Painting Interior Walls – A Guide on Materials, Tools and Preparation

Painting interior walls is one of the easiest ways to add new life to a bland space and can be accomplished by even the most inexperienced person with advice in this article, written by  a skilled professional. Once you implement this information and in effect build up a new confidence, you will be able to tackle more advanced painting projects around the house. Now let’s get you on your way to creating more enjoyable spaces and possibly adding a little equity to your home in the process.

Step 1: Preparation, the key to a successful paint job is to take the correct steps when preparing the job. Preparation for this article, has two parts, the first part is wall prep. The walls you are going to paint may have nail holes or imperfections that need to be filled before you paint. The proper way to fill them, if they are smaller is with water putty, by simply forcing a little bit of the putty in the hole and breaking it off flush with the surface. For larger depressions, use a drywall compound or spackle, which may require a second application to fully fill the indentation and make the repair/”patch”  flush with the wall.

Once the drywall compound/spackle has had sufficient time to dry, you will need to lightly sand the surface of the repair to smooth out any ridges that may have been caused while “coating” the patch. Once you have the surface sanded smooth,  take a wet sponge or cloth and, by lightly washing/rubbing,  blend the outside edge of the drywall compound/spackle back into the wall.  For a smaller repair,  you can wash away the excess drywall compound, leaving only the compound/spackle only in the area where the indent was filled. For a larger hole, after filling, sanding and using a wet sponge to blend the outside edge of the compound back into the wall, it may be necessary to texture the area in order to give the smooth patch the appearance of the existing wall.

There are many different kinds of textures, a smooth wall -which is really a “non-texture,” will only need to be sanded and the outside edges sponged before painting over it. Hand texture which is easily reproduced by applying drywall compound with a drywall knife and troweling the compound on the patched area to simulate the existing wall texture. A rolled on texture is applied by rolling on some thinned down drywall compound or dry mix that water is added to  -the thickness of the compound or dry mix will determine the heaviness of the texture. Some variations of roll on textures have a rough sand granule appearance and both dry mix types can be purchased at most local hardware stores, large hardware depots or at local paint stores, where you will also be able to find spray cans of orange peel or knock down texture.  Always make sure to shake the can for a couple of minutes, then test out the spray pattern on a piece of cardboard or scrap sheet of drywall before trying to simulate it on the wall. Orange peel is just sprayed on and left to dry, you will need to experiment so you can adjust the spray nozzle to simulate the texture as close as possible to the size/pattern of the existing wall.

Knock down texture is basically a orange peel that is sprayed on and allowed to “set-up” for a minute or two then gently “knocked down” by running a 6″ drywall knife over it, “knocking down” the surface of the texture. Although knock down is a flattened version of orange peel, I suggest you do not use a spray can of orange peel, the knock down comes in its own spray can and the results are much better, again experiment before spraying it on the wall.  However, If ever you apply any of the textures to the wall and are not satisfied with the results, wash the texture off immediately before it dries, then allow the wall to dry and try it again. Once you have the texture applied to your liking and you have allowed it to dry, you may want to paint the patches a couple of time before painting the entire wall, especially for walls where the paint to be applied will have some sheen.  Multiple coats on these areas will make them blend in, unnoticeable, with the rest of the wall. You will know if the patches need more coats of paint, because the patch/texture will have absorbed the paint causing the spot to look duller than the rest of the existing wall.

The second part of preparation is surface prep, it addresses covering the surfaces you do not want to get any paint on. A little plastic sheeting will go along way to keeping paint off of floors, window coverings, handrails, cabinets, counter tops, etc… And, if you are not confident with your ability to paint a straight line next to door casing, baseboards, cabinets or hardware protect these surfaces using masking tape. There are two basic types of masking tape white/yellow and blue. The white tape sticks to surfaces better but, can pull off finishes on cabinets or stained woodwork. Blue tape usually will not pull off finishes but, does not stick as well, this will probably be the tape to use for most applications. Always wipe down or dust the surface you will be masking to assure the best tape adhesion possible. If you use blue tape you may need to re-rub down the tape before painting next to it, only mask off areas with blue tape that you will be painting for a given day. With either tapes, do not assume the are a force field that paint will not penetrate, use them as a reference and dry brush the paint next to the edge of the tape and avoid soaking the edge of the tape with a lot of paint, this will cause the paint to “bleed” through giving you an undesired look.  If you will need to apply multiple coats of paint, on the first coat, paint as close to the tape as you can, not really getting paint on the tape. With the second coat or a one coat application, you can use the tape more of like a paint barrier and get a little more paint on the tape if you immediately remove each section of tape after painting the section, this will keep the paint from sitting on the tape and “bleeding” behind it. Also, if you get a lot of paint on the tape it is not good to let the paint dry on the tape because some paints (especially the glossier paints) will peel if allowed to dried, with the tape when it is pulled off. White tape should not be left on for longer than a couple of days and I suggest not leaving it on more than a day in areas that receive long periods of direct sunlight. Blue tape can be left on for days, if it will stay on, there again it does not stick as well and may need rubbed down again immediately before painting up next to it.

