Klutz-Proof Interior Painting
By E. E. Kane
Photo: © Iofoto - Dreamstime
 Painting the walls and trim of your home is one of the easiest home improvement projects, but without preparation it can turn into a complete mess. If you have a shaky past with a paintbrush and roller, use these tips to make your paint job look more professional.
Use the Right Supplies
Take it from a dyed-in-the-wool klutz: shortcuts lead to messes. Choose the right paint for the job, and never swap regular masking tape for the blue painter's version.
Protect Everything
Remove everything from the room—furniture, light switch and outlet covers, doors and hinges, doorstops, and light fixtures. Cover what you cannot remove. Use tarps to cover the floor, and plastic sheeting on the furniture. Use painter's tape over light switches, outlets, and to hold plastic bags around light fixtures, pedestal sinks and toilets.
Never Skip the Prep Work
If you skip, be prepared for your paint job to laugh in your face by peeling off two days later.
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- Scrape off loose paint or wallpaper.
- To patch holes, use joint compound for walls and water putty for trim—sand smooth after the patch dries.
- Sand glossy walls lightly with 100-grit sandpaper.
- Wash the walls with TSP (trisodium phosphate).
- Use primer, no exceptions. Primer will make your finish paint color look true, and will reward you with a better bond to the wall.
To Tape or Not to Tape?
Using more than one color in a room can be tricky. Painter's tape helps, but it's not perfect. Use it where you must, but you might fare better with a 12" putty knife held against the edge while you “cut in." Or, choose just one color for the entire room in several different sheens. A semi-gloss on the trim, against satin on the walls, below flat on the ceiling, will offer some depth and will make your paint job look fabulous.
It's All in the Loading
You are finally ready to paint. You've heard that a room should be painted in a ceiling, wall, trim order, and that you should roll in ‘W' patterns. That's good advice, but more importantly, don't go heavy on the paint. Load just enough that you don't splatter yourself, and roll off the edges to avoid lines. Go with less paint on the end of your brush when you're working those critical edges.
If you are prone to accidents, keep a wet rag handy, wear safety goggles, and never keep your painting tray where you can step in it. With a little luck and a friend to spot you, you will defy your reputation and do a great job. |
