Painting is ideal for refreshing a room without breaking the bank. Here's how to do it in order not to create disasters and prevent the paint from flaking.
This guide will help you paint ceilings, walls, and woodwork.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Paint a Room
Step 1. Get the tools you need in advance (see below)
It's not always easy to run to the store while you're covered in paint from head to toe!
Step 2. Remove the objects that you can move and cover the furniture that you cannot move
If you only need to paint a part of the room, you will have to remove the elements that are in the "danger zone". As the paint will splash on the floor or furniture, especially if you paint too aggressively, cover the horizontal and vertical areas for at least two meters.
Step 3. Take the opportunity to plug holes in the walls, such as those caused by nails, and to erase the stains
You can fill larger holes with polyurethane foam, while smaller ones can be covered with plaster or wood putty. Sand the wall to remove bumps.
Step 4. Remove any items you don't want painting to finish on:
handles, electrical sockets, switches, fire alarms, doorbells, etc. You should take them off and not mask them for a better final result. In any case, cover the objects that cannot be removed, those that do not interest you that much and those that, once you have reinstalled them in the same place, will become unstable. Remember that it is not very aesthetic to leave paint splatters on these items.
Step 5. Dust the room, or bumps will form on the walls after applying the paint
Step 6. Carefully consider what you will paint
If you want certain colors to be identical to each other, you will need to paint at the same time. Paint can fade over time, especially when exposed to sunlight.
Step 7. If there is mold, remove it with a mix of 50% water and 50% bleach, then rinse the affected area with tap water
Some types of mold can be very dangerous. Use a filter mask if recommended. Make sure you keep the room dry to prevent mold from appearing in the future. Some primers and paints have been developed for this purpose and certain products also serve to remove stains.
Step 8. Prepare the surfaces to be painted:
they must be completely dry, free of dust and cobwebs. By wiping the wall with a sponge, no residue should stick. If the existing paint is chipped, you will have to scrape it with a metal brush or a special tool, otherwise the new paint will do the same.
Step 9. If the walls have grease, the paint will be hampered
Remove it with your kitchen cleaner or a mild acid. Trisodium phosphate is common in cleaning products and is effective in removing dirt, grease and oil from walls.
Step 10. Read the label on the paint can before you begin so you know when it will dry
Do it before you begin: the paint drops could cover the writing. Also, better inform yourself immediately about waiting to get organized.
Step 11. Spread masking tape over the ends of the areas that will not be painted:
kitchen furniture, windows, wooden items, floor, ceiling, etc.
- For accurate application, do not use strips longer than 60 cm. Make sure the tape is straight - remember that the paint will fall there. A small mistake (especially if it's the wrong color on the wrong surface) will be quite noticeable in the end.
- Smooth the surface of the paper tape to prevent bubbles from forming, which could cause a few drops of paint to fall.
- Better to use masking tape than to pay special attention. It is almost impossible to avoid making mistakes, and then it will be difficult to clean up, especially when the paint is still fresh.
- To prevent the paint from falling under the tape, you can seal it using a thin layer of clear paint or the same color as the underlying surface. Then, pass the paint of your choice for the wall over this sealing layer, so you will understand where to remove the masking tape.
- Some surfaces (such as soft plaster or old plasterboard) will be damaged by masking tape. You will need to remove the streaks or arrange a newspaper or other flat, non-sticky object in the right place. In paint shops, plastic palettes are sold for this step. If a surface is very rough, you will need to apply the paint on the corners with a good brush. However, in these areas it is difficult to notice small errors, especially in the upper and lower areas.
Step 12. Make sure the risk areas are all fully covered
It is important to take this step seriously, otherwise it will be difficult to clean up. Secure the cover to the floor with duct tape. Paper is best for rugs.
Step 13. Avoid dragging the paint to other rooms
Take off your shoes before leaving the room or cover the floor of the other rooms.
