By Marc Sharkey | Dynamic Painting Inc. | Calgary and Airdrie, Alberta

Every durable repaint starts with a decision about the wall that’s already there. Before anyone picks up a roller or opens a can, we need to know what can stay, what needs fixing and how the room’s light is going to show off the result. A repeatable prep sequence turns those decisions into a scope my crew can follow and a homeowner can actually understand.

Start by diagnosing the surface

A dent, a peeling coating and a crack that keeps coming back are three different problems, and each needs a different fix. I look for loose material, old patch edges, contamination and any sign of moisture. Before I specify a repair, I want to know the surface underneath is sound. If there’s an active leak or the wall is still moving, that has to be dealt with first, or no amount of cosmetic work will last.

I also keep the repair scope separate from the colour change. A solid wall that needs a bit of filling is a very different job from one with failed joints or patchy, uneven texture. The time to spot that difference is at the estimate, while the homeowner can still make an informed choice.

Older coatings need checking before anyone disturbs them. Health Canada warns that sanding lead-based paint creates hazardous dust, and that’s a real concern in older homes. If we don’t know what a coating is, it gets assessed first. Hooking up a dust extractor doesn’t make an unknown material safe to sand. [1]

Photo 1. Side light reveals variations in an existing wall with mounting holes and earlier repairs. Assess the whole surface before deciding how much correction it needs. Credit: Dynamic Painting Inc.

Protect the home before the work begins

We settle the practical things up front: which rooms we can access, what furniture moves and where our tools will live. Then we protect the floors and nearby finishes, mask for the way we’ll be applying paint, and remove cover plates where it’s safe to do so. Tape gets chosen for the surface it’s going on, and we test it on anything delicate. Protection also has to stay workable for the whole job. A beautifully covered floor doesn’t help much if the crew has to move everything again just to reach the wall.

Photo 2. Floor protection, visible wall patches and staged equipment during an interior repaint. Credit: Dynamic Painting Inc.

Match the repair to the substrate

Grease and other contamination come off before any sanding. After that, each repair gets matched to the material underneath it. A shallow dent in a wall may only need a suitable filler. Failed joint tape or damaged drywall calls for a proper repair. Filling over a loose edge just means the next coat ends up stuck to something unstable.

We build repairs up in sensible layers and let each one dry as the product directs. The goal is to feather the patch into the wall around it, without a raised rim or a hollow dug around the edges. Torn drywall paper may need a compatible sealer before any filler goes on. The right order depends on the damage and the repair system, so we follow the product instructions instead of treating every patch the same way. [2]

Choosing a primer is part of the repair, too. Bare filler, exposed wood, a stubborn stain and a hard, glossy existing coating can each call for a different product. A primer that seals a porous patch well won’t necessarily block a stain or grip a difficult finish. [3]

Sand on purpose

Hand sanding gives me control around profiles, corners and small repairs. A power sander makes sense on larger areas that suit it, as long as the abrasive, pad, speed and pressure all fit the surface. I start conservatively and check as I go. Sanding should improve the surface. It shouldn’t round over details, cut through sound material or leave scratches the finish will show.

On suitable sanding work, we connect our sanders to Festool HEPA extractors. Catching dust right at the tool keeps it from spreading, but extraction only works as well as the whole setup, so we check the hose, the pad holes, the bag and the filter. We still clean up afterward and still wear the protection the task requires. [4]

Photo 3. A Festool extractor with its hose and floor attachment in an interior work area. The photograph shows the equipment on site, not sanding in progress. Credit: Dynamic Painting Inc.

Look at the wall in its real light

I walk the room from the doorway and from wherever people will actually be looking at the wall. A wall that looks fine straight on can show every joint ridge and old repair once daylight rakes across it. Big windows and light fixtures close to the wall deserve a careful look before we settle how much prep the job needs.

Side lighting is great for finding defects while there’s still time to fix them. But the finish we agree on should be judged under the room’s normal conditions. An inspection lamp helps us find work to do. It shouldn’t quietly raise the bar at the end of the job.

If there are widespread texture differences or joints that still show, spot patching may not get the result the homeowner is hoping for. That’s the moment to talk about broader surface correction or a skim coat, before any paint goes on. USG recommends a Level 5 finish where lighting and finish conditions are demanding, but even that doesn’t guarantee a perfectly flat wall under every light. And extra coats of paint won’t straighten a ridge in the wall underneath. [5]

Make the switch to coating a real checkpoint

Before primer or paint, we check for leftover sanding dust, loose edges and anything we missed. We clean with a method that suits the surface and let it dry. Dust sitting on a windowsill or along the top of a baseboard has a way of ending up in wet paint.

