7 Things You Must Do When Inspecting Interior Paintwork in Palos Verdes Estates, CA

Sometimes when you have had some paintwork done, you will find the need to inspect the quality of the work.

Other times, you will have just moved into a home and you need to check out the quality of the paintwork that had been done with the previous owner.

Knowing how to inspect paintwork is an important thing because if you aren’t sure what to look for, you might miss certain things.

With that in mind, here are seven things you must do when inspecting interior paintwork in Palos Verdes Estates, CA

1. Consider Your Distance

The thing you should consider when inspecting interior paintwork is the distance from which you are standing and looking at it.

Of course, the average person coming to look at one of the rooms of your home isn’t going to be sticking their nose really close to the walls to stare at them and you should not do this either.

A good distance to do instead would be a more reasonable distance of about four to six feet if possible.

2. Make Use Of A Digital Camera Or Your Phone

One thing that is going to be tremendously useful in the inspection of your interior paintwork is the use of a digital camera or your phone.

The reason that this is a good idea is that you might forget about things that need to be corrected, but the camera and phone do not forget.

They will take clear photos that you will be able to use to remind yourself of things that need to be fixed with the interior paintwork.

3. Run Your Hands Along The Surface

A well painted surface is one that is smooth — if you feel bumpy things on the wall that is a sign that something did not go well with the interior paintwork.

The best thing that you’re going to be able to do is to run your hand along the wall, all around the room, and check to see if there are any areas where the wall is not smooth.

If you find such areas, you’re going to have to take steps to fix it if you don’t already have someone that can help you with such a thing.

4. Look For Staple Marks

There are many areas where staples will be used in putting together your interior and they will sometimes make use of staples, which leave marks.

If you find that there are staple marks, that means that time was not taken to make sure that these staple marks were not well covered and painted — not a good thing.

5. Check The Baseboards

The baseboards are not particularly something that people take a lot of time looking at, but it is important that you look at the baseboards to make sure that they were painted well.

A quick look at your baseboards will be enough to tell you if they have been properly painted.

6. Inspect All Lines

Another important thing is that there should be clear and distinct lines that will separate the different areas of your room.

You should see a good distinction between the ceiling and the wall, for example — the two should not run together, and you shouldn’t be able to see the color from the ceiling on your walls.

7. Paint Near Switch Plates

Lastly, consider looking at your switch plates — if you can see paint on your switch plates, of course, that is not a good thing and is something you’re going to have to fix or possibly even replace the plates if it is bad enough.

The funny thing is that you can protect switch plates fairly easily with some painter’s tape — so seeing paint on these plates is not something you want.

FAQs

How far should you stand when judging interior paintwork without becoming overly picky?

Stand about four to six feet away—the distance most people naturally view a wall—before you decide what’s acceptable or not. Up close, nearly every finish shows something. Start at real-life viewing distance, then move closer only to confirm a suspected issue. This keeps your inspection fair and practical.

Why should you use your phone camera during a paint inspection instead of trusting your memory?

Photos turn a vague feeling into clear documentation you can act on. As you walk room to room, snap pictures of flaws you might otherwise forget: rough patches, messy edges, or odd coverage. Your camera also helps you compare areas side-by-side later and explain fixes to a painter without confusion.

What does touch reveal that your eyes might miss on freshly painted walls?

A good paint job usually feels smooth, not bumpy or gritty. Run your hands along the wall around the room to catch texture problems that lighting can hide. If you feel raised bits or unevenness, something went wrong in prep or application. Mark those spots so they can be sanded and corrected.

Which small details quietly expose rushed workmanship in interior painting?

Staple marks and baseboards are two telltales people often overlook. Staples can leave visible marks if they weren’t properly filled and painted over, and baseboards quickly show sloppy brush control or thin coverage. Inspect both areas deliberately; they’re “small” zones that reveal whether the painter cared about finish quality everywhere.

How do clean lines and switch plates reveal the difference between careful and careless painting?

Look for crisp separation where surfaces meet—like ceiling-to-wall edges—so colors don’t bleed into each other. Then check switch plates: paint on plates usually means poor masking, even though painter’s tape makes protection easy. Sharp lines and clean plates signal attention to detail; messy transitions signal shortcuts.

 

Cooley Brothers Painting is a locally owned, owner-operated, family business in Torrance, California. Call the office at 310-378-4575 or email us: info@cooleybrothers.com. You can also use our contact page to reach us.

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