Step 14. Apply the primer:
this step is mandatory if you are painting a surface such as plasterboard, unpainted wood or metal, a surface on which you have passed wood putty, ink, pastels, oil paint or a surface marked with stains of mold. It will seal the surface and create a layer to allow the paint to take better. Water-based paints will not take root on a primer-free layer tinted with oil-based paint. Opt for a white primer if you will be covering a dark color with a light one, but choose a colored primer if you will be painting a light wall dark. You probably won't need it if you are repainting or if the previous paint is the same type or not too old. However, you should use a primer if the current paint is very bright, as the new paint will not adhere to a glossy finish wall. Consider a bonding primer for high-gloss walls. In short, when in doubt, use the primer! Some specialty paints already contain primer, which may save you some time, but this depends on the number of coats needed.
Step 15. Change the masking tape if necessary
Step 16. Paint
Make the necessary passes so that the final result is optimal. High quality paints require only a few passes to produce a uniform color.
Step 17. Remove the masking tape when done
Pull it from the wall while maintaining a 90º angle. You may need to reapply if you want to do a second coat, otherwise the paint may stain the protected surface. You can wait until the paint has dried before removing the masking tape (this will not be necessary if you are careful); do not wait more than 24-48 hours: if the paint is completely dry, it will be hard for it to peel off, and may pull the paint off the wall.
Step 18. If you run out of paint under the tape, you can take a very small paintbrush (like the ones they sell in art stores) and carefully touch up the lines
The result will not be as good, but the errors will be less noticeable.
Step 19. If you have accidentally stained areas despite using masking tape, touch up with a brush and paint of the right color, avoiding staining other areas
Step 20. Wait until the paint has dried before removing the cover
Step 21. When the last coat has completely dried, you can put the items you removed at the beginning back in their place
Or, you could replace them with elements of the same color as the new paint, especially if they don't match. It is relatively inexpensive to do this and installation is easy.
Step 22. Finished
Method 2 of 2: The Primer and the Paint
Step 1. The primer should be applied twice, while the paint should be passed as many times as necessary to reproduce the desired color
Step 2. Thoroughly mix both the primer and the paint
Shake them quickly for 2-3 minutes before opening the jar or use a paint shaker after opening.
Step 3. Open the jar and start painting
Work from top to bottom (do the ceiling first, then the walls, and finally the bottom). In this way, you will be able to clean the drops of paint that ran downwards. If you have a roller, spread the paint over the larger area first and move to the ends later. Thus, you will minimize the area over which you will have to brush, which is slower.
Step 4. To spread the paint with a roller:
- Dip it into the tray containing the paint until it is almost full (unless you have a relatively easier area to do).
- Run it over the tray to cover all sides of the paint, but avoid it getting on the handle.
- Paint without hesitation. Slowly slide it by turning the handle.
- Spread the paint. Don't do it too fast, or the centrifugal force will make it squirt.
- Orient the handle to avoid conflicts with nearby surfaces.
- Pressing hard as you pass it on the wall will release any trapped paint, which is helpful towards the end of the job. Avoid letting it dry too much, or the coverage will be poor.
- Don't worry about the corners - you'll take care of them with a brush. However, try to get as close as possible to save time.
- For a uniform pass, after having covered a certain area (say about two meters) with the paint, return to it following a movement that goes up and down: each pass should cover 50% of the freshly painted surface.
- For more details, see the article How to Use a Painter's Roller.
Step 5. To spread the paint with a brush:
- Dip the brush into the paint. You can use the paint left in the roller tray or take some from the jar, put it in a container and paint while the rest of the paint remains sealed in the jar. Do not immerse the brush more than 2.5 cm: going further, you will waste the paint and then it will be more difficult to clean it.
- Shake the brush and release any excess paint on the rim of the container to prevent any dripping.
- Spread the paint on the surface without hesitation and slowly spin the brush, again to prevent it from dripping.
- Work from top to bottom.
- It is best to avoid holding the brush completely vertically, otherwise the paint will drip. This is unavoidable when painting a ceiling, so avoid dipping the brush too much.
Step 6. Immediately clean any surfaces soiled by paint splashes
Use a wet sponge. Paint thinner removes oil-based paints. Water removes latex-based paints. Don't let the splashes dry out.
Step 7. Before moving on to the next area, check the one you just painted and correct any drips with the roller or brush
Once dry, the drips will generate bumps that are difficult to remove.
