Many homeowners possess standard painting preparation. They understand that it is necessary to utilize drop cloths, painters tape and stir paint thoroughly. However did you understand that a golf ball can assist preserve paint quality, or that microwaving paint tape can make it more workable?
With a lot of DIY painting jobs, understanding a couple of additional painting techniques can result in the most rewarding results. Saving paint effectively and utilizing the right tools can make sure that you avoid acnes and cover surface areas uniformly.
These 9 Do It Yourself painting ideas can help you enhance the quality of your work and conserve money and time in the process, whether you're preparing to offer, changing your decor or doing some regular home maintenance.
1. Don't let your paint dry
A half-empty can of paint will dry out. Drop golf balls into the paint can to fill the air space, or location plastic wrap exterior painting tips under the cover, seal it firmly and store the paint upside down.
2. Use the best guide
If you're painting new drywall, utilize a water-based guide to hide flaws and offer an even base before using color. If you're painting paneling, water-damaged or smoke-saturated walls, go with an oil-based primer.
3. Prevent lap marks
To avoid stripes brought on by rolling over paint that's currently starting to dry, keep a wet edge by painting the full height of the wall and after that moving over slightly so you can overlap the last stroke with the next.
4. Stir paint with a customized stirrer
Before you stir paint, drill holes in the stirrer to assist blend the paint more thoroughly. The holes help the paint circulation through the stirrer, aerating it like a whisk and mixing the paint uniformly.
5. Include texture, if you want
If you want more texture on your wall, choose a roller with a longer, 3/4" nap, which holds more paint. The nap is the fabric material covering the roller, and longer naps create more stippling on your wall because of the method their fibers disperse the paint. Utilize a shorter-nap roller-- in between 1/4" and 1/2" nap-- for the best surface.
6. Don't wash your brushes or rollers
If you're utilizing latex paint, there's no factor to clean your brushes or rollers if you do not complete your job in one day. Because cold temperature levels keep latex paint from drying rapidly, you can simply wrap your rollers or brushes in plastic bags or tin foil and put them in the fridge. (Make certain to let them totally warm back up prior to using them.).
7. Handle issue tape.
If you're using older tape, often it can be difficult to peel its roll without tearing or sticking. If your painter's tape continues to peel, microwave the entire roll for 10 seconds.
8. Identify the type of paint on existing walls.
Unsure if a wall's existing paint is oil or latex? Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and rub it in a little area throughout the wall. If the cotton ball has paint residue, the paint is latex. No paint on the cotton ball? You'll be painting over an oil-based paint and will wish to utilize an oil-based primer before painting.
9. Buy a paint pen.
Buy a paint pen that lets you load it with a smidgen of your new paint color for small touchups later. These pens keep the paint inside fresh for about a year when filled; just remember to shake them well before use to guarantee the paint comes out smoothly and uniformly.