Many property owners possess fundamental painting preparation. They know that it is necessary to use drop cloths, painters tape and stir paint thoroughly. But did you know that a golf ball can help keep paint quality, or that microwaving paint tape can make it more manageable?
With the majority of DIY painting tasks, understanding a couple of additional painting strategies can cause the most satisfying outcomes. Saving paint appropriately and utilizing the right tools can guarantee that you avoid blemishes and cover surface areas uniformly.
These 9 DIY painting suggestions can help you improve the quality of your work and save money and time in the process, whether you're preparing to sell, altering your design or doing some regular home maintenance.
1. Don't let your paint dry
A half-empty can of paint will dry. Drop golf balls into the paint can to fill the air space, or location cling wrap under the cover, seal it securely and keep the paint upside down.
2. Utilize the right guide
If you're painting new drywall, utilize a water-based primer to hide imperfections and provide an even base before using color. If you're painting paneling, water-damaged or smoke-saturated walls, go with an oil-based primer.
3. Prevent lap marks
To prevent stripes triggered by rolling over paint that's already beginning to dry, keep a damp edge by painting the full height of the wall and then moving over slightly so you can overlap the last stroke with the next.
4. Stir paint with a customized stirrer
Prior to you stir paint, drill holes in the stirrer to assist mix the paint better. The holes assist the paint circulation through the stirrer, aerating it like a whisk and blending the paint evenly.
5. Include texture, if you desire
If you desire more texture on your wall, pick a roller with a longer, 3/4" nap, which holds more paint. The nap is the fabric material covering the roller, and longer naps develop more stippling on your wall because of the way their fibers disperse the paint. Utilize a shorter-nap roller-- between 1/4" and 1/2" nap-- for the smoothest finish.
6. Do not wash your brushes or rollers
If you're using latex paint, there's no reason to clean your brushes or rollers if you don't complete your project in one day. Because cold temperatures keep latex paint from drying rapidly, you can simply wrap your rollers or brushes in plastic bags or tin foil and put them in the fridge. (Make certain to let them completely warm back up before utilizing them.).
7. Deal with issue tape.
If you're using older tape, sometimes it can be difficult to peel its roll without tearing or Essex Fells painting sticking. If your painter's tape continues to peel, microwave the whole roll for 10 seconds.
8. Figure out the type of paint on existing walls.
Unsure if a wall's existing paint is oil or latex? Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and rub it in a small location across the wall. If the cotton ball has paint residue, the paint is latex. No paint on the cotton ball? You'll be painting over an oil-based paint and will want to utilize an oil-based guide before painting.
9. Invest in a paint pen.
Purchase a paint pen that lets you pack it with a small bit of your brand-new paint color for little touchups later on. These pens keep the paint inside fresh for about a year once filled; just remember to shake them well before use to make sure the paint comes out efficiently and uniformly.