Painting is one of the quickest and cheapest fixes. Your house is going to look better instantly, and if your selling, you'll get back more money than you put into the paint. the question is , what paint to use?
Oil vs. latex. Latex has swept most of the market. I't;s water-based, durable , and easy to clean up. Oil (also called alkyd) is still available in most parts of the country. I't;s a little harder to work with and isn't as easy to clean up or dispose of, but still has it's uses.
sheen (gloss).The glossier the paint, the easier it is to clean. the more flat (or less glossy), the more it hides mistakes. Use flatter sheens on most walls. Use glossier sheen on trim and in kitchens and baths , all of which get a lot of splatters, fingerprints, and other abuse.
Color. white is not the only color, and white on white is not the oly color scheme. it may feel safe, and probably is , but you can do so much more.
Choose a color , buy a quart, and put it on a section of wall. Paint the trim too, and then live with it a few days. If it's a disaster, try again. If it works do the entire room.
Decorative painting.Sponging, dragging, stippling , and texturing add alot to a room and are easy to master. Have some fun before you start: Get a sheet of drywall, Prop it up in the garage, and try different techniques and color schemes. The practice will give you the confidence you need.
Painting Profecionally 1-2-3
Painting will not cover a multitude of sins. It will cover the wall, the door , or the trim , but that's about it. it will change the color of the bumps, nicks, dents, and cracks that are part of the wall, door , or trim, but it wont make the blemishes go away. tha's your job.
Prep work or , to put it more simply, wall repair is the key to painting success. Plan on spending at least as much time repairing as you do painting.
Start by washing the wall.
wipe it down with trisodium phosphate (tsp) or one of its phosphate-free wall cleaning substitutes. then rinse the wall with a sponge and clean water until the water runs clear. Once the wall is dry , look for and repair each and every imperfection you find .
Caulk.
Caulk small cracks, caulk transitions from wall to molding, and run caulk down the corner of the room. Smooth it out with a wet finger so you have a nice transition from one surface to the next.
Once you are ready to paint
protect any surface in the room you dont want stray paint on - specially floors. trim and woodwork.
prime surfaces before you paint.
on the molecular level , at least, primer is really sticky. it sticks to whatever is on the walls , as will as to whatever paint your putting up. if the walls are stained, apply a primer sealer to keep the stain from bleeding through. (water-based sealers may not be adequate- be sure you get the right product)
sand between coats
this doesnt take long, just wipe the walls down with a 120 grit paper. and wipe the dust off with your hand or old paint brush. if you sand , the finished wall, will feel like velvet. dont sand, and the finish wall will feel like sand.
Paint during the day in strong light.
Bare patches, drips, spatter, trapped brush fibers, and insects are easy to avoid when you can see what you're doing.
let me know how your project is going.
tell me about your project
for any home improvement questions. contact me via-email or comment.
next post will be Home Improvement 1-2-3 "wallpaper"
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