Completely finish one wall before moving on to the next. When the paint has dried, the color will be darker. If you have to touch it up because you haven't finished it completely, the dry areas (or the wet ones, it depends on the color) will look different and you will need to do an extra touch-up job
Step 8. When finished painting, don't leave tools lying around
They will dry out and become useless. Clean them up immediately. If you used a water-based paint, wash them with water, squeeze them and whisk them. Repeat until the water runs clean. Let them dry before using them again. Thorough cleaning and drying will prevent old colors or water from mixing with new paint, ruining the color or appearance of the surface. If you paint in the same color the next day, you can store them in a plastic bag, leave them in the freezer overnight and thaw them when you need them. If you can't clean them right away, at least soak them in water until you can take care of them (assuming you use a water-based paint). If you were using an oil based one, the water won't help you, you'll have to opt for paint thinner in order to clean your tools and hands. There are other chemicals that act like the diluent, but in general they are more difficult to use, produce noxious fumes, and are not good for the environment.
Advice
- If you find something in the paint (hair, a piece of wall, a cloud of dust), take it off right away! Don't think it will disappear, it will leave a horrible bump.
- Proceed calmly! Painting is not fun (unless you inhale too many fumes!), But a little preparation will make all the difference. Remember that these walls will surround you for a long time and your guests will notice imperfections. Be proud of your work!
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Color recommendations:
- Dark colors can make a room seem smaller, while light colors tend to open up the rooms.
- The ceilings are almost always painted white to make them appear taller.
- If you need inspiration, choose the color of the room thinking about your favorite object: a painting, a jewel, a plate or a flower.
- Don't be afraid to dare!
- To save time and save your back when cleaning walls, use a lint broom (buy a new one) and a lint free cleaner.
- Keep pets and children away.
- Many are unaware of the problem of cracks between the walls and the ceiling. Walls can move: Cracks can be filled with an acrylic or silicone sealant that you can paint. Many people make the mistake of filling these holes with concrete or plaster, but these materials cannot expand and crack after a few years. This step is very important and easy to put into practice.
- If the brush leaves residue of a different color on the wall, change it.
- If you have specific questions, please contact the paint shop.
Warnings
- Dust collected during cleaning and spray paint particles can cause nearby fire alarms to sound. Cover the detectors if necessary and remember to uncover them after finishing the job.
- Do not paint the fire alarms. You risk making them break.
- Oil-based paint is flammable and should be stored in a fireproof cabinet.
- Be careful where you leave the paint can and avoid spilling it, or it will be difficult to clean up.
- If you buy several cans of paint of the same color, it can be tempting to mix them up. Due to the inaccuracy of the dyeing process, the colors may be slightly different. This is not a problem if you are going to pass a coat of color on a slightly different tone, but it could become so if you do several coats of color side by side.
- Do not use lead paint - it is toxic and illegal in many countries.
- If you really have to use lead paint, don't heat it. Toxic fumes will cause poisoning.
- Read the label on the paint can, where you will find information on its safety and use. Some chemicals are toxic, so you will need to avoid contact.
- The stepladder must be placed on a stable surface, so you can move with confidence.
- Don't leave open paint cans and tools lying around - someone could trip over, especially if you're not there to warn.
- Turn off the power when you change outlets or switches. Don't put anything (such as your hand, screwdriver, or paint brush) into the energized electrical box.
- If you use a colored primer, use it wherever you want to achieve the same color. Using the same paint over several coats of colored primer will generate different results, which may not be fixed by adding just one more coat of paint.
- Mixing bleach-containing detergents with other types of detergents can produce chlorine gas, which is very toxic. Read the bottles for safety warnings or avoid making unlikely mixes.
- If you are scraping old paint, you can produce lead paint dust or splinters, which are toxic, especially to children. Make sure your kids don't expose themselves to these substances (they might ingest them) to prevent neurological damage. But also protect yourself (put on the right dust mask). Perhaps, professionally have the paint removed when the children are not home. Local laws may also regulate what to do with the surface and how to get rid of contaminated paint.
- Remove the masking tape after you finish painting. The longer you wait, the harder it will be. Duct tape can dry out, making it almost impossible to remove.
- Make sure you work in a well-ventilated room. If you use a fan, be careful not to blow dust on the wet paint.
