The Basics of Painting

You’ve decided to paint a room in your home. You’re excited and a little nervous! Don’t worry! With the right tools, paint and techniques, this renovation task is doable, even for a novice. Before you begin, it’s important to learn the basics. Following is advice to help you create a perfect paint job.

 

Select the right tools: Quality tools will make your paint job easier and help ensure success. You’ll need:

• High-quality roller sleeve and handle;
  • a 3/8-inch sleeve for most finishes
  • a 1/4-inch sleeve for glossy finishes
  • a thicker, 1/2- or 3/4-inch sleeve for rougher, textured walls
• Paint tray
• Extension pole
• Stepladder
• Sandpaper
• Painter’s tape
• Drop cloths
• Tack cloth
• Paint brushes
• High quality paint such as Benjamin Moore’s Aura®, Regal® Select or ben® Interior (specifically designed to help DIY-ers with quick-fix drips and smooth touch-ups)

 

Prepare the surface: Preparation is critical to a successful paint job.

• Wash the walls using a sponge and warm water.
• For tough stains, use TSP
• Scrape chipping paint.
• Fill holes.
• Lightly sand patched areas, starting with a 120 or 150 grit and finishing with 180 to 220.
• Wipe with a tack cloth to remove dust.

 

Tape and protect: Don’t forget to protect those areas you’re not painting.

• Use painter’s tape to protect baseboards, moldings, door casings, light fixtures, window sills and switch plates.
• Move furniture out of the room or cover with plastic/canvas tarps.
• Protect the floor with a drop cloth.

 

Cut in: This refers to painting along the ceiling line, corners, windows, door, molding, outlets and switches.

• Begin about an inch away from the area you’re cutting in.
• Hold the brush horizontal with respect to the floor and ceiling,
• Paint a roughly 12-inch stripe on the wall.
• Use a downward stroke when painting at a corner and a sideways stroke when working along the ceiling, baseboard or trim.
• Turn your brush 90 degrees so that it angles into the wall and go back to the beginning of your stroke.
• Using long, even strokes, cut in a thinner line of paint that gets right up to the trim or wall corner.
• For drips, wrap a damp cloth around a spackling knife and run it along your paint line to remove excess paint.
• Cover four foot sections of ceiling line and corner. Then use a roller to fill in the wall space.
• Work quickly so the cut in portion does not dry before the section is complete.

 

Roll on the Paint: You’re ready to make headway!

• Pour paint into your tray.
• Load your roller by rolling along the raised roll-off area of the pan.
• Touch the paint, but do not immerse the roller sleeve.
• Roll each section of the wall from top down.
• Use long strokes in a W pattern.
• Overlap each row about 8 cm.
• Use light pressure.
• Paint manageable-sized areas to maintain a wet edge.

 

Dry and recoat: Be patient! Proper drying is crucial to a good finish.

• Check your paint can for recommended drying times.
• Allow paint to dry.
• Brush on a second coat.

 

Clean-up and storage: You’re almost done!

• Remove painter’s tape, drop cloths, furniture covers.
• Clean brushes and rollers.
• Hammer the lids onto the leftover paint.
• Mark cans with colour, date used and surface painted.
• Store paint in a cool dry area.

That’s it! You’ve successfully painted your walls. Sit back and enjoy the beauty you’ve created.