Do-It-Yourself Home Painting Tips

Sure, the easiest way out would be to hire a pro to do the job, but painting is one thing that can be done by the do-it-yourselfer if you have the patience and the necessary time to complete the project yourself.

Most home improvement and paint stores are a wealth of information on painting, such as, the colors of paint, types of sheens and procedures so don't be afraid to ask them when your purchasing your paint. You need to measure your room sizes to get an idea on the amount of paint you'll need. You'll need the widths of the walls as well the height, so don't forget to take the measurements with you to the paint store. There are many paint calculators on the web you can use or you can do the math yourself. The length of the room times the width ( length X width = sq. ft. ) will get your sq. ft. for the floor or ceiling. For the walls you need to get the width times the height of all walls ( width x height = sq. ft. per wall ) then total them up for the sq. footage. ( sq. ft. 1st wall + sq. ft. 2nd wall + sq. ft. 3rd wall + sq. ft. 4th wall = Total sq. ft. per room) One gallon of paint usually covers 400 sq. feet. They may ask what's already on your walls, so it's a good idea to know before you get there. Latex paint does not work over oil based paints without some sanding and primer but, you can put oil based paint over latex. So you need to do a little test, take a cloth with a little denatured alcohol and rub a spot on the wall you plan on painting. If nothing come off and the paint is unaffected then you have most likely have oil based paint and need to tell the clerk at the paint store so that you get the right products.

Now, one of the best ways to insure a good job is to set the mood and I don't mean candles and soft music. The first thing is to get into some comfortable clothing, preferably what I refer to as my painting clothes. It consists of an old wool sweat shirt, old jogging pants and an old comfortable pair of tennis shoes (basically anything you don't care about getting paint on but, must be comfortable).

Below I listed some tips and a basic guide for the do-it-yourself painter. I keep it pretty simple so that you don't feel intimated by the whole process along with a basic tool list needed to perform the task at hand. You should always buy quality tools if you can as it will make the job much easier. Don't worry if you don't have or can't get all the tools in the list, these are just basic suggestions to make it easier and you can always improvise where needed. Next you will need to put on some up beat music, the louder the better! Now your ready to get started.

Basic Painting Equipment Needed:
 

• Brushes To keep it simple you'll need at least two good quality paint brushes brushes, one  2" or 2-1/2" stiff angle brush for cutting in and one 3" to 4" regular flat brush for general painting purposes. For latex paint, use Poly-Nylon blended brushes. For oil-based materials and varnishes use natural china bristle brushes.
  
• Step stool
  
• Measuring tape For measuring room sizes
  
• Drop cloths Canvas, Plastic tarps, old sheets and/or news papers
  
• Small plastic shopping bags
  
• 5 in 1 Used to Scrape loose paint, clean rollers etc....
  
• Painters tape Get a couple of rolls of each type 3/4" or wider and 2" or wider
  
• Roller handle With metal cage
  
• Roller covers When choosing roller covers, the nap or thickness of the cover depends on the surface texture you plan to paint: the more texture, the higher the nap.
  
• Roller tray w/liners Liners make clean up easier
  
• Roller pole To extend the reach of your roller
  
• Paint can opener
  
• Screwdriver To remove receptacle covers and switch plates etc....
  
• Putty knife For patching holes and cracks
  
• Sand paper To sand patched holes and cracks
  
• Old rags For cleaning up paint drips or spills
  
• Caulking gun
  
• Paintable caulking For around windows, doors and gaps in moldings
  
• Razor knife
  
• Paint sticks For mixing paint

 
Preparation:
 

• Remove all pictures, curtains and hardware and all the furniture if possible or move it to the center of room and cover with sheets or plastic.
  
• If room is carpeted you may want to lay down a strip of wide painters tape along the edge of the wall or under the baseboard to protect the carpet.
  
• Lay down drop cloths
  
• Remove all receptacle covers and tape the switches and outlets with painters tape
  
• Use a plastic shopping bags to cover door knobs and tape around them to prevent from getting painted.
  
• Scrape loose paint, sand if necessary and patch any nail holes (unless you plan on hanging in that spot again) or cracks with spackle following the directions of the product. Caulk around the woodwork, door and window frames and molding with paintable caulking.
  
• Make sure the walls and ceilings are free of dirt, cobwebs and dust. It's not necessary wash the walls and ceilings if clean but, you should wipe them down with a clean towel or rag and spot wash with a damp cloth if needed. You can use mild soap for general cleaning but, for heavier dirt and build up you may want to use (TSP) trisodium phosphate, it is a stronger cleaner which you can get in most home improvement and paint stores. For heavy stains that can't be removed by light scrubbing, you may need to prime the area first with a stain blocking primer, such as Kilz.
  

Painting:
 

• Set up a work station where all the paint and tools will be and make sure its out of the way and that the floor is well protected with a plastic backed drop cloth or a drop cloth over plastic.
  
• If you are planning on painting the ceiling you should always do this first. When using water based paints it's always best if you wet your brushes and rollers with water before you start using them, just make sure to get out all the excess water before you start. Brush around the edges and all light fixtures where you plan on starting. Don't get too far ahead of yourself because you always want to keep working the wet edge of the paint, so keep that in mind. Once you complete that you're ready to start rolling the ceiling. Only do manageable amounts at a time, like 4'x4' sections all the way across the ceiling and then start the process over until completed.
  
• Now to start the walls. It 's not much different then the ceilings except you'll be be starting from the top to the bottom in 4'x4' sections. Brush along all the edges and all receptacles where you plan on starting. Don't get too far ahead of yourself because like the ceiling you always want to keep working the wet edge of the paint. Now you're ready to start rolling the walls. Start by rolling your roller down into the paint and removing all excess paint by rolling it from the top of the tray till it meets the paint 1 or 2 times. Start by making a large M or W shape on the wall. Then reload if needed and start to fill in the area without lifting your roller off the wall. After every 4'x4' section is complete, reload your roller with fresh paint. This will insure good coverage and make the painting easier and faster.
  
• Remember this tip when rolling your walls or ceilings and your job will turn out much better and easier. Never try to force the paint out of the roller by pushing your roller onto the wall, just let it glide as you roll and reload often. Paint is you friend so don't be afraid of it.
  
• If you need a break there's no need to wash all the tools just wrap them in a plastic bag and place them in a cool and shaded place and close the paint lid till your ready to start again. Remember, never stop in the middle section of the wall. You should only stop at a natural break line, such as a corner or door frame to prevent lap marks.
  
• After all the ceilings and walls are completed it's time to paint the trim. This is considered to be the hardest part by many because you really need to be neat and take your time. But with practice and time you'll soon get good results. If painters tape helps by all means use it, just make sure the paint is good and dry where you plan on sticking it to or you'll have problems. Also remember to remove it before it dries usually right after the paint tacks up.
  
• That's about it, now comes the clean up, wash all your paint tools, brushes and rollers and hang to dry. Mild soap and water for your latex paints and the recommended solvents for you oil based paints and varnishes. Pick up all drop clothes and start putting everything back in it's place and then its time to relax and enjoy a job well done. I hope I was able shed a little light on the subject and help you save some money by completing your own home improvement projects. Thanks for reading!
  
• Written by: Kim Arnold

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