Step 2: Materials and their application, every paint manufacturers paint will vary. If you are freshening up old walls and painting back to the existing color, the product doesn’t have to be high end or have good coverage.  If you need to paint  a dark color over light color or light color over dark, you may want to consider purchasing a top quality paint to avoid multiple coats. I suggest Valspar, Pittsburgh or Benjamin Moore top of the line wall paint. These brands work well for straight out of the bucket use and are application friendly.  Sherwin Williams is not my first choice because the coverage is poor and you will have to apply multiple coats but, it does apply, fluently. If you find a  product does not apply well, maybe it is to heavy and/or sagging on the wall, you may need to thin the paint with a little water, this will reduce the coverage but make the paint flow better and lay down nicer on the surface. I do recommend latex paints for all applications, these days a good high end latex is as good as oil paint and your tools clean up much easier, it will also be less harsh on the respiratory system. The only situation I recommend oil paint, is as a primer/stain blocker over stains that  “bleed” through the paint. You can get a stain blocking oil primer in a convenient spray can and spot prime any trouble areas before painting and in the case you need to prime all of the wall due to smoke or water damage, I recommend getting it in gallons and rolling it on where the stains are present. Don’t forget proper ventilation and/or a respirator when using the oil based primers!

Proper brush technique: When “cutting in” with a paint brush you should dip the brush in paint and tap the sides of the bucket on each side of the brush, leaving a good amount on the brush so you are able to minimize the times you will need to dip/load the brush. Next, take the brush and make a one foot to two foot line down the wall about an inch or two away from the trim or surface you are going to paint up next to, this is much like taking a knife full of butter and spreading it across an entire slice of bread. After, spreading the paint over the section, go back and even the paint out evenly across the section and cut up next to the trim with the brush. You want to paint up next to the trim or surfaced to be cut-in with the paint brush after you have released most of the paint on the wall,  it is easier to cut in with the tips of the brush exposed and not loaded with a lot of paint.

Proper rolling technique: When rolling paint on the wall, get the roller skin evenly loaded with paint and make a V,N or M pattern on the wall, this is to spread the paint across the entire section you will be rolling, then roll back across the section and even out the paint. To properly “lay off” each section,  make a final pass of the section applying light pressure to the roller frame arm end of the roller skin and bringing the nap mark (mark created on the pressure applied side of roller skin) across from the beginning of the section to the end of the section, and just repeat all the way down the wall.The V,N or M pattern, will be determine by how far the paint will spread, a V is for less spreading paint and M is for farther spreading paints. Do not  “dry roll”, which means trying to roll to much of a section at once with very little paint on the roller. Just as important, do not apply to much, if you find you are applying to much, increase the size of the section you are painting i.e. from a V pattern to an N or a N pattern to a M.

* TIP* -It can be easier to roll first and then you will know exactly what you have to go back and cut-in with the brush. If you will need to put a ladder on the wall, then cut-in first and roll after you use the ladder to prevent marking the finish painted wall with the ladder. If you are using darker paints colors with a lot of tint/colorant, It will look better if you cut-in first and roll up as close as possible to cover up as much of the brushed/cut-in mark.This will keep the shadowing affect that shows between the cut-in and roller, down to a minimal and thus less noticeable.

