding or undercoating to ensure proper paint adhesion.

9. Only quality materials should be used. Quality materials give the best results and LAST LONGER.

10. The work should be done in a neat and professional manner by skilled craftspeople who are polite, friendly, and work efficiently.

11. Of course, there should also be no paint on windowpanes, carpets, floors, or anything else not being painted.

12. Waste materials, by-products, and used solvents should be disposed of safely, properly, and in an environmentally responsible manner.

13. Touch-up paints should be left for your future convenience in labeled containers.