Homeowner Painting Tips

PHOTO GALLERY IN HOME CONSULTATION DESIGNER PROGRAM HUNTER DOUGLAS GALLERY

Homeowners Painting Tips:

If you’re planning to do your own painting follow these practical guidelines and tips on how to achieve smooth, professional results showing off the rooms new colors at its best.

Before you begin:

Most important choose good-quality rollers and brushes.

ROLLER - Wallauer brand 3/8 x 9” for Flat, Matte and Eggshell paint
ROLLER - Wallauer brand ¼ x 9” for Semi gloss paint
BRUSH - Wallauer brand 1 ½ or 2 ½ for trim and cutting, nylon bristles for latex,
natural bristles for oil.

TEMPERATURE – Ideally at 70° F, and 50% humidity paint will dry properly and glide on easily.
(adequate ventilation is necessary).

Materials and Supplies

Paint: Ceiling, Trim And Walls.
Rollers: Use extension handles for ceilings and a disposable tray for easy clean up.
Brushes: A two inch angle and 3" trim brush.
Stepladder: Be safe never use a wobbly chair.
Drop cloths: Cover all furniture with plastic and use canvas on floors(not so slippery).
Clean rags: You can never have enough.
Cutters: Single-edge razor blades.
Low-tack painters tape: Do not use masking tape.
Bucket and Sponge.
Mineral spirits for cleanup of oil paint.
Spackling compound.
Putty knives.
Sanding Block.
Screwdriver.
Can opener.
Mixing sticks.
Trim guard for painting baseboards and moldings.

Clearing the Space: Move everything you can from the room. Big pieces of furniture should be moved to the center of the room and covered with plastic.

Preparing Surfaces: A clean, dry, well-
primed surface makes for a long lasting paint job, and a smooth, uniform finish makes colors look their best.

Wash walls with a sponge and soapy water, rinse and allow to dry.

Scrape off loose or flaking paint with a putty knife, then sand smooth.

Fill small cracks or holes with sparkling compound, let dry, sand smooth.
Remove all switch & receptacle plates.
Spot prime tough stains or patched spots with a specialty primer to prevent bleeding through finish coat.

Prime Time:

All untreated and unpainted surfaces.

When using dark colors ask your paint dealer to tint the primer to a light version of the top coat color.

When going from dark to light colors.

When a wall has been painted many times and layers have been built up.

Important-Plan Ahead:

To keep colors uniform mix quarts or gallons together and stir well. Then begin to paint. Color can vary slightly from gallon to gallon.
Remove all switch-plates covers when painting a room. Before replacing them put a dab of each new color on the back and write the color name and number. When you repaint or touch up you'll have a handy record.

Ready to Start:

Ceilings are first:

Drop all light fixtures and wrap with newspaper.

Work around the perimeter of the ceiling painting a 3" strip along the ceiling line (this is called "cutting in").

With a extension handle roll paint in four-foot sections. Saturate roller with paint and roll in one direction, then roll in the other direction lightly without refilling the roller. Roll a vertical section and then go over it horizontally, paint the entire ceiling.

Walls are second:

Start in the corner of the room using a brush; paint a vertical strip that covers one side of the wall. Then paint a 3" horizontal strip along the wall that meets the ceiling with an edge guard. Paint another 3" horizontal strip where the wall meets the baseboard or floor.
Load the roller with paint and begin to fill in between the strips. Roll a vertical section and then go over it horizontally, paint an entire wall without taking a break, so the edges don't dry as you did on the ceiling.

Doors come next:

Start project first thing in the morning so that the doors will be dry by evening. If your using oil paint you must remove the doors. When using latex paint protect the handles with plastic bags and mask off the collars with tape.
Prop the door open so edges are accessible. With a brush paint panels first, then the framework. If door is flush coat all four edges then begin at the top and work down in long vertical strokes.

Windows:

Also start windows early in the morning so they will be dry to close by the evening. Remove all hardware and locks.
Paint the sash, then rails to complete the window. Coat the frame and sill. Never paint the sash tracks, to avoid sticky window mechanisms.
When painting the window mullions, either mask off the glass with painter's tape or paint directly along the glass and use a razor blade to scrape off any smears or spatters when dry. Remember to leave the window slightly open till paint dries.

Trim:

Mask of the wall were the window frame meets, use the edge of the brush to coat the edge of the trim closest to the wall, and then paint the face.
When coating door trim extend the color inside the doorway to include the inner face of the frame, the part covered by the door when closed.

Baseboard and molding:

Protect your floor or carpeting with an edge guard or a ridge piece of cardboard and painter's tape. Tape off the floor surface, then hold the trim guard or cardboard below the brush as you paint. Be sure to wipe off the guard before painting each new section. Use the same procedure for painting a crown molding: Tape off the ceiling and walls, and use the trim guard.

Cover-Ups:

Radiators, exposed pipes, clumsy cables- almost any defect can be disguised with a few coats of paint. Blend eyesores into the background with same-color wall paint; Remember to prime any unpainted surface first. Use accent colors to pick out only those features you want to emphasize, like windows moldings, and doors.

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