Step 3: Tools, there is a wide variety of brushes and rollers to choose from, it is critical to select quality tools and maintain them. We will discuss brushes first, I use and recommend only Purdy brand brushes, they will give you the best results in terms of coverage and make the project go much easier and quicker. A Purdy brush is a little more expensive but if kept clean promptly after each use and stored properly, it will last for years and many projects. Most any other brushes out there, especially the cheap ones, are made of far inferior hair and I liken them to using a hand (or whisk) broom to paint with. Using lower quality tools will only frustrate you and lead you to assume that you are incapable of painting. You are capable! and the proper tools, materials, and advise are all you need. If your painting project will be on going for a couple of days, you can wet the brush with paint, wrap the brush up in a plastic sandwich bag and tape the plastic bag to the handle above the metal ferrule. Sealing it up will keep it from drying out, storing it flat will maintain the shape and permit you to use it for a couple of days without cleaning it. Because, after a couple of days or if it has had extended use on a hot day, it will loose its shape and start to collect a lot of dried paint on the hair, you should clean it with warm water and a wire brush. Once you have ran some water through the brush hair, the wire brush will then be used to remove the dried paint from the hair. Always run the wire brush down the entire length of the hair and never across it, to prevent crimping and damaging the hair. After you get the brush clean, spin it between your two hands, shedding as much water as possible from it. Then, using the wire brush again, comb the hair, shape/style the hair with your hands and lay it flat to dry. Once dry, if you will not be using the paint brush again soon, protect it by storing it in the paper shuck/cover that it came in and it will be like new the next time you use it.

The correct roller to use depends on the texture of the wall. On smooth walls you will need a 1/2″ nap and on textured surfaces it will be more like a 3/4″ – 1″ nap depending on how rough the texture is. I always recommend a lamb skin, it will lay the paint off the best and provide maximum coverage. A roller pole is also great for saving your back, shoulder and arms from repetitious bending over and extension. If you will be using the roller for a couple of days, the same rule applies as with the brush, seal it in plastic completely to preserve it for the next day. Do not leave the roller submersed in paint or water over night, this will cause premature failure, by releasing the skin from the hardboard backing it is attached to. If you will be rolling a rough texture, like a stucco, make sure to purchase a roller frame (arm) that is sturdy and will hold up to constant applied pressure.

*Final tip* -Always have the right height ladder for the job, stretching to reach a wall is dangerous and will fatigue the back, arms and shoulders. Select a ladder rated for the amount of weight you will be using on it. If you don’t feel confident on a ladder it’s probably not safe to be on it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shelby_Dennard

The Basics of House Painting

What is the Best Thing to Do With Master Bedroom Paint Colours in Terms of Resale Value?

“Ah, the master bedroom.” When selling a house it is always a favourite of the selling agent to talk about the master bedroom paint colors. It usually closes the deals on selling property, not only in this day and age but for many years now. It’s the one bedroom that deserves its name as there is always something in or next to the room such on suite bathrooms or walk in wardrobes that make the master bedroom what it is. The bedroom colors will of course be one of the first things that strikes ones eye when purchasing a home. Buyers will always take special care to notice things that they cannot change easily, mostly fittings and of course if they are not planning on spending money on the place they will pick up on the bedroom paint colors.

If you are looking at selling up and want to give the place a once over to spruce it up then paying attention to what you choose for the master bedroom paint colors is very important. Fortunately being a decent sized room you are not cornered into using one type shade of the bedroom colors palette. A neutral option is always a good idea as of course you cannot assume to know your buyer and everyone like their tea differently. So in that respect staying with the friendly but subtle bedroom paint colors will suffice, such as: light creams, mild beige and snow white – which has a hint of blue in it. Light grey and light blue grey tones are also good, provided of course then that it fits with the area meaning; if you are living in a warm part of the country or if the room gets a lot of sun and then of course being clever and using bright white bedding and decor to compliment it.

Once you have decided what the bedroom paint is going to be, you can then look at the way the room is set out. If it’s large enough, you can do paint effects in a very stylish neutral way. Most paint brands have a texture range or an effects range that you can get for living areas and perhaps one or two different shades for the bedroom paint colors and you can then create trendy mottled finishes on the walls which will give the room a bit of character and life and shall give dimension to the bedroom colors combination. Something with character can push up the resale value ever so slightly depending on your area and the market at the time.

A lot of the time interior designers and decor experts have so much fun when it comes to master bedroom paint colors. They often do articles and photo shoots on what’s in and what’s trendy for that particular moment in time. It is a very good idea to do a little research and if possible visit your local interior designer just to get an opinion for what product works well and of course what they could suggest for you to do before you put your house on the market. Keep it simple and neat and you’ll impress just about anyone who comes to view your home on show day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Violin_Nikolov

Bedroom Painting

You’re not alone – many Louisville homeowners faced with redecorating their bedroom are afraid to get rid of that bland color that came with the house and go with something more colorful. What holds you back? Are you afraid the color will be too strong? Not match your furniture? Or you’ll become tired of it and have to start over again?

