All right, lets get started on painting. This is probably one of the most favorable Do It Yourself (DIY) projects out there and more than a fair share of us have tried and failed at this project. I am going to hopefully pass on a few tips and tricks I have learned from my professional painting friends and leave you with a few Internet links that you can use to build up your skills. Painting seems like an easy process. You just grab some paint and off you go, but that only works if you want that five-year-old finger paint look. Now, I am not a professional painter but these tips come from one of the best professional painters in the Quad Cities area, David Berry from Century Painting. David has one of the most successful painting companies in town and for those of you not interested in doing the project yourself, I would encourage you to give Dave a call. He also has one of the most innovative programs I have seen. You can get a professional painter for an eight-hour day to paint at your whim.
Ok, now that I have built a small amount of credibility by borrowing from my friend Dave, let’s get started. First and foremost, you must, and I mean must, prep the areas you want to paint. To solidify this idea I will tell you a story. My grandparents were smokers and enjoyed cigarettes multiple times a day. Our family thought it would be a great gift to paint the house for them when they were away. Okay, it didn’t go as planned since we found out paint does not stick to nicotine and the walls were covered with it so we had to clean the walls multiple times. Regardless of what you think and how clean your walls may appear, it is beneficial to clean and inspect your walls for dirt, grime and damage. This is the place to spend time and if you are trying to do this over the weekend, plan on spending a whole day getting your walls cleaned and repaired.
Now, for the choice of color. I would highly recommend you read Dave’s blog. There are some great tips on color choice at www.centurypainting.com/index.php/the-power-of-color-in-your-home. If you just want to start with my brief article and take a risk, I would say, “Go for it.” Adding color to your life is wonderful and if you don’t like it, you can always change it later. I would say you need to use one of my favorite tips from Dave: get a pint of three colors you like and paint a 4’ x 4’ swatch on the wall so you can see what it will look like. It’s impossible to gauge a color’s true impact on a room using a 1”x2” paint chip. So, save yourself some money and use this tip, as it will save you from making a mistake. Don’t forget to check the finish type so that you don’t find yourself looking at super glossy walls when you thought it was matte.
Now, for painting your interior rooms and getting a professional look. There are a few tips Dave has taught me but my favorite tip – and this has proven to be true on multiple occasions and it works every time – BUY GOOD (OR THE BEST) PAINT. Yep, as was the case in the last article, you get what you pay for and I would encourage you to use better paint. It will greatly enhance your ability to get that great final look you are after.
Well I know this article doesn’t dive deep into all aspects of painting, so I thought I would leave you with some great online articles I found that will help you get the best results:
- http://makingitlovely.com/2010/03/09/diy-painting-tips-tricks-and-a-step-by-step-guide/
- www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1566019,00.html
- www.wikihow.com/Use-a-Paint-Brush
- www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/outdoor-projects/4276091
- www.centurypainting.com/
As always, if you have any questions or just want to chat about home improvement, please don’t hesitate to shoot me an email chussey@theflooringshack.com. Or, you can always stop by the office at 9234 E. Valley Road in Prescott Valley.
Until next time, turn your shack into a mansion, and from a true inspiration, Tony Little – “You Can Do It!” Have a great month! QCBN
By Chris Hussey
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