Repaired or exposed areas get primed as the chosen system requires. Big repairs or a surface that absorbs unevenly may be worth priming more broadly. Then we check the primed repairs again, because primer has a habit of making pinholes and edges easier to see. Anything that shows up gets fixed before we move on, including another round of primer if the fix needs it.

Finally, we make sure the room conditions, the drying time and the manufacturer’s recoat interval all line up for the next coat. A surface that feels dry isn’t always ready. [3]

Check again between coats

The first finish coat brings the wall close to its final colour and sheen, and that makes some defects easier to spot. Once it has dried for the required time, we inspect from the normal viewing positions and take another look at the tricky areas we flagged earlier. We’re looking for grit, missed repair edges, uneven coverage and roller or brush marks.

When we find something, we fix the cause, not just the symptom. An isolated nib gets a light sanding, a cleanup and whatever repair or priming it needs. If a joint ridge is still visible, we decide whether it needs surface correction, because rolling the same spot over and over won’t change its shape.

All of this happens within the coating system we agreed on. The proposal spells out the number of finish coats, based on the colour, the coverage needed and the product instructions, and lists primer separately because it does a different job. Any correction should leave the surface ready for the finish coats still to come.

Finish with a full walkthrough

Once the paint has dried enough to judge, we review everything: edges, coverage and repaired areas, and then the room as a whole. Sometimes a small touch-up shows a slightly different sheen or texture. When that happens, repainting to a natural break, like a corner, usually gives a more even result.

We pull the masking carefully, put back anything we removed, clean up and walk through the agreed scope with the homeowner. We leave the product and colour details along with care instructions that allow for the paint’s full cure time. Anything still outstanding gets written down so everyone knows what happens next.

For me, a good prep system is one my crew can follow and explain. Each step should leave a solid starting point for the next one. By the time the finish coat goes on, all the hard decisions about the wall should already be made.

Photo 4. A finished interior with broad daylight, ceiling details and long wall surfaces. Lighting and viewing angles belong in the preparation discussion. Credit: Dynamic Painting Inc.

About the author

Marc Sharkey owns Dynamic Painting Inc., a residential painting contractor serving Calgary and Airdrie, Alberta. The company focuses on interior repainting and also does exterior painting, ceilings, and stucco painting and repairs. Its approach centres on careful surface assessment, thorough preparation and a clear project scope. paintcalgary.ca, 

The four photographs are separate project examples, not a before-and-after sequence.

Technical references

1. Health Canada — Lead-based paint
2. Sherwin-Williams — Paint preparation guidance
3. Benjamin Moore — Surface preparation and primer guidance
4. Festool Canada — Mobile dust extractors
5. USG — Wallboard finished appearance and managing expectations

The post The Prep System Behind a Durable Repaint first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.

MONTVALE, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Benjamin Moore, a trusted name in premium paint, colour innovation and coatings for more than 140 years, announced two design-driven partnerships with Farmhouse Pottery and Modern Matter that bring the beloved paint brand’s acclaimed Colour Trends 2026 beyond the wall and deeper into the home. Inspired by Benjamin Moore’s graceful palette – featuring eight hues inspired by the timeless elegance and craftsmanship of fashion – the collaborations translate paint colour into a curated collection of handcrafted ceramics and refined hardware. Each piece reflects the palette’s incomparable presence and sophistication, offering a seamless way to layer colour across surfaces, materials and moments within a space.

At the center of the collections is Silhouette AF-655, Benjamin Moore’s Colour of the Year 2026 – an alluring mix of rich espresso hues with subtle notes of charcoal. It is complemented by Southwest Pottery 048, a nuanced hue that captures the brown and red tones of kiln-fired clay, and Sherwood Tan 1054, a classic tan infused with notes of earthy brown. Together, these hues create a grounded, versatile foundation for the collections.

“At Benjamin Moore, we believe in the transformative power of paint and colour, and how a thoughtfully composed palette tells a story of refinement and distinction,” said Andrea Magno, director, colour marketing & design at Benjamin Moore. “By extending Colour Trends 2026 into thoughtfully designed, premium pieces with Farmhouse Pottery and Modern Matter, we invite people to compose an entire colour narrative in their homes through ways that are both functional and enduring.”

Benjamin Moore x Farmhouse Pottery
For the third consecutive year, Benjamin Moore and Farmhouse Pottery create an exclusive ceramics collection inspired by the stylish sophistication of Colour Trends 2026. The collection features two handcrafted pieces that are available in Silhouette AF-655, Southwest Pottery 048 and Sherwood Tan 1054.

• Silo Mug ($65 USD each) – This timeless mug embodies slow living with clean lines and a refined shape inspired by the silos that dot the Vermont landscape. Microwave and dishwasher safe.
• Trunk Vase ($100 USD each) – Echoing Vermont’s forests, these handmade vases capture nature in every curve.

