How to: painting

Painting is commonly said to be a very simple homebuilding project, but I have to disagree. From my experience painting a house demands a great amount of time and attention to detail. To save time, energy, and money make sure painting is done right the first time. I found it to be most productive to focus on one room at a time.  Before beginning to paint a room make sure that you have all the necessary tools to get the job done.

The first step to painting a room is preparing the surfaces for paint. Begin by sanding any flaws in the drywall and trim work. Also apply painters’ tape to any surface you do not wish to get paint on. Once all of the surfaces have been ridden of any and all flaws and the tape is down you are ready to prime and paint.

If you have already installed your flooring you may want lay a drop cloth down to protect your newly installed floors from any dripping primer and paint. First you will need to apply primer to the freshly sanded drywall. Allow the primer at least 24 hours to dry before applying the top coat(s).

The best technique to apply paint with a roller is to paint approximately 2 or 3-square-foot areas at a time. Roll the paint on using a zigzag pattern, such as a W. Fill in the W using horizontal or vertical strokes. Go to the next unpainted area, and repeat the zigzag technique. Finally, blend it into the previously finished area. The best technique to use when painting with a brush is to dip the brush gently into the paint and then wipe the brush against the inside of the paint can to remove excess paint. Depending on the quality and color of the paint that you use you may have to apply more then one coat.