Paint like the pros do
- by Kelly Smith (RSS feed) on May 30th 2008 8:00AM
- Filed under home decor, weekend projects, bathroom, tools, remodeling, painting
- Use a 5 gallon bucket rather than a roller tray. There's less chance of spilling or putting your foot in it. It also allows you to mix more than one gallon together for larger jobs, guaranteeing an overall identical shade. Hang a roller screen in the bucket. They're cheap.
- Use the edge of a screwdriver blade to scrape off a tiny path of ceiling texture at the ceiling/wall junction. This will give you a crisp line when you cut in the top of the wall or the edge of the ceiling.
- Sanding chair rail or crown molding? Use sanding sponges rather than sandpaper. Conform to the curve!
- When you're rolling paint, be sure to hold the pole so that the open side of the roller (not the side where the handle connects to the roller) is, on the wet paint side of the wall. This will minimize "roller marks" and can cut your labor by 30%!
- Make sure to use high-quality blue painter's tape, not masking tape. Or, you'll be sorry.
- Wear safety glasses when rolling the ceiling. Splatter happens.
- When buying white paint for the ceiling, seek out the special paint that contains a disappearing dye. This will prevent missing a spot which you only notice after the paint has dried. Who wants to drag out the painting gear all over again?
Comments [3]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-30-2008 @ 11:04AM
Andy said...
Ooh, I just finished some rooms not too long ago. I'll throw in some more:
- primer is your friend. If in doubt, prime. And don't skimp on it.
- don't cheap on the brushes. Get the good ones and learn to take care of them. I like Purdy, personally. Otherwise, you're likely to be either picking brush bits out of wet paint, or fuming later when you find it in the dry paint.
- when rolling, actually get in close to the corners, not just to where you cut in. Try to be uniform in texture, as it is quite noticeable between brush and roller. Get narrow rollers for narrow spots.
- mask/tape everything. Don't just start trying to cut in with the brush. Do the right prep, the painting is easy.
- with stains, use Killz. Don't depend on the paint to cover it. Make sure.
- if not sanding trim, then wipe it down with NoSand to take off the gloss. Yes, door frames, too. If you don't, you will regret it later when it starts to peel.
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5-30-2008 @ 12:28PM
Schroedinger said...
I have the toughest time when it comes to making a clean edge at the ceiling/wall junction. I'm intrigued by the second bullet about using a screwdriver but I don't completely understand it. Is it saying I should score the junction? If so, how deep should it be?
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6-04-2008 @ 2:56AM
Francesca Clarke said...
Reading these tips I see why it took us so long last time (and admittedly the first time) we painted. We're moving at the end of the month, and will be sure to apply your strategies when we paint at the new place. Thanks!
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