10 Quick Tips to Paint Walls Like a Pro
>> Apr 25, 2018
Painting is the easiest (and the
cheapest) way through which you can give your home a makeover. A few layers of
the choicest shades can transform the look and feel of your room. So if you
have been nurturing the idea to transform the tone and setting of your room
then consider changing the hues of the walls first! If you are a DIY
enthusiast, this task becomes all the more affordable for you. However,
painting is a daunting task and your pet project can turn into your worst
nightmare when it is not done right.
So here are 10 quick tips that will
help you paint your walls like
a professional:
1. Rain Check!
If you wish to commence painting
then checking out the weather report would be a wise idea. Painting the walls
on a dry day is ideal since humidity can affect the rate at which the pain
dries. In fact, humidity in the air could also contribute to your paint
dripping. So avoid starting your project on a rainy day. However, if you live
in a region where it’s more raindrops than sunshine, invest in slow drying
paint to rectify any painting mistakes that you have made. It may slow down
your work greatly, especially since you need to do this coat by coat, but the
end effect will be pleasing to the eye.
2. Foundation Matters
Slathering on a layer of paint on
your walls is not enough. You need to conduct a thorough visual inspection of
the surface that you are about to paint. Prepare it so that your paint has a
better adhesive surface. If the walls are flaking or portions of it are
peeling, then lightly scrape it all off. Similarly, if you notice any cracks or
chippings, make use of a spackle to fill out these uneven surfaces. Prepping
your walls saves you a lot of time and money. The disastrous mistake of not
doing this would result in watching new layers of paint weighing down the old
layers and collectively coming off. All the scraping should be followed by a
quick rinse of the walls to get rid of any grime, dust, and grease, thereby
giving a fresh new surface for the paint to sit on.
3. Enough is Enough
To avoid any wastage, you could
purchase paint one gallon at a time but most times it so happens that there may
be a difference in the shade or the pigment. This situation becomes even more
critical if you are mixing two colors to get a particular shade. Therefore, it
is important to have a prior idea before you set out on your painting project.
Generally, you need one gallon of paint per 400 square feet of area. But you
can seek the assistance of online paint calculators for a more accurate
estimate. When you have a better idea, you can purchase the paint collectively
and mix it all in proper proportions for a more uniform look. This is known as
boxing the paint.
4. Invest in Good Quality Equipment and Paint
Let’s face it, everyone wants to get
the task done without burning a hole in their pocket. But pinching pennies on
the equipment will do more harm than good. Buy superior quality brushes and
rollers, which will give good coverage on the walls. If you are an amateur
painter, another obstacle would be deciding on the thickness of the layer of
paint. Purchasing good quality brushes ensures that the paint is put not too
lightly, neither too thick. This way, you will be saving on the excess paint
that you would have needed for multi-layered application. The same goes for
paint too. While the premium quality paint may not differ from the cheaper
quality paint in terms of price, the final appearance of the wall can vary
drastically.
5. Cover up!
Drop cloths, plastic coverings, and
painter’s tape may make your shopping list longer but you will definitely not
regret this purchase. All the time that you would spend on covering up the
floors, doorknobs, and furniture, would still pale in comparison to how much
you would have actually spent had you been scrubbing the pain off from all
these items.
6. Polish your end game
These days
you would often find paints containing a blend of primers. This may make you
feel that purchasing a primer separately may be futile exercise. However, if
you haven’t painted your walls for the past 8 years or your wall has developed
some issues since the last paint, then you will have to loosen your purse
strings and get your hands on a dedicated primer. Apply a coat of primer that
gives a finishing quite similar to the ones given by professional painters.
Tint your primers with the topcoat coat paint as it will enhance the final coat
and make it look refreshingly appealing.
7. Rollers versus Paint Brushes
You may be confused whether you
should make use of a roller or a regular paint brushes. As a rule of thumb, for
large surfaces, making use of a roller brush is much more convenient. If you
have a good quality paint then you may have noticed that they are easy to apply
and can flow easily. So get your roller brush to slap on the paint without
breaking your back. Use an extension pole to reach those inaccessible regions
and you will have to apply minimal pressure. You can use the brush for fine
areas like the edges.
8. Top to Bottom Approach
The direction in which you paint
determines the texture. Paint in the top to bottom direction, that is, from the
ceiling to the floor. That way, if your paint drips or you make any mistake
while painting, you can easily mask it in the following layer of paint.
9. Well begun, half done
Painting may not necessarily be a
single day job and you might have to take breaks that could last overnight.
Quite naturally, you may think of cleaning the sleeves of your paint rollers
and your paintbrushes whenever you call it a day. Instead of following the
rigorous routine, you can simply roll off the excess paint and wrap the brushes
in plastic food wrap. If need arises, give it multiple layers of plastic so
that the brushes are sealed off and there is no entry for air. Store the
equipment in your refrigerator. This little hack can actually keep your brushes
from drying!
10.
The Clean Coat Around
Outlets
An amateur painter would directly
paint over the outlet covers and the electrical outlets. If you really wish to
paint like a professional, you would have to spend the time required to take
the outlet covers off. If you really do not have it in you to spend the extra
few minutes, then make use of a fine paint brush to get around the switches and
plugs. As much as you are tempted to do the latter, we would strongly suggest
that you follow the first technique of taking off the covers and later putting
them on if you really hope for a professional quality painting job.
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