PAINTING spare room - techniques

[evedawn]

Hi all

Hope you're each having a good day so far.

I plan to paint my spare room this weekend. I have never painted a room before - any tips appreciated as I have no idea even what to buy in terms of rollers, brushes etc.


Thanks in advance to you all.

[BillySugger]

Get a man to do it

[evedawn]

ahh billy - now it precisely cos the man in my life has been putting off doing it that I am resorting to having a go myself!

:-)

[luxury]

Hi evedawn,

Some like brushes, some like rollers, so buy both.

Make sure you buy masking tape and protect the skirting boards and anything else you don't want to paint too lol

Differents paints:

http://www.diydata.com/materials/paints/paints .php

How to clean brushes:

http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/cleaningp aintbrushes.htm.

Happy Painting!!!!! :D

[VHG]

1) Remove as much clutter from the room as you can as moving a ladder round the room, and reaching over to that difficult corner, is much easier if the room is empty.

2) Cover EVERYTHING with blankets or sheets as paint can flick everywhere

3) As has been said, mask over light switches, sockets and anything else you dont want to paint over.

4) Dont stand on boxes or chairs as falls are a big cause of accidents, get a decent step ladder.

5) Dont paint in the evening. It can look great in the dusk or dark but in the mornng will look awful.

6) If the current surface is dirty or greasy then wash it first and give it plenty of time to dry.

7) If the current surface is dark (or a colorful wall paper) it may wall need two coats. Consider doing a cheap white undercoat FIRST to block out the colour before doing the more expensive top coat.

8) Paint from the top down as if you start at the bottom you are likely to lean against it while painting the top.

9) Note that paint for wood (skirting, doors etc) is usually oil based, paint for walls is usually water based.

You need white spirit to wash out oil brushes, water to wash out water based paint

[tezestwing]

Hi eve tools are 7" medium pile roller with approx 3 to 4ft handle extension 9" paint tray or best is a proper oblong roller bucket (with handle) that takes the 7" roller .
4" emulsion brush one 1"1/2 one 2" brush for u'coats and gloss+ small kettle with handle
Method if you are to obliterate all that is there now get 10ltr of cheapest mat white half fill the oblong bucket or tray dip the 7" roller onto not into the paint remove any surplus onto the sides and go over all ceiling and walls with the roller + handle extension saves you going up and down the steps then any bit you could not get with the roller catch that with the 4" brush then if required after dry about 2 hours do over again roller very slow to prevent splatter.
Method Walls colour emulsions wash out roller and bucket then recharge bucket with paint and roller all you can reach + handle then use 4" brush to cut in ceiling line using the steps and any other bits missed round socket switches etc as VHG suggested .
Woodwork can then be undercoated and glossed use a small (kettle) bucket to hold the paint in only fill to approx 1" just to dip the smaller brushes in then press the bristles onto the side of the kettle to remove excess paint follow VHG guide also hth Tez

[mrs_overall]

My top tips:

1. Buy Harris non-shed bristles painting brushes.

2. If you're using a roller on the ceiling, get a paper plate, cut a slit in it, slide it onto the roller handle and it will catch the drips.

3. Wear a shower cap. Multicoloured emulsioned hair is so unbecoming!

Good luck.

[tezestwing]

there is a lot more info in DIY Doctor as luxury posted but it won't link up at the mo good animated section on panel door hth Tez

[heathfield]

Do gloss paint on the skirtings and doorways first, emulsion on the ceiling next, and the walls last. (That way you can remove any emulsion drips or splashes from skirtings and doorways with a damp cloth, but you'll never remove gloss paint from emulsion).

[Jugglering]

One other little hint - assuming you haven't yet bought the emulsion paint. You will find that you can get emulsion in both *matt* finish and *silk* finishes. If your walls are in really good nick and you want the natural light coming into the room to *bounce off* the walls, then you can use "silk" with a roller. If your walls are slightly uneven or lumpy, then use the "matt" - it will hide a multitude of lumps, bumps etc. and won't show brush marks.

[katerich48]

Ditto to what everyone says - and one last tip buy a good paint Crown, Dulex etc ..MY daughter recently bought Leylands own brand and took whole tin back to swap it for Dulux which took half the paint to cover yellow walls..

[kira000]

Wipe your walls down with sugar soap before you start. You can buy ready mixed stuff, which is easier. Using a clean cloth or sponge, start at top and work down. Make sure you rinse the cloth regularly, and also wipe the wall with clean wet cloth after to remove residue.
The sugar soap will remove dirt and grease, and give you a good base for your paint so it holds well.

Crown paint is better than dulux. Homebase have been doing 3 for 2, which is a good deal. (much cheaper than at B&Q)

Also, as well as using masking tape on skirting and light fittings etc, you can use it down the corner of a room to get a good clean line if you plan to do a feature wall of a different colour. Mask the one you arent painting first, paint right up to (and slightly over the tape). Carefully peel back the tape once the paint is dry.
Then, once you are sure the wall is 100% dry (i usually leave it a day or 2), then carefully tape along the wall you have painted. Once you have painted that wall, peel off, and you should have a nice neat line.

[evedawn]

a thanks to ALL who answered with your tip top techniqes. The room is now painted a lovely hessian which makes a refreshing change from the lilac and yellow it had been!!!

Even the husband is surprisingle impressed and says he will have me cleaning and treating our wooden deck next.....oooops what have i started? Shouldn't the DIY be HIS domain?? haha!