| Painting Tips |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Daniel's Painting & Decorating |
Start Out Right
• You'll enjoy the job more if you get everything together at the start. Organize a tool
station in the middle of the area you'll be working in. Gather together your paint, brushes,
rollers, hammers, screwdrivers, plastic bags, plastic wrap, rags, paint can opener, and drop
cloths.
Plan a Day for Prep
• Don't try to get everything done in one day. Use the day before painting day to gather
furniture in the center of the room, patch cracks and holes, put blue painter's tape around
doors and windows, and cover wall and ceiling light fixtures (light bulbs removed, of course!)
with large plastic bags.
Take everything off the walls
• If you can't move everything out, place the furniture and lamps in the middle of the
room and cover them with a good drop cloth. Be sure that you tape the cloth around the
furniture. Then put a second cover of plastic or old sheet over everything.
Remove All Hardware
• It may seem easier to paint around door knobs or cabinet hinges, but unless you're a
professional, very experienced painter, you're bound to get drips around. So carry around
some zip top bags and remove all cabinet knobs and hinges, door knobs, light switch plates
and outlet covers, and light fixtures. Place the pieces together in separate bags and clearly
mark the contents and location (top left cabinet, bathroom door, etc) you took them from.
This is a great time to clean the hardware! Put them back when you're done painting.
Get Yourself Ready
• No matter how hard you try, you're bound to get drips (or more) of paint on whatever
you're wearing. So take off all jewelry. Reserve some old, but comfortable, clothes for your
painting jobs. Slip-on shoes are easy to take off if you need to leave the room. You won't
have to worry about tracking drops of paint into other rooms. When you paint the ceiling, put
a scarf, shower cap, or old baseball hat over your hair and some plastic over your eyeglasses.
Don't Paint Over Problem Walls
• If your walls have holes or cracks, fix them before you start with the paint. Any home
center or paint store has knowledgeable personnel to guide you to the best products for the
job. Wide cracks and large holes can be "bridged" with fiberglass tape, spackle will fill small
holes and cracks, and texturizing products are available to match your existing wall finish.
Paint Rollers
• A paint roller with a plastic core will last longer than one with a cardboard core. Select a
roller "nap" (fullness of the covering) according to the texture on your walls. Use a flat,
smooth roller for flat, smooth walls and a thicker, more plush roller for rough textured walls.
Water-Based or Latex Paint
• New latex paints are formulated to be environmentally-friendly. Drying time is short
(usually about 1 hour) and clean ups are easy with water. Apply water-based paints with
rollers, pads, or synthetic bristle brushes. Latex paints tend to get a "skin" of paint in the
can when they begin to dry out, so keep the can covered as much as possible. Pour paint
into another container to work from and close the can.
Oil-Based Paint
• Most professional painters prefer oil-based paints, especially for cabinets, furniture,
and trim. New formulations do not harm the environment and are not toxic. Because they dry
more slowly, oil-based paints allow for better coverage and work well in warm, dry climates
where water-based paints would dry too fast. Apply oil-based paints with pads, rollers, or
natural bristle brushes. Clean up with paint thinner or other solvent.
Drop Cloths
• The best material for a drop cloth is a heavy canvas cloth. It's not as slippery as
plastic and covers better than newspaper. Fold the cloth to fit any size room and tape down
the corners to prevent paint from oozing over the edge. To prevent scratching, be sure to
vacuum hardwood floors before you put the drop cloth down.
Tinted Primer
• Most paint jobs work better when you use a primer or base coat. Have the primer or
base paint tinted to match your surface paint color. You may be able to avoid a second coat
of finish paint. For ceilings, try paint that is specially formulated for ceilings. Some brands go
on light blue and change to white when dry. This makes it easier to see where you've already
painted.
Painter's Blue Tape
• If you've never used painter's blue tape, why not? It has a waxy coating to keep paint
from seeping through, is available in several widths, and provides a perfect straight edge for
painting. It will not pull up the paint on the surface it's stuck to, and the seal is activated
when you put it down onto a smooth surface. Its special properties don't last forever, so
don't leave it on the wall more than a couple of days.
