Articles » Painting & Decorating - Tips & Tricks » 5 Useful Tips To Make Your Next Painting Project Easier.

INTERIOR PAINTING PREPARATION

Proper preparation can make your final painting job easier and less expensive. Preparing your walls for painting should include stain removal. Try household bleach for coffee and tea stains, or paint thinners for crayon and ballpoint pen marks! Oops! is excellent at removing the latter and Aqualock does a very good job covering up the problem prior to paint coat.

Removing old wallpaper is not enough when leftover wallpaper paste remains. You'll need to thoroughly wash down the surface to remove any traces of old paste. Finally, make sure to use a quality primer. The right primer not only makes painting easier, it makes sure your hard work pays off with a paint job that lasts.

PREPARATION  is 90% of the job

If you are painting your home's exterior, do it like the pro’s do and spend plenty of time preparing before you begin painting. I recommend you use drop cloths on patios, paths, driveways and shrubs to protect them from paint splatters. Use a stiff brush to clean dust and dirt off surfaces. Scrape away old damaged paint with a broad knife or wire brush and smooth with sandpaper. Sink nails, spot-prime and fill with putty.  If your walls are chalky or flaky, clean first with a stiff brush or power wash and add about 30% E-B (a strong bonder) to your first paint coat. Remember, the time you spend preparing to paint will make painting that much easier!

USE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB

If you are applying emulsions it is best to use a synthetic brush. A brush with natural bristles absorbs more water and clump together while painting. Using a roller? Roller covers are available in short (1/4") , medium (3/8") and long (1/2" or more) nap lengths. A short nap is best for glossy paints, medium is good for a variety of finishes, and a long nap is best for highly textured or very porous surfaces. Many Pros use natural Lambskin rollers for best results, a bit harder to obtain but worth the effort. If you have a large area to paint outside, you might consider hiring an airless sprayer from a hire shop. Not all hire shops do sprayers, and you may need to do a little bit of searching.

IT'S ALL IN THE TECHNIQUE

The way you apply interior paint is as important as the quality of paint you apply! Work top to bottom by starting with the ceiling. Rollers with extension handles are great, and can save you the hassle of using a ladder. Paint the architraves etc with a special angled trim brush (available in the better paint stores). Then, use a brush or edging tool to outline the other areas to be painted. Finally, roll the remaining wall areas.

If applying “weak” hiding colours like reds or yellows, add a paint additive like Floetrol to the emulsion, (10%)  because it makes a huge difference to the ‘hiding power’ of you paint, and improves your finished job.

TIPS FOR CLEANING UP

Last but by no means least.. clean-up. You can make clean-up easier by immediately pouring unused paint back into the original tin and squeezing excess paint from rollers and brushes. Try using a little dishwashing detergent to clean emulsion paint from applicators. Oops! is fantastic for removing any dried in emulsion paint splashes from floor, switches, etc. White spirits will clean solvent-based paint, but you may have to soak or swish brushes and rollers around to dissolve the paint.

Sit back and admire your masterpiece.