Painting is one of those jobs that most homeowners will tackle themselves before paying a professional. It’s also one of those jobs that looks easier than it is. Anyone can slop paint on a wall, but not many can make it look like a professional job. Here are some tips to make your next painting project look like it was done by an expert. It may take a few more steps, but it’s well worth the effort.
1. Wipe down all woodwork with a cleaner. Paint adheres better to a clean surface. Sand all the trim, doors and windows and vacuum and wipe with a tack cloth.
2. Before using your paintbrush soak it in water (if being used with latex paint), or paint thinner (for use with oil-based paint). Flex the bristles to spread the liquid right into the base of the brush and spin or shake it dry. This step will make your brush easier to clean later. When you open the paint can, use a nail to drive holes in the U-track around the top of the can. This allows the paint to drain back into the can after pouring.
3. Prime any bare woodwork before applying final coat. When molded doors, paint the rails first, then the inside panel, and finally the stiles or outside frame. Allow to dry overnight and sand with a 220-grit sandpaper. Vacuum and dust once again.
4. Use Dap or spackling compound to fill any nail holes or cracks. Once dry, sand lightly if necessary and paint with primer.
5. Caulk all the gaps between the trim or baseboard and the walls to create a nice clean line. To smooth the caulking, wet your finger and run it along the the line.
6. It’s time to paint the ceiling. Cut in or paint a 2 to 2 1/2 inch stripe along the outside edges of the ceiling. Wipe away any paint that touches the walls. Using a roller, complete the rest of the ceiling by dividing your strokes into a 3-foot section. Work your way across the room, one square at a time.
7. Now begin the finish coat on your trim, windows, and baseboard. Once dry, sand lightly and dust with a tack cloth. Next, apply your finish coat. When painting window trim, if you get paint on the glass, let it dry and then scrape it off. Dampen the glass first to prevent scratching it with the window scraper.
Some use the paint as a sealant from moisture. To do this, hold the edge of a wide putty knife blade against the glass, flat side against the wood, and scrape up to it. You’ll end up with an even strip of paint on the glass about the thickness of the blade.
8. Once the baseboard is dry, cover the top of the trim with blue masking tape. Using a brush, cut in around windows and door trim, then along baseboard and finally at the ceiling or crown molding. Use an extension handle on your roller to paint the walls. Just as with the ceiling, envision a 3 or 4 foot square and fill in working from the top down. Use a putty knife to remove any paint nubs on the wall once the paint dries. Finish with a final coat and remove the masking tape as soon as the paint has set. Don’t wait too long or you may pull off some of the drywall with the tape. Resist the urge to yank the tape, but instead pull it slowly and evenly to avoid ripping it.
It’s not easy to choose the right wall paint for your home. Standing in the paint shop looking at that giant wall of paint chips can seem overwhelming when trying to choose the right paint color. There are so many different colors and finishes to choose from that you might be tempted to not paint at all. Learning how to choose the right paint can make that dreaded trip to the paint store a little less confusing.
Never buy paint based on how it looks in the store because it will always look different at home. Grab as many paint samples you can find in the color you’re interested in. Choose shades that are both darker and lighter than what you think you might want because you’ll be surprised how different they’ll look when you get home. If you have an inspiration piece, coordinating fabrics, or wallpaper that you’re trying to match, bring those with you as well to compare to the paint chips.
Spread out all of your paint chips out in your room to get a general idea of which ones work and which ones don’t.Immediately eliminate the ones that don’t, set them aside, and don’t look at them again. Trust your instincts and keep moving forward rather than backwards. Tape the remaining samples to the wall and stand back to look at them. Study them over the next couple of days at different times. Look at them with the lights on, lights off, curtains open, and curtains closed. Look at them at night with various lights on. Eliminate colors as you go until you get down to your top three choices.
Go back to the store and buy small sample sizes of each color. Most paint stores now will mix a small tester size and some paint brands are even selling prepackaged tester packets right off the shelves. Take these testers home and paint a large square of each on the wall to see how they look over a larger area. All paints darken when they dry, so they’ll look slightly different. Analyze them again over the next couple of days in different light.
Once you’ve chosen a winner, you’ll need to decide on the finish. Interior paints come in five finishes: flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and glossy. Flat finishes have no shine, a rough texture, and are great for hallways or rooms that don’t get too dirty. Eggshell finishes have a slight sheen, like an eggshell, and can be used in bedrooms with light traffic. Satin finishes have more shine to them, a smooth texture, and work well in most rooms, especially kitchens or bathrooms because of their durability. Semi-gloss finishes are very reflective, easy to clean, and work best in kitchens, bathrooms, or kids rooms.
Always make sure the wall surface is flawless before you paint with semi-gloss because it highlights imperfections. Glossy finish is the shiniest paint you can get, so it’s rarely used on walls. Glossy paint is best used on furniture, cabinetry, or trim.
Choosing the right wall paint may be affected by the type of paint you have to use; for example, paint that are specifically designed for use on rough exterior wall come in a limited range of shades, while there is a huge variety of colors to paint a room, available for use.
Decorative painting patterns do have one thing in common: because they are all carried out by hand, the finished result will always be absolutely unique, giving the surfaces that you decorate a personal touch. The way you manipulate the glaze, with plastic or rags, and with subtle or bold ragging technique will determine the final texture you create.
Choosing the right wall paint creates a unifying backdrop to harmonize an eclectic group of furniture. Use a contrasting white for the furniture and artwork to let individual pieces stand out and take on greater importance. When used together, soft beiges, tans, whites, and grays will never clash.
Paint, colors to paint a room cost as little as ten dollars a gallon and as much as one hundred dollars. The success of your painting project depends greatly on the care that goes into selecting the paint and tools and preparing the walls. With a little creativity and some decorative painting patterns you can make a masterpiece for your home.