A well-Painted house is appealing, makes one appreciate the beauty of it, and increases the value of the home. It may seem like such an easy job to paint the walls of a house or an office; However, overlooking the essential things or steps that guide painting activity can result to a dirty and rough look.
Outlined below are ten painting tips that you can apply to get a professional finishing.
- Proper Planning And Preparation
Every action requires adequate planning and preparation, and painting is not an exception. Not only is it extremely unprofessional when you keep leaving the painting job half-way to attend to other things, it leaves your work looking untidy and patchy. Preparation involves every possible step you can take to deliver an excellent job and to prevent any interruptions that may occur. At Paint Works London, we have a team of the professional London painters and decorators working with us, and as such, we offer a quality professional service.
Below are some steps to take during preparation:
- Clear and clean the area to be painted. Move away furniture and cover the immovable ones
- Wear an overall to avoid messing up your clothes
- Ensure all your tools and equipment are available
- Ensure that there is enough paint for the job to prevent stopping halfway
- The area you intend painting should be as airy.
- Ensure Smooth And Clean Surfaces
Ensuring a smooth and clean surface is one of the first steps before painting. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked and deemed unimportant. Applying paint over mildew or dirt on any surface will reduce the durability of the paintwork, that means the paint will not last long, and it is only a matter of time before it begins to peel off or chip.
If it is a dirt problem, several products meant for re-paint cleaning can be applied to get rid of the dirt, also, if it is a mildew problem, clear it in order not to ruin a perfect painting work, before any form of paint is applied. Finally, the surface should be dried. - Mix Your Tins
More often than not, paint tins vary due to the differences in production time and different serial numbers. Nevertheless, this problem can be resolved by merely mixing the paints in a larger container. Although, it is required that you finish the container, or the entire area should be painted the same day to prevent the remaining paint from becoming a waste. However, you can always have the remaining paint locked in an airtight lid.
Also, note that it is better to have more paint than less. So that touch-ups can always be possible. - Patch And Prime Before Painting
Some areas on surfaces to be painted may have holes in them, and those areas must be patched and primed before painting to give a smooth and neat finishing. Priming seals up the filler that has been used and will prevent them from absorbing the paint and leaving an overall patchy work. - Use Cotton Drop Cloths Instead Of Plastic
Most painters use plastic sheets to cover up furniture for easy moving and cleaning; however, they are less safer than cotton cloths.
It has been discovered that using plastic drop cloths can be stressful. For instance, they have to be held down or taped down to prevent them from flying away at the slightest bit of wind. Also, they tend to be slippery when wet and are not the best option to place a ladder on or walk over.
Cotton cloths, on the other hand, do not need to be held down, as they are not too light. Furthermore, they can absorb spills of paint, making them suitable for cleanups. - Do Not Leave Tape On For So Long
The use of professional tapes give you a time frame it use on the wall. In the case where you do not have a professional tape, remove a decorating tape after 15 minutes or when the paint has dried up completely.
The choice of tapes should be important as well. Do not use standard masking tapes or other conventional tapes, as they may be too thin and end up ruining your work. - Skirting Boards Before Walls And Ceilings
The skirting boards be painted first before the ceilings and then the walls because it is easier to tape off the skirting boards than it is to tape off the walls. Painting the skirting boards does not require a flawless job; you should be more concerned with achieving a smooth finish instead. Any paint on wood can be covered up when you are working on the walls. The skirting boards are usually dry after about 24 hours, after which you tape them off and then paint the ceiling and walls. - Prevent Lap Marks
Lap marks occur when slightly dry areas are painted. It is especially common when working in hot or dry conditions.
By creating a “wet edge” one can prevent lap marks. A wet edge is created when the wall is entirely painted by overlapping each paint stroke before it dries off. The use of a paint conditioner like Floetrol, will make your work easier and provide you with more time to work. - Make Use Of A Good Painting Technique
A good paint job has techniques to follow to get smooth and uniformed coverage. It is not about putting paint on rollers and rolling it down a wall; to get neat and uniform coverage, start by applying paint a few inches away from the edge of the wall from top to bottom, and then use the next coat and roll out in a zig-zag pattern.
Also, do not press the roller hard on the wall in an attempt to get more paint out of it, reload it and continue. - Cleaning Up
After painting, clean up your brushes and tools thoroughly in preparation for another job. If the paint used was water-based, wash the brushes and rollers in cold water. Afterwards, use warm water and detergent to clean them once again. If the paint is solvent-based, use a solvent cleaner to wash them, and finish up with warm water and soap. After cleaning your brushes, wrap them in a towel and secure with masking tape. This final step will keep them in their original shape even as they dry. Finally, store them flat, so the bristles do not bend or fray.
The drop cloths should be folded from the edge inwards, so the surfaces covered are not stained by drips. Clean the inside rim and the outside of paint tins should before sealing them for easy opening and use next time.
Painting is a beautiful art, and with these ten tips, you can be sure of a flawless finishing. Paint Works London is one of the best London decorating companies. You can get in touch with us by sending an email or visit us for more tips on painting.
