subject: A Guide for the Do It Yourself Painter [print this page] A Guide for the Do It Yourself Painter A Guide for the Do It Yourself Painter
A guide for the Do-it-Yourself Painter
Possibly the best strategies to give your house a new lease on life is to put on a fresh coat of paint. You can hire pros for the job, but painting is one thing homeowners can do well if they're careful and take their time.
Few pointers from professional painters are given below.
Paint and Equipment Indoors: Many people go for a high-quality latex paint (water-based) in a flat and eggshell sheen for their bedroom and living room space areas. Semi gloss is the first choice for windows, woodwork kitchens and bathrooms.
For outside the house: A paint that can withstand severe weathers should be used. A satin sheen gives out both durability and attractiveness, which is why most professionals recommend this.
Brushes and Rollers: When you are utilizing latex paint, use nylon brushes. Varnish is an oil based material; natural bristle brushes works best with it. Having two sizes is a great idea: a straight brush 2 or 3 inches wide and an angled brush 1 or 1 inches wide for trim. The "nap" or thickness of the material of the roller sleeves is based on the surface texture; if the wall is rougher, you will have to use a higher nap.
Preparation
Inside the house: The walls should be cleaned and must be emptied of dust. Spot-wash the walls if necessary; use a damp cloth. Dry them first before proceeding further. Take care of the visible holes or cracks with Spackle. There is no better to caulk around the woodwork, door and window frames especially if it's necessary.
Outdoors: Loose paint should be scraped; bare wood should be polished and primed. If there is any cracked or separated caulk, it should be repaired as soon as possible.
Painting
Indoors: Painting the ceiling isn't required nonetheless if you want it done, do it first. Brush around the edges and around light and fan fixtures. If you're painting the ceiling and walls the same color, you can brush a few inches down the wall at the same time. After that, roll the ceiling.
Repeat the process with the walls; first brush any areas you can't reach with the roller, like the ceiling line (if a different color than the ceiling), corners and baseboard, and follow up with the roller. Make use of an angled brush to paint your woodwork.Many people put a strip of masking tape under the baseboard to protect the carpet and make the painting go faster.
For outside: For easier application, you can rent or a buy sprayer. Professionals say brush and roll gives you better coverage.
