Do It Yourself Painting
Painting Tips Homeowners Need to Know On Home Painting Projects
Sep 13, 2008
So you're thinking of tackling your painting project on your own. You've discarded the notion of a professional. Anybody can paint, right? Think again.
Chances are that you're considering the do-it-yourself painting approach in order to save money rather than because you want to spend the next four or five weekends painting the kitchen. The first thing to consider, therefore, is how much it will cost you do it yourself.
Let's say you're painting a bedroom. You'll need:
- drop cloths
- roller and extension pole
- roller cover (the fuzzy thing)
- a good quality brush for "cutting in"
- a masker
- blue tape
- masking paper
- Spackle
- a bucket and grid (don't even consider using a tray).
If you have none of these things, you've just spent somewhere around $200.
Steps to Consider
- Now the paint. After you've chosen your colors, you'll need to choose to sheen. How shiny do you want your walls? Most commonly, the sheen used in kitchens, bathrooms, trim, and doors is semi-gloss. Other areas are done in either flat or eggshell, but there are no hard and fast rules. The paint police won't get you if you deviate. Remember, there is no standardization in the industry. One company's "satin" is another's "pearl".
- Spackle holes in the walls, and if you are using anything but flat paint, prime them.
- What about areas marred with crayons or markers? Those will need to be primed, too, but only with an oil-based primer, available in spray cans.
- Speaking of oil-based paint, if the previous painter was foolish enough to use it, you must prime everything first, for latex paint will not stick to oil.
- Suppose you don't know. How do you tell if it's oil? Not easy. Try scraping some paint off a small area. If it crumbles and is powdery, it's probably oil. If it's rubbery, it's latex. If you aren't sure, paint a small area and let it dry. If it peels off easily, get out the primer.
- It's a good idea to remove as much of the furniture as possible from the room. Obviously, cover anything you can't, but don't use an old sheet – the paint can go right through it.
- Start with the ceiling. If the walls are to be a different color, wait until the ceiling is dry before painting the walls. Then, doing one wall at a time, begin by "cutting in" along the top of the wall with a brush, then roll out the rest. Save the trim until last.
- One thing to remember before you start the walls: you will need to ascertain whether one coat will be sufficient to cover. Wait until the paint is completely dry before you judge. The same is true for the walls. Also, different products have different dry times, which are listed on the cans. Abide by them. Don't apply the second coat too soon.
- Generally, if you are changing colors, you will probably need two coats. Don't make the mistake of thinking if you put on a thick coat that it will cover better. The paint will only drip and sag, and it will dry unevenly, causing the paint to crack.
- The trim is the most difficult part. There are products available that help the paint flow better and also increase the dry time. This will prevent overlap marks and decrease brush marks, and the result will be a smoother finish.
And don't worry; paint is fairly forgiving. If you mess up, there are many professional painters who will be happy to come and fix things for you.
The copyright of the article Do It Yourself Painting in Home Renovation/Repair is owned by Walter Edwards. Permission to republish Do It Yourself Painting in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
 |
