Be it a home re-model, a freshen-up coat or just something to pass the time at home, painting walls is a bridge that almost everyone has to cross at one point of one’s life.
Photo by form PxHere
In these covid-19 times, where it is advisable to not allow any workers into your home to keep yourself safe and with most people having a lot of free time at their hands, more and more people are opting to paint their walls themselves. Though it isn’t an extremely skill oriented task, for an amateur, this can be quite a hectic task. Here are a few key points to keep in mind.
Never Compromise on the Quality of materials
The quality of the finished product depends greatly on the quality of the material used. Never settle for a below average paint or a cheap roller. Beginners are advised to use rollers to apply the paint but also purchase at least one brush to apply some finishing details. It is best to use good quality masking tape and if designs are needed, use pre designed stencils easily available in the market for a neat touch.
The larger the roller you purchase, the easier it would be to paint large areas evenly, so always go for the widest roller you can find( anywhere between 9 to 12 inches). This would also help in minimizing the lap marks that are sometimes quite visible in an inexperienced paint job. Also keep in mind that the thicker the roller, the heavier the paint coat will turn out to be.
Use the suited primer
A primer is applied on the walls to give it a smooth texture and even out the surface for the application of paint. It not only helps the paint to stick evenly, it also increases the life of the paint. Water and oil based primers are available in the market, and each one is applied on a different type of wall. Drywall requires a water based primer while materials like paneling need oil based primers. The painter should research a little about the type of primer needed so that perfection can be achieved.
It’s always good to find out what is the type of paint already applied on the wall, some people prefer to sand down the complete wall to get an even finish, but even if you choose to repaint the existing wall, try to add enough coats of primer and paint that the wall does not show any discoloration.
Take Care of paint
When you start painting, a lot of paint is wasted because it dries up in the can or the paint box even before it is applied, to avoid this, it is best to keep the container closed at all times, to make the container air tight, try using plastic sheets on the lid. Only take out enough paint in the tray that you believe you can apply in one go, anything above that should be returned to the can immediately after finishing. A few drops of thinner can also help soften the paint in the tray if it does dry up, but care should be taken that too much thinner can dilute the paint.
Protect yourself and the surroundings
First, protect yourself. Use proper cloth and proper glasses to protect your eyes. Even a small amount of painting color that may penetrate your eyes may cause lot of damage.
User special painting shoes that are extra comfortable; this will reduce back pain. Painting involves standing on your feet for a long period of time, this may lower back pain. Avoid it, use the right shoes.
When applying paint, keep your movement smooth and steady to avoid any splashes, cover the adjacent walls with tape and use plastic sheeting wherever you paint. Cover any nearby furniture and avoid painting over beds and tables without removing them first hand. And if some paint does spill onto furniture, don’t apply thinner; as this may corrode the polish off the furniture, instead, use alcohol based perfumes or deodorants, the small quantity of alcohol removes any stains without damaging the furniture.
Hope these tips will help you do the perfect painting job! Happy painting!