The Basics
So your personal old castle is looking more like something out of Edgar Allen Poe than the old humble abode you once cherished for its looks. Perhaps that was before you lived there for years. Or is it a matter of the Old castle recently became yours and I in dire need of some tender loving care to restore the dignity it once had? A do it yourself painting job may be just the ticket.
Why think about paying more to have someone else come and paint your house? You can make it a DIY painting project with ease if you simply follow these easy steps. Having knowledge of the basics of DIY painting and implementing it with care and precision, anyone can paint. Even if you have never done it before, it is hard to find another type of home improvement that gives you as big a saving for your effort as a do it yourself painting job.
Walk into any paint store and there is a confusing array of choices, from gloss, to semi gloss, satin, eggshell and flat paint. And if one bear in mind, painting your house is not something you do every year, making the right choice that will suit your budget and put your mind at ease can be rather intimidating at the best of times. In reality there are only two types of choices to make when it comes to the type or kind of paint for your house; latex or alkyd.
According to the experts, latex is the choice about 87% of the time. This is because of it is water based and very easy to clean up.
What Does Sheen Mean?
Sheen is how much light the paint reflects. A flat paint absorbs the most light. This is good because it readily hides defects. Eggshell has a smoother finish but it to does a pretty good job of hiding mistakes. It is also easier to wash.
Semi-gloss has some shine to it. It is used primarily on woodwork, trim, cabinets and doors. Gloss has the highest shine but every imperfection will show.
How To Choose
For many people, the choice of latex or oil comes down to drying time. You should read the label also before applying the paint. If you still have questions ask the experts at your local paint store.
Paint is also one of the very few items where cost really is a good indicator of quality.
Choosing Your Colors
Your local paint store has paint chips that will show you the colors you can get. There is a dizzying array of choices and you could almost say if you can imagine it you can get it mixed.
In addition to this there are several approaches to how you can paint a room. Color schemes are one way to add color and zest to a lifeless room.
Monochromatic - in this color scheme you do the entire room in one color.
Analogous colors - in this color scheme you paint the walls one color and choose the color next to it on the color wheel for the trim.
Complementary - in this color scheme you use the complementary color to the one you painted the wall with for the trim.
Triadic - In this color scheme you choose three colors to paint the room with. These colors are of equal distance from each other on the color wheel. Red, blue and yellow would be an example of this color scheme.
What To Paint With
The Common Paint Brush
Even here you have a choice. Today there are two kinds of bristles made and used in painting. There is the natural bristle, (usually hog). This is used commonly for solvent finishes. There is also a synthetic bristle made. The bristles are usually nylon or polyester. These are used for water based finishes. They also make a paint brush out of a sponge. This can be used for water based finishes but is not really good for delicate places.
The Paint Roller
When applying paint to walls there is also the paint roller. Experts will tell you don't pick up any old roller. You want to find a roller that:
- Spins easily
- Has a comfortable grip
- Has a cage with at least five wires
- Has an anti slip device to keep the head fastened.
When purchasing roller covers look for these features:
- A strong resin core
- Ends that are tapered so paint doesn't bead up on the ends
- Seams that can't be felt trough the cover
- A heavy uniform cover that doesn't shed much lint
- On the average the nap on the cover should be 3/8 or 1/2 inch thick
Home painting Tips
- When preparing to paint, the first thing not to do is paint out of the paint can. First of all leaving the can open begins the process of the paint drying out which will make it harder to paint with. Secondly, your brush will pick up dirt which will end up in the paint and can even change the color over time. Use a paint tray!
- Test your colors - take a small amount of paint and apply it in two coats to a small area in different areas to see if you like how it looks on your walls.
- Use primer - Always use primer if you painting areas that have not been painted before or you are making a drastic color change.
- Always save some of your paint for touch ups after doing the trim.
- Wash down the walls before painting
- Scrape and remove all loose paint and chipped areas
- Start at the edge of the wall and move to the center.
- Once you begin applying your paint if you realize that it is too dark there is something you can do. The first thing is to not judge the colors while still wet. Many colors become lighter as they dry. Once dry if you still think the color is too dark get some white paint to lighten up the color.
You are now ready to begin your do it yourself painting project. Follow these steps and your project should be a success.
There is nothing more satisfying than sitting back and admiring a good do it yourself painting job. Your wallet is happy and your freshly painted home looks great, restored to its previous glory...
Please feel free to leave a comment about this page
Was this page useful? Do you have something to add? Do you disagree?
If your comments meet our
guidelines then we will publish them (you do not need to register!)
Or why not tell a friend and email
this
page to someone