House painting may be the most common DIY project for a homeowner. It only takes a few inexpensive tools to start the job and almost anyone can do it, right? Once you begin though, you may find there are several decisions you haven’t considered. If you want your paint job to look like the pros’, don’t overlook any of the following areas.
When it comes to residential painting, preparation is numero uno! Without good prep, the finished job won’t as good, or last as long as it should.
If you are painting inside your home, you will probably have holes to fill and cracks to caulk. Holes are typically filled with a spackling compound and sanded once dry, while cracks between the woodwork and wall are filled using flexible caulking. You don’t need to sand caulking, but you should let it dry before painting, otherwise, the paint may crack as the caulking dries underneath.
Another essential step is to dust the surface you are going to paint, particularly the corners. You don’t want to pull dust-bunnies with your brush. If you are using glossy paint, vacuuming is a must; floating particles in the room seem always to find a way to stick to shiny wet paint.
When painting outside the house, it is best to begin by washing and scrubbing the surface with a soft bristle brush. Use a bleach solution to remove any mildew or algae, and then rinse the house with fresh water and allow to dry thoroughly. You can wash it with either a hose or a power washer.
Next, if there’s peeling paint, it’s time for scraping and sanding. Any loose paint should be scraped off, and the edges sanded down for a smooth transition. The remaining paint and any bare wood should be scuffed with 120 grit sandpaper to ensure good adhesion.
Also, trim back your landscaping to allow a closer access to exterior walls and trim.
Most experienced painters recommend that you always prime. But most homeowners try to get out of it because of time constrictions or cost. We get it; priming can feel like a wasted effort and interfere with the instant gratification of seeing your favorite color on the wall.
Self-priming paint seems to be the easy solution to this dilemma, but unless your surface is clean and/or you are matching a previous coat color and finish, you’ll end up applying the same amount of coats. The difference is that primer is cheaper than paint and in some cases works better on its own.
If you have any of the following conditions, you will be better off applying that prime coat:
* You are painting bare wood or new drywall
The bare facing paper in drywall is highly porous, so is the compound covering the seams. Bare wood is even more porous and always requires priming unless that you are using stain.
* Your previous coat is glossy
Glossy base coats don’t hold paint well. A light sanding and two coats of primer will help the color coat stick. In some cases, you can even skip the sanding step with primer.
* You are going from a dark color to a light color
Don’t waste money applying layers and layers of expensive light-colored paint over darker colors. Two layers of white primer should give you a nice, clean canvas.
* When in doubt… prime it!
If you have to ask the question in the first place, your surface probably needs to be primed. You can’t go wrong with priming, and the even white surface often helps enhance the pigments of your paint.
There are several good brands of paint out there, but our favorite brands are Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams.
Between these two brands, you can find every product you need to ensure a great job. And if you are looking for a store recommendation, Vermont Paint Company is the one. They are a 3 generation family-owned business that offers not only great service but also expert advice.
Almost all interior paints these days are latex. They are more environmentally friendly and do not require harsh chemicals for clean up.
For ceilings, we recommend latex flat finish to help hide any imperfections. Flat paint is not very washable, but as long as you don’t have kids throwing spaghetti sauce around, your ceiling will probably never get dirty. White is the color most people go with, but our designer recommends a 50/50 mix of white and the color you are using on your walls. With this formula, you will achieve the open space feeling with a more upscale look.
Woodwork usually has a latex semi-gloss or satin finish. They are very washable. High gloss was more popular in earlier days, and although some people think it’s too shiny, it’s our favorite if you are trying to make a statement.
For walls, you can choose between flat, eggshell or satin finish. Flat is not washable, but it does hide a multitude of sins on the surface as well as the application. Satin finish is very washable, but it can be too shiny for residential walls. Our designer recommends eggshell, which is the best of both worlds: Not too glossy but easy to clean.
If you are painting a bathroom, keep in mind that humidity is always a concern. Fortunately, all the popular brands make specific paints for areas like this, that not only can stand to daily steamy showers but are also mildew resistant. In the past, glossier paints where recommended, for durability and maintenance, but now Benjamin Moore has a matte product that offers the same benefits. It’s called Aura Bath & Spa.
If you are painting a complete room, you should start with the ceiling to avoid splattering paint onto newly painted walls. Then, the fastest approach is to move to the woodwork. It is easier to cut the walls into the trim that the other way around. Let the paint dry completely between coats and before moving to the next step.
And never underestimate the power of a drop cloth! No matter how careful and meticulous you are, paint drops always find their way to the floor or even worse, carpet and furniture.
Canvas drop cloths are the most expensive, but they can be washed and used over and over. They also perform the best absorbing paint drips and staying (mostly) in place.
For small jobs, paper drop cloths are a good inexpensive option. They are absorbent, and when you are done, you can just throw them away. We don’t recommend these for large jobs because they rip easily.
Plastic drop cloths should only be used to protect furniture or lawns and landscaping when painting outside. They are not absorbent so spills can run and if you step on spilled paint, you are sure to leave a trail.
If the outside of your home already has painted wood siding or trim, we suggest repainting with a 100% acrylic latex paint. Even if you are painting over old oil paint, good prep will ensure that the latex paint will adhere well.
If you plan on staining the siding, you should use a transparent or semi-transparent stain. Solid stains are the equivalent of flat paints, and will peel – precisely what you do not want from a stain!
If you are building a new home, have your builder install the siding “rough side out.” The coating adheres better to the rough-sawn side, extending the life of the paint or stain coat.
Don’t like the color of your vinyl or aluminum siding? No problem; both of those materials are very paintable because as opposed to wood, moisture doesn’t come through them and push the paint off. Just wash the surface and let it dry completely before applying a 100% acrylic latex paint.
MEET SPARKLES
If you are feeling dirty, it’s time you meet our sister company Sparkles.
For a home that is shiny and bright, call Sparkles ’cause they do it right.
