As Albus Dumbledore says, "...the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy".
This choice is especially apparent when planning a paint job at home. We've done painting both quickly (not recommended) and thoughtfully (much, much better).
From all around the web, here are some tips that bear repeating:
1.Take a day for prep. Set aside time the day before painting to move furniture, patch walls and tape. Line the inside of your paint tray with a plastic kitchen trash bag, taped in place for easy clean up later.
2. Remove hardware. Put all the bits of the door knobs or switchplates into separate zip top bags and write where they came from right on the bag. It ends up being easier and faster to remove and reinstall rather than trying to work around them.
3. Move stuff. Take everything off the walls and move what you can to another room. If you can't move it out, put it all toward the center of the room and cover with dropcloths.
4. Use Primer. The paint will perform much better and tinted primers save money and time by reducing the number of coats you'll need to do.
5. Clean as you go. Have paper towels and rags handy. Scrape excess paint or drips from windows, tile, or glass with straight razor blades.
6. Keep the paint flowing smoothly. Only transfer about an inch into your tray or painting container. Cover your paint can in between these refills to keep the air out.
7. Store your brush. Instead of washing it out each time you take a break just use plastic wrap around it. For overnight, wrap in plastic, put it in a bag and store it in the freezer.
8.Save your leftover paint, not the giant cans. Use small glass jars or food storage containers to store just the bit of paint you'll need for touching up scratches or dents. Labeling really helps - make it easy on yourself do you don't have to remember exactly what you used where.
We're always looking for more good tips, info and advice. Comment away!
I speak from having painted nearly every home I have lived in my entire life, including my childhood bedroom several times before I left home.
As stated in #2 above... If it is attached with screws... Remove it! Nothing is tackier than a paint slopped light switch cover, and it doesn't take but a minute to do it right. That goes for doorknobs, light fixtures, outlet covers, vent covers, doorstops, even hinges at times.
Also, I usually take more time prepping than I do painting, it pays off big time with the end result being very nice.
Another tip, instead of taping everything off, practice using a cutting brush to cut in the ceiling and at corners. Taping works great if you have perfectly smooth walls and ceilings, but is otherwise a waste of time. You would be amazed what a little practice with a good brush can result in. I almost never use tape, and that saves time. (Do practice first though.)
I don't tape either, but keep a wet cloth with me, to wipe up smears and drips asap. ALso, the plastic bag in the tray is a brilliant tip, one I learned a LONG time ago from my stepfather. I've wowed many a person with this while painting various projects. Instant cleanup!
having recently completed my first home painting project (a month and a half before a surprise move, how annoying!), i have to say that it went SO well considering i really had no idea what i was doing. and it was all becuase i prepped like an anal madwoman. i just read as much as possible about painting and although it took longer at first, the results were well worth it. i think i may have used a bit more tape then necessary, but better safe then sorry! (i may practice that cutting thing next time.)
for me, the one lesson i learned is the paint color is almost NOTHING like it looks on the chip! everyone tells you that, but i was still shocked to see it in the can and on my walls. so my only addition to this list is if you REALLY care about getting the exact right shade, you MUST test a sample in the space to be painted! i know i will when i start painting in my new room this weekend (wish me luck!)
and although the plastic bag in the tray sounds like a great idea, i just got tray liners, they were very cheap. i would worry about the bag or tape getting caught on the roller and and accidentally pulling it out and making a huge paint covered mess!
I'm in the middle of prepping and painting my living room, for the second time within the past year (ugh!). Tried a green-gray color last year; everyone says it looks great, but I've come to realize that I am an off-white type of guy - with pops of color via accesories, e.g., pillows, throws, etc.
Had to repaint the ceiling this past weekend. I bought this Wagner paint stick. I kid you not - best thing I ever bought ($16 at Lowes). I tore through the ceiling and I can't wait to get to the walls.
There are two kinds of Wagner paint sticks out there - get the one where you have to PUSH the paint through the tube to the roller; do NOT get the Wagner paint stick with the trigger - I heard that one sucks.
And I prefer not using tape - once you get the hang of it, cutting really is simple. The important thing is that you have to be really patient and not be hurry to get the job - that's where cutting mistakes tend to happen.
Does anyone use TSP? And how do you paint behind the toilet?
Painting behind the toilet...
That is one time where I use tape to cover the tank in newspaper, and paint as far behind the tank as the brush will go. Then carefully hand cut the area near the floor. It is a pain to do, but if you take your time, it can turn out great.
^^Oh, and of course, take the tank lid off before painting to get behind it.
Panting behind the toilet. Removing the tank itself is not that hard. Make sure is empty by sopping up the last bit of water with wash cloths or hand towels. Remove the long screws and washers and gently move it
My one tip: To avoid getting paint high up in the bristles of your brush (very hard to clean out and can ruin a good brush), wrap a strip of painting tape about an inch down from where the bristles meet the handle. This will keep paint from creeping up there.
>8.Save your leftover paint, not the giant cans.
A good way to do this is by pouring the excess paint into Coca Cola bottles... they come in different sizes and you're almost guaranteed to have one in your home. An added bonus is that you can see whats inside since the bottles are clear.
Another tip is to tape a small piece of paper to the container and paint it... that way you can see the colour inside
During our first painting job, we completely failed to prep. Consequently, we dubbed the unprepared painter's rally cry:
"run away dust bunnies, run away!"
We've hired pros to do our painting jobs since then... I gotta say though -- I'm a huge fan of Benjamin Moore's sample pots. I wish they were available in more colors, but they were useful when we painted our current place.
er... or rather, had our current place painted!
Amused--
My Mom swears by TSP and could practically go into business as a painter (she serially renovated houses when I was a kid). She used to buy TSP from the paint store, and after washing the walls, prepped with TSP. Now she often does a shortcut--the floor cleaner Spic and Span apparently has TSP in it; to prep for a paint job she often just washes very thoroughly with Spic and Span. (This is the powder version--don't know about the liquid.) She's a bit evangelical, so I can't admit to having done a comparison, but she swears it goes on more smoothly and covers better; certainly looks good when I use it.
I agree that the plastic bag tray liner didn't sound that easy to use to me, but the disposable liners i found didn't fit well either and they were flimsy. but two layers of aluminum foil worked amazingly well. Even if you don't have foil that's wide enough to cover all, just make sure the seams are pressed down into the plastic tray.
For everyone who doesn't use tape, do you really not use tape ANYWHERE? How exactly do you cut in?