• You'll enjoy the job more if you get everything together at the start. Organize a tool
station in the middle of the area you'll be working in. Gather together your paint, brushes,
rollers, hammers, screwdrivers, plastic bags, plastic wrap, rags, paint can opener, and drop
cloths.
Plan a Day for Prep
• Don't try to get everything done in one day. Use the day before painting day to gather
furniture in the center of the room, patch cracks and holes, put blue painter's tape around
doors and windows, and cover wall and ceiling light fixtures (light bulbs removed, of course!)
with large plastic bags.
Take everything off the walls
• If you can't move everything out, place the furniture and lamps in the middle of the
room and cover them with a good drop cloth. Be sure that you tape the cloth around the
furniture. Then put a second cover of plastic or old sheet over everything.
Remove All Hardware
• It may seem easier to paint around door knobs or cabinet hinges, but unless you're a
professional, very experienced painter, you're bound to get drips around. So carry around
some zip top bags and remove all cabinet knobs and hinges, door knobs, light switch plates
and outlet covers, and light fixtures. Place the pieces together in separate bags and clearly
mark the contents and location (top left cabinet, bathroom door, etc) you took them from.
This is a great time to clean the hardware! Put them back when you're done painting.
Get Yourself Ready
• No matter how hard you try, you're bound to get drips (or more) of paint on whatever
you're wearing. So take off all jewelry. Reserve some old, but comfortable, clothes for your
painting jobs. Slip-on shoes are easy to take off if you need to leave the room. You won't
have to worry about tracking drops of paint into other rooms. When you paint the ceiling, put
a scarf, shower cap, or old baseball hat over your hair and some plastic over your eyeglasses.
Don't Paint Over Problem Walls
• If your walls have holes or cracks, fix them before you start with the paint. Any home
center or paint store has knowledgeable personnel to guide you to the best products for the
job. Wide cracks and large holes can be "bridged" with fiberglass tape, spackle will fill small
holes and cracks, and texturizing products are available to match your existing wall finish.
Paint Rollers
• A paint roller with a plastic core will last longer than one with a cardboard core. Select a
roller "nap" (fullness of the covering) according to the texture on your walls. Use a flat,
smooth roller for flat, smooth walls and a thicker, more plush roller for rough textured walls.
Water-Based or Latex Paint
• New latex paints are formulated to be environmentally-friendly. Drying time is short
(usually about 1 hour) and clean ups are easy with water. Apply water-based paints with
rollers, pads, or synthetic bristle brushes. Latex paints tend to get a "skin" of paint in the
can when they begin to dry out, so keep the can covered as much as possible. Pour paint
into another container to work from and close the can.
Oil-Based Paint
• Most professional painters prefer oil-based paints, especially for cabinets, furniture,
and trim. New formulations do not harm the environment and are not toxic. Because they dry
more slowly, oil-based paints allow for better coverage and work well in warm, dry climates
where water-based paints would dry too fast. Apply oil-based paints with pads, rollers, or
natural bristle brushes. Clean up with paint thinner or other solvent.
Drop Cloths
• The best material for a drop cloth is a heavy canvas cloth. It's not as slippery as
plastic and covers better than newspaper. Fold the cloth to fit any size room and tape down
the corners to prevent paint from oozing over the edge. To prevent scratching, be sure to
vacuum hardwood floors before you put the drop cloth down.
Tinted Primer
• Most paint jobs work better when you use a primer or base coat. Have the primer or
base paint tinted to match your surface paint color. You may be able to avoid a second coat
of finish paint. For ceilings, try paint that is specially formulated for ceilings. Some brands go
on light blue and change to white when dry. This makes it easier to see where you've already
painted.
Painter's Blue Tape
• If you've never used painter's blue tape, why not? It has a waxy coating to keep paint
from seeping through, is available in several widths, and provides a perfect straight edge for
painting. It will not pull up the paint on the surface it's stuck to, and the seal is activated
when you put it down onto a smooth surface. Its special properties don't last forever, so
don't leave it on the wall more than a couple of days.
| (773) 908-9819 |
| We can make your house feel like your home! |