“Our partnership with Benjamin Moore has become a special part of our annual design conversation,” said Emma Pilon, Production Manager at Farmhouse Pottery. “What makes this collaboration unique is that both brands prioritize quality and timeless design. When we handcraft a vessel in hand-selected hues, we create objects to exist in someone’s home for generations. We’re so excited to see our Collectors bring colour and beauty to their spaces.”

Benjamin Moore x Modern Matter
Modern Matter and Benjamin Moore celebrate the Colour of the Year 2026 with an exclusive line of best-selling solid brass designs in a matte powder-coated finish, custom matched to Silhouette AF-655, plus five additional Benjamin Moore-inspired colourways. Engineered for high-traffic kitchens, bathrooms and utility spaces, the powder coat over solid brass ensures superior durability, wear resistance and long-lasting colour – reflecting the same performance and quality synonymous with Benjamin Moore products.

What’s Included:

• Cabinet Knobs – Starting at $79 USD each
• Cabinet Pulls – Starting at $119 UD each
• Cabinet Knobs & Backplate Sets – Starting at $139 USD each
• Appliance Pulls – Starting at $249 USD each

“Colour has long been a source of inspiration for us at Modern Matter, making the partnership with Benjamin Moore an organic fit,” said Kat Litton, Chief Creative Officer of Modern Matter. “By powder-coating solid brass in Benjamin Moore’s iconic hues, we’re creating hardware that’s both a design statement and a functional investment. A cabinet pull in Silhouette isn’t just an accent – it’s the piece that ties your colour story together, without sacrificing on performance.”

These exclusive collections celebrate Benjamin Moore’s Colour Trends 2026 and work beautifully together in your home to create a fully coordinated, layered aesthetic. To further complement Colour Trends 2026, Cambria Surfaces and Benjamin Moore released design-forward pairings of quartz surfaces and premium paint colours for people to create colour-led, impactful spaces. Featured pairings include Silhouette AF-655 with Remington Brass Surface, Sherwood Tan 1054 with Inverness Blakeley Surface and Southwest Pottery 048 with MonTaaj Surface.

The ceramics and hardware collections are available now and ship to Canada, while supplies last, at FarmhousePottery.com and Modern-Matter.com. To learn more about the Benjamin Moore Colour Trends 2026, order colour samples or to locate a Benjamin Moore retailer, visit BenjaminMoore.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is Benjamin Moore partnering with Farmhouse Pottery for the third consecutive year?
A: The Benjamin Moore and Farmhouse Pottery partnership has resonated with customers who value quality and intentional design. The collaboration involves creating pieces that truly embody the sophistication and philosophy of Benjamin Moore’s colour vision. The success of the Colour Trends 2024 and 2025 collections demonstrated strong market demand and brand alignment.

Q: How did the collaboration between Benjamin Moore and Modern Matter come to life through Silhouette AF-655?
A: Rooted in a shared appreciation for premium colours and thoughtful, elevated design, Benjamin Moore and Modern Matter partnered to create a collection that feels intentional from every angle. Inspired by the depth and sophistication of Silhouette AF-655, the collaboration reflects a mutual belief that every design detail – from the colours on your walls to the hardware on your cabinets – should work in harmony to create a cohesive, layered space.

Q: How can people make these products work in their own homes?
A: The power of these products emerges when all the elements work together. For example, in the kitchen, walls in Silhouette AF-655 pair with an accent wall in Sherwood Tan 1054 and custom-matched Modern Matter hardware in Silhouette AF-655. Farmhouse Pottery ceramics – a Silo Mug in Silhouette AF-655 and a Trunk Vase in Sherwood Tan 1054 – are layered atop the Cambria quartz surface in Remington Brass to complete the space.

About Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore, a Berkshire Hathaway company, was founded in 1883 and remains one of the world’s leading paint, colour and coatings brands. For generations, Benjamin Moore has been a manufacturer of premium quality residential and commercial coatings and continually pushes the boundaries of innovation while championing sustainability. The portfolio spans the brand’s flagship paint lines including Aura^®, Regal^® Select, Ben^®, Ultra Spec^®, Advance^®, Scuff-X^®, Insl-X^® and more. Benjamin Moore is renowned for its more than 3,500 transformative colours, and its design tools and expertise for consumers and professionals alike. Benjamin Moore products are available exclusively from more than 8,500 locally owned and operated paint, decorating and hardware retailers throughout the United States, Canada and another 74 countries globally.

Rebecca Gramuglia
pressrequests@benjaminmoore.com

The post Benjamin Moore Extends Colour Trends 2026 Beyond the Wall with Strategic Collaborations first appeared on Professional Painter Magazine.