Have you ever had a painting project that doesn’t turn out the way you think it should?
You put lots of work into it, but the project just doesn’t look like it should; peeling paint, visible brush marks, paint bleed through and other kinds of problems. This article is for you, to give you the painting tips and advice to make your paint project look like a million dollars.
One of the most important parts of your painting project is the preparation. Surface preparation, or lack thereof, is one of the things that makes or breaks your painting project. Different surfaces will require different types of preparation as discussed below.
Bare drywall should be sanded with a 220 drywall screen to smooth out any bumps and imperfections. Next, take a damp rag and wipe down walls to remove any dust or debris on the wall. A PVA primer (drywall primer) needs to be applied before painting the finish coat. The PVA primer gives a good base so the top coat will look smooth and even. If the top coat will be a dark hue, you may want to have the primer tinted to provide better top coat coverage.
For a wall that has previously been painted, the wall needs to be cleaned. Wipe the wall down with a solution of TSP cleaner, especially if the wall has a nicotine film or grease, as in a kitchen. TSP will leave a residue behind so you will need to rinse the wall after cleaning. Remove all switch plate covers and electrical receptacle covers. Tape off anything on the wall you don’t want painted, e.g. chair rail, light fixtures, etc. Use a good painter’s tape like Frog Tape or 3M Edge Lock for good adhesion and easy removal. Any small or large holes in the wall will need to be repaired. A tub of spackle will do the trick unless the hole(s) are more than one inch in diameter. Using a putty knife, fill the hole(s) with the spackle. Let dry per instructions on tub. When dry, use a piece of fine sandpaper and sand the spackle so the wall is smooth and even. For larger holes, a drywall patch may be necessary. If a drywall patch is necessary, be sure and prime the drywall patch before painting. Put plastic sheeting on the floor, taping to the edge of the wall to keep from accidently painting your carpet or flooring. You have prepped the wall and are now ready to paint.
Before you open the can of paint, are all your painting supplies laid out and ready to go?
You will need a paint roller and roller cover. The nap on the roller cover will be dictated by the texture of your wall. For a relatively smooth wall use a 3/8” nap, for a more textured wall a ½” nap. The grade of roller cover is also important. The better quality cover, the better coverage. Remember, in the painting realm, quality paint teamed with quality applicators are key factors in achieving your million dollar paint project! You will also need a roller tray, tray liner, edging tool, a quality angle brush to cut-in around windows, trim and light fixtures, plastic sheeting and a few rags to clean up drips and spills.
Using your angle brush, do all cut-in work first, painting the corners of the walls and ceiling, around light fixtures, etc. Next is rolling the paint on the wall. You want to roll the paint in a “V” or “W” pattern on the wall to avoid overlap and roller marks. Also when using more than one gallon of paint, pour the last ¼ or so of first gallon with ¼ or so of next gallon in bucket or paint tray. This will even out any minute variations in the gallons of paint.
While the paint is drying, wash your roller cover, brush and anything else that might have been inadvertently painted. After a few hours, remove the tape, put the switch plate covers on. Voila! Your room has been transformed and looks beautiful.
Remember, Prescott True Value Hardware has an entire paint department with everything you need to make your paint project look like a million dollars. So stop by and chat with our expert staff and pick up the quality paint and supplies you need for your paint project. QCBN
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