A fresh coat of paint is one of the quickest and most affordable ways to transform your HDB flat. Whether you’re refreshing a tired-looking living room, preparing for Chinese New Year, or getting your place ready before selling, good preparation is the difference between a paint job that looks professional and one that starts peeling within months.
Here’s how to prepare your HDB walls properly before picking up that roller.
Step 1: Choose the Right Time
Singapore’s humidity can work against you. The best time to paint is during drier months or when you can keep the air-conditioning running to reduce moisture in the air. Avoid painting on days when the humidity is above 85%. The paint won’t dry properly and you’ll end up with a patchy, uneven finish.
Tip: If you’re using the aircon to help with drying, close the windows and set it to a comfortable 24–25°C. This creates ideal conditions for most interior paints.
Step 2: Clear and Protect the Room
Before you touch a paint can, you need to prepare the space:
- Move furniture to the centre of the room and cover it with drop cloths or old bedsheets.
- Remove switch plates and outlet covers. It takes 30 seconds and makes a huge difference to the final result.
- Cover the floor with canvas drop cloths or old newspapers. Plastic sheets work too, but they can be slippery.
- Tape off edges using quality painter’s tape along ceilings, door frames, window frames, and skirting boards. Cheap tape will bleed, so it’s worth spending a few extra dollars on 3M or Frog Tape.
Step 3: Inspect and Repair the Walls
This is the step most people skip, and it’s the reason most DIY paint jobs look mediocre. Take a close look at your walls:
- Nail holes and small dents: Fill with lightweight spackling paste or wall filler. Apply with a putty knife, let it dry completely, then sand smooth with 120-grit sandpaper.
- Cracks along corners or joints: Use caulk for small cracks, or fibreglass mesh tape with joint compound for larger ones.
- Peeling or flaking paint: Scrape off all loose paint with a paint scraper. Sand the edges where old paint meets bare wall until smooth.
- Mould or mildew: Common in Singapore bathrooms and kitchens. Clean with a diluted bleach solution (1 part bleach to 3 parts water), scrub gently, and let dry completely before painting. Consider using an anti-mould primer.
Step 4: Sand the Walls
Even if your walls look smooth, a light sanding helps the new paint adhere better. Use 150-grit sandpaper or a sanding sponge and go over the entire surface. You don’t need to remove old paint. Just scuff it up enough to give the new coat something to grip.
Wipe down the walls with a damp cloth afterwards to remove dust. Let the walls dry before moving on.
Step 5: Apply Primer
Primer is non-negotiable if you’re:
- Painting over a dark colour with a lighter one
- Covering repaired patches or new plaster
- Painting bare concrete or newly skimmed walls
- Dealing with stains or watermarks
A good quality primer creates a uniform base and helps the topcoat go on evenly. One coat is usually enough. Let it dry for the recommended time on the tin (usually 2–4 hours).
For most HDB flats, a general-purpose interior primer will do. If you’re dealing with stubborn stains or odours, a shellac-based primer is worth the extra cost.
Step 6: Choose Your Paint
For HDB interiors, a matt or eggshell finish is the most popular choice. Here’s a quick guide:
- Matt finish: Hides wall imperfections well. Not as washable. Good for bedrooms and living rooms.
- Eggshell / low sheen: Slightly easier to clean. Good all-rounder for most rooms.
- Semi-gloss: Best for kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic areas. Shows imperfections more easily.
Popular brands available in Singapore include Nippon Paint, Dulux, and Jotun. For a standard 4-room HDB flat, you’ll need roughly 10–15 litres of paint for two coats on all walls.
Step 7: Paint Like a Pro
- Start with cutting in: use a brush to paint along edges, corners, and around fixtures.
- Then use a roller for the large flat areas. Work in “W” patterns for even coverage.
- Apply two coats, waiting for the first to dry completely before applying the second.
- Remove painter’s tape while the final coat is still slightly tacky for the cleanest lines.
When to Hire a Professional
Painting sounds simple, but doing it well requires time, the right tools, and a fair bit of physical effort, especially in larger flats or rooms with high ceilings. If you want a flawless finish without the weekend commitment, it pays to bring in a professional.
Forhad Handyman Services offers affordable painting services across Singapore. We handle all the prep work, use quality materials, and leave your home spotless when we’re done. Whether it’s one accent wall or an entire flat, reach out for a free estimate. No obligation, just honest advice.