Louisville Painting is not that difficult and, guess what – it can be easily changed if you don’t like it! So stop hesitating and roll up your sleeves – if you don’t you will be missing out on one of the basic elements of design that can change the entire look of your room for under $50. Your tired furniture can become new again and a mismatched room can have designer flare! So, how do you choose the right color?

If you are hesitant about putting too much color on your bedroom walls, go with a tinted neutral. A tinted neutral such as beige or gray will add some color to the bedroom but will not date the room or be a bold color that you might easily tire of.

However, when you go to your local home improvement store you will be faced with a sea of color swatches – hundreds of versions of basic beige and gray to choose from. So before you go, consider these steps to choosing the right color for you.

If you like the feel of a warm and cozy bedroom – think of fireplaces, brown leather and sunsets – then you’ll want to start with a beige tone.

Now, consider your bedroom furniture, bedding and accessories. What colors do you see? If you have a lot of black or navy you may wish to choose a beige with orange or pink undertones to keep the look warm. If you have browns or reds in your furniture, select a cooler beige with ashy tones to avoid ‘overheating’ your room.

If you prefer a cooler, airy look – chrome, glass and shades of icy blue – then select gray tones. Some stores will have a ‘true gray’ color swatch which you can use to compare with their designer selections. On comparison you will notice that each gray has undertones. Some will have blue or lavender tones, others may have green or even a hint of pink.

Using the same guide as stated above, identify the main colors of furniture and accessories in the bedroom. Use green or pink toned grays with cool toned furnishings to avoid it from feeling like an ice box. Use blue or lavender undertones in rooms with warmer colored furnishings.

If you are really torn between beige or gray, than the easiest color to work with is green. Keeping it in a muted tone will make it very easy to live with, and will work with most color palates.

Painting your bedroom with color can transform it from dull to divine. Sometimes you don’t even need to do another thing to get a whole new look in your room. Your bedroom is your sanctuary and you work hard for it – don’t you deserve some color at the end of the day?

House Painting and Wallpaper

Louisville house painting and wallpaper are huge items for Louisville home owners. The best way to remove wallpaper is through the following 2 step method. There are plenty of suggested methods, including scoring the wall with a tool, and using a gel type solution to remove the wall paper. While these do work, the scoring tool will leave holes in your drywall, which will then require patchwork to fill in. The best way to remove wallpaper is by using the following 2 tools: a steamer and vinegar. This will get you started with your house painting and wallpaper.

Wallpaper is applied to the wall by using an adhesive, and the adhesive glues the paper to the wall. This is where the steamer will come is to use. You can get a steamer to rent from any of the local hardware stores, and even the grocery stores. I would rent if for the entire weekend, or at least 2 or 3 days to ensure you have it long enough.

To use the steamer, just start at the top of the wall where the wallpaper is. Apply the steamer directly to the wallpaper and hold there for about 5-10 seconds. The duration the steamer is on the wallpaper will depend on how much adhesive were uses initially. It can also depend on how old the wallpaper is, as well as if there are 2 layers of wallpaper to go through. Through trial and error, you will be able to find the right amount of time the steamer needs to be there.

What the steamer is actually doing is putting the hot steam through the wallpaper into the adhesive. When this hot steam mixes with the adhesive, it will begin to break up, or soften the glue, and allow the paper to be peeled from the wall. But, in this process, what happens is the glue is left behind on the walls. You really do not want to put the steamer directly on the wall, as you will start to peel the paint, or even bubble the paint up. This is where the vinegar comes into use.

To use the vinegar, mix the vinegar with water at a ration of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts of water. Get a bucket of warm water and a rag or sponge. Spray the vinegar and water mixture onto the walls, and wait a couple of minutes. This vinegar mixture will soak into the glue, and make it wet again, and easy for removal. Use the rag in the warm water to wipe off the glue. Continue like this until all of the glue is removed. You will need to change out the buckets of water periodically. Once you are done, and the walls are dry, double check the work. There are likely spots which will need to be washed again.

This 2 part method has proven to be the best method for removing wallpaper for me. This method will likely be the least expensive as well, as the only real cost is for the steamer. If you try one of the other methods, and you mess up your drywall, you will need to fix, or even replace this drywall. You do not want any part of this, as this will make much more work. Try the steamer and the vinegar mixture, and you will agree it is the best method getting started with house painting and wallpaper.

