There is much more to painting than most people think and you should be sure to use the right paint for the surface your painting and the right brushes for the paint you use. The products you use can have a massive effect on the finished product, so choosing the right ones is very important. This is why although most people tend to look for the cheapest products they can you should really look at higher quality products because they can make such a difference to the finish you get.
Choosing Paint Colours
At most DIY stores they have a wide selection of paints to choose from in nearly every colour you could imagine and if there is not a colour that matches what your after most larger stores can mix a paint colour for you. At these large stores they tend to have a mixing machine that can mix the paint for you so you can be sure of the colour your going to get by mixing two colours. Many DIY stores also have tester pots available so you can test a colour on your walls before buying the large tins of paint, this is great if your unsure of how the colour will look against your furniture, curtains or carpet.
When painting a room more than one colour, it is worth considering whether the colours clash or complement one another. Most paint companies will have a colour chart for you to look at that has sections of colours that match placed together so you can see easily what colours go well together.
Exterior Painting
Painting the outside of a house can be much more difficult than painting the interior both because of the possible danger and the preparation thats involved. However, if you want to give it a try yourself you should follow the steps below.
- 1. Paint any soffit's, fascias and guttering before starting on the walls.
- 2. Paint from right to left if you are right handed, and vice versa if you are left handed. This avoids you having to paint across yourself, which is much safer, and more comfortable.
- 3. If the surface of the wall is rough, you may wish to use a paint roller.
- 4. Work from the top down, completing areas between natural breaks first (for example, the spaces between two windows).
- 5. Cover up any areas below with dust sheets, including lawns, shrubs and flowerbeds.
- 6. Always use a pot hook, which will allow you to hold on to your ladder or scaffolding at all times.
It may be easier to use a paint sprayer rather than brushes and rollers. Certain precautions must be taken when using a paint sprayer.
- 1. Unlike when using a brush and roller, paint from the bottom to the top using a sprayer.
- 2. Do not paint in windy conditions, as spray may drift onto your garden or neighbouring properties.
- 3. Always cover any bushes or flowerbeds in dust sheets, and move any cars away from the property.
- 4. You should be able to buy extensions for the sprayer in order to reach concealed or out-of-reach areas.
- 5. Most sprayers will have a shield provided, to prevent paint missing the walls or straying onto areas not requiring painting.
Painting A Door
Before you start painting a door you should either wedge the door open so all sides you want to paint are visible, or you should fully remove the door from its hinges so all sides can be reached easily. Your door handle and any door hooks should be removed before painting also to avoid painting them also, even if you want them painted ideally you should remove them and paint them seperately.
If the door you are painting is a single, flat panel, you should start painting from the top of the door, and should work in blocks. Once each block has been painted, lightly brush upwards to remove any excess paint.
If it is a panelled door you're painting you should paint the panels first then paint the exterior frame of the door.
For doors, a 3" paintbrush is ideal, with a 1" brush for those parts requiring special attention or a smaller brush.
Painting A Door Frame
In preparation for painting the door frame you should sand the surface with medium grade sandpaper then wipe the whole frame down to get rid of any fine dust as this can make a massive difference to the finish. You can then apply either an oil based primer that may need thinning with white spirit and can take up to 24hrs to dry or there are some acrylic primers available that dry in around 3 - 4 hrs.
Next, apply an undercoat, which will also require 24 hours to dry; before applying the final finish - a layer of either satin or gloss paint.
When you are painting a door or door frame you should make sure to cover any areas such as the floor with a dust sheet so it is protected from any paint that might drip onto the area.
Painting A Floor
If painting or varnishing a wooden floor, your first task is to remove all furniture from the room. Once the floor is cleared you should make sure you have removed all the dust from the floor because this can cause a lumpy finish.
Next, start applying the colouring or varnish, starting in the corner of the room furthest from the door (this is very important to remember so you don't paint yourself into the room then have to walk on the floor you've just painted or varnished to get out of the room.
You should apply paint in even sized blocks at a time and work your way systematically towards the door, ensuring even coverage and no spaces are missed.
Painting An Interior Wall
When painting the interior walls of your house ensure you have moved all your furniture out of the room or if this isn't possible move it into the centre of the room, not only does this make it easier for you to move around the room it also means you won't get paint on anything you don't want to. Any furniture you do leave in the room be sure to cover with dust sheets because paint can be difficult to remove once dried, and with some fabrics you may leave them damaged permanently.
Most people use a roller for painting walls this is because of the speed that you can get the walls covered, if done correctly you can gain a very even finish by using a roller. However, you may want to use a paintbrush for detailing edges around light switches or plug sockets.
The best finish will be created by using the 'back-roll' method. Using a paint roller, paint a block of about 1 metre squared. Paint two subsequent blocks, before going back to the first and rolling over it again without adding any more paint to the roller, this gives a much smoother finish.
Painting A Ceiling
The main thing to remember when painting a ceiling is to remove or cover everything in the room to prevent it being covered in paint that will inevitably drip off the roller or paint brush while painting.
Depending on the height of your ceiling you may be able to simply stand on a sturdy stool, if your ceiling is higher you will need to use a step ladder. You can then use a roller or paint brush although instead of using a normal roller you could use a long handled roller. This gives you the benefit of being able to stay on the floor meaning you can't injure yourself by falling off a step ladder.
The most commonly used technique when painting a ceiling is to start in the furthest corner from the door, and paint in blocks of about 2ft squared, working in strips along the roof.
Painting A Skirting Board
As with all wooden surfaces, the skirting board should be prepared before any painting begins, and you should ensure it is dust free. A strip of card should be placed at the bottom of the skirting board, in order to prevent paint running into the carpet.
The card should be checked regularly, to ensure no paint is seeping between the card and the skirting board into the carpet. It may be easier in some cases to pull carpets away from the skirting board, although this may not always be possible depending on how your carpet has been laid.
Painting A Window Frame
Most modern windows are made from uPVC, which cannot be painted, except with specially made (and therefore expensive) primers and coatings.
A wooden window will need to be sanded down if already painted or varnished and then wiped down thoroughly to remove any dust.
When painting, masking tape should be placed on glass to prevent paint from being placed on the glass. The tape should only be removed once the paint is dry, This will stop any wet paint dripping onto the window pane.
Painting A Window Sill
As with any wooden surface, the first step is to sand down the wood, and remove all dust from the surface. Knotting should be applied to the any knots in the wood, followed by primer, which can be applied directly afterwards as knotting dries nearly instantly. After applying primer, you will need to wait for up to 24 hours for the primer to dry, this is only if it's an oil based primer there are other types that dry in a couple of hours.
Once the primer has dried, and gaps in the wood should be filled, by using a specialist filling product or a linseed oil wax. With the filler dry, undercoat may be applied. New wood should have 2 layers of undercoat applied, the undercoat will generally need 24 hours to dry unless the product your using states otherwise. The final step when your undercoat is dry is to apply your final coat which will usually be either a satin or gloss in your selected colour.