I may love to paint furniture but I despise painting walls! Here are a few tips I go by to make things easier:
Brushes:
-Invest in good brushes. It's totally worth it. I personally use Purdy and Wooster.
-A 2.5inch angled brush is great for cutting in
-Roller covers in 3/8 nap
-A mini sponge roller for narrow paths
If you need to take a break, wrap your brush and/or roller in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
My All Time Favorite Tip (from my dad):
To prevent spill over from occurring when you pour paint from a can, hammer 8-10 holes around half of the lid.
Now when you pour the paint, you can use your brush to push the paint down the holes. This will prevent paint from flooding over the side of the can.
This step=A lot less mess
I know they sell plastic pour spouts but that's one more thing to clean!
Order of Operations:
1. Ceiling
2. Molding, trim and baseboards
3. Cut in, possibly twice
4. Roll walls
5. Second coat on walls
6. If needed, touch up ceiling, trim, etc.
Primer
I always get a little depressed when I discover I have to use primer first. However, I love Behr's Premium Primer and Paint In One.
So when do you need to use primer??
-If you are painting a wall that is just drywall
-If you are painting a light color over a dark color
If you are not going to use a primer and paint in one, ask the paint consultant to tint your primer.
Painters Tape
I hate the stuff.
If you are doubting your cutting in skills at all, tape off the ceiling and molding!
I make myself have a steady hand and cut in without tape....only because I highly dislike taping off an entire room!
Just make sure you have a straight line and press the tape down firmly before you begin painting. This will help prevent bleed through.
Often times, I use painters tape to cover hardware but never to cover outlet covers. Always remove them . This is a good time to vacuum out the electrical box so you don't transfer dust onto you walls. I also run the covers through the dishwasher. If you want your electrical covers to match your wall paint, simply prime them and paint them same color.
Cleaning Brushes
I'm a freak about cleaning my brushes correctly, probably because I spend a lot of money on them.
-Wash brushes in warm soapy water.
-If needed soak
-Run water through the brush until the water runs clear
***Cleaning Tip***
Buy a mini stainless steel wire brush!!
They are less than a dollar at your local home improvement store.
They make brush cleaning a breeze. Just make sure you only brush down....never up!!!
This little guy will get out all of the built up paint.
Have any tips of your own?? Feel free to share!
Happy Painting!