3 Tips To Selecting Paint

Moving into a new house can be quite an experience. You are totally in a new zone, surrounded by new ceilings and floors near stairs in an entire new layout. You want your home to look the best, so it’s important to pick out the right kind of paint. Of course, in a single article, we can’t show you absolutely everything that you need to know about moving into your new house, but we are going to try to give you some good tips on picking out a new house quality house paint.

1. Match it. By new house paint is arty difficult as it is in, and you definitely don’t want to paint your house a second time. Make sure whatever kind of house paint that you buy matches up with your existing paint. Maybe take a picture or find out exactly what kind of paint you have in your house right now so that when you go to the hardware store, you can show them exactly what you need.

2. Buy high-quality paint. Take a look around at the different types of paint that are available for you to buy in the store. You will quickly notice that paint varies in quality drastically and you generally get way you pay for. Granted, you have to make sure that you’re not getting ripped off and you really are getting a good deal, but if you are serious about making money on your house, try to buy the best type of paint that you can afford.

3. Ask a professional Louisville Painter. It’s okay if you don’t know everything about home remodeling. Some people do it for a living. Builders, contractors, subcontractors and other home decorators might be able to give you some words of wisdom and help that you might not be able to get otherwise. Don’t be afraid to ask. Just ask them for a little help and you might be able to save yourself some time and headaches.

Of course, there’s a lot more to say about house paint. We can’t have put everything in one article. Visit our site to learn all about house paint today.

Choose Paint Color – How to Choose an Interior Paint Color

Choosing a color for an interior room can be a little overwhelming. When you go to your local Louisville hardware or paint store you will see that there are many colors to choose from. In some cases there can be too many colors to choose from so you need to narrow it down and choose a color that works for your room.

First you need to get a basic idea of what color you want. Many rooms are now using color to make the room look better and whether you go with a bold color or something more toned down you can be assured that it will look better than white.

You want a color that goes with the furniture and decor that you have in the room. You want to make a list of the colors that you have in your pictures and accent pillows. This can help you narrow down the choices that you have for your interior room.

Take a picture or pillow to the paint store and have them match the color you want. This can be the best way to get the color to match and the room will look natural. If you go with a bold color then you need to use white accents to frame it in and make it stand out.

Take some of the color cards and see if any colors match the colors of your accents pieces in the room. You may be looking for a in between color and the best way to find one is to use color cards. If the card is not exactly what you want then you can have them lighten or darken the color accordingly.

Why Paint Your House – Here Are Some Good Reasons

If you need any excuse to paint your Louisville house, don’t ask to yourself a reason why. The most important argument on why paint your house in that the colors influence people and have the power to provoke feelings in them in a secretly way. To choose the color of a room you need to take into consideration its size and what activity is going to be performed in it.

If it is for a child you may need a vibrant color or for resting you might consider a softer color to induce peace and calm.

Always keep in mind that…

The general, darker colors make rooms smaller and lighter give the feeling of spaciousness.

If the house is cold or not very sunny it may be better so use warm colors, because they increase the effect of sunlight and will give more of a sense of warmth.

The properties of color applied into walls can be extended to fabrics or furniture.

You can use color combination. Try using in the background a neutral color or white, the same range used for relief and calm.

The color is just the reflection of light on a given area. Keep in mind the lighting, to get a good look and feel.

1. Tan colors

They radiate a feeling relaxed and smooth. There is nothing aggressive, making them perfect for bedrooms, living rooms and halls.

To accentuate the effect of warmth they can be combined with upholstery and drapes in complimentary earth tones. If this is a bedroom, this tone is perfect for upholstered headboard of the bed. The furniture most suitable for this color are all varieties of honey-colored pine. Besides the brown helps eliminate fatigue and mental depression.

2. Red colors

Indicate distress. Transmit force and aggression. Very convenient for transit areas, spacious kitchens and even bathrooms.

The color red is a great personality, very intense. Incites aggression, and should therefore reduce their strength with timber doors and windows in white. For furniture, the wood combines perfectly: light, medium and dark. If you opt for the latter, the room should have plenty of natural light, getting a friendly place, but light.

3. Deep blue color

They can transmit calmness, serenity and calm. Are well suited to paint the walls of the bedrooms and studies, and invite to rest.

It is the coolest color and in its lightness makes lighter shades. In general, lowering the metabolic activity and get that relaxation becomes deeper. The rustic wooden furniture (pine, walnut, cherry, oak) are perfect. With white furniture gives a romantic atmosphere, very suitable for children’s rooms.

As you can see, you can paint your Kentucky house according to the mood you want to create in it.