Basic Painting

When you paint, the common problems are mess, clean-up, and proper way of doing it.
1st is Prep, this is the most important step to ensure being able to use the room after your done. Remove all light switch/wall plug covers, put them in a bowl/bucket, somewhere you can clean them later and not lose. Put the screws back in the wall, less chance of losing them. tape off the exposed sockets with masking, if your going to take more than a day to complete, use the blue tape, it doesn't leave a sticky mess. All you need to do is cover the actual plug/light switch and screw, that way when you paint there won't be any "cutting in" later. Next, remove the doorstops if you can, otherwise mask them. If you are going to paint the baseboards mask along the floor as close as you can, use tape, than a masker (they sell them at any Lowe's, Home Depot etc.) get a masker at least as big as to be able to use 12"-18" paper. if your not going to paint them mask about 1/2 way down the base. Next you want to get some plastic on a roll. If it's a small job just a package of disposable 9'x12' plastic tarp is good,(it's cheaper), normally this is for a single wall or small room. with the cheaper plastic just tape it to the paper you put on top of the tape line you created. You can always buy a fabric tarp, if you intend to use it more than once. If at all possible remove all furniture in the work area. If this isn't feasible, put all furniture in the middle of the room, for small jobs this doesn't need to be covered,. Spackle all your holes, some larger holes need more than one coat of Spackle. allow to dry, sand with 60 grit, repeat until it matches existing texture,(if your hanging the same pictures back don't remove the nails) if you're painting the whole room you might want to cover the furniture with old sheets/fabric/plastic tarp or the like. Remove any ceiling fixtures, blades from ceiling fans etc.. Sometimes it's easier to just cover the ceiling items with excess plastic and tape tight to prevent paint spatters. Finally, you will cover the floor with the plastic roll, it is usually in 50' or larger rolls and around 9' across. Staple it into the base loosely, removal of the staples later becomes easier this way (only on complete room painting). Mask off a line for any handrails, (than paper), molding, or rooms that are a different color. Make note that if it is a sharp corner (90°) this step may be unnecessary. rounded edges mask a line. Use the roller a little dry, (not dripping) when you start painting to roll up to. Cover the doorknobs if painting the wall above them. Use the masker to tape a piece over the knob,(it doesn't have to be perfect). Now we're ready to paint. Decide what size roller, 7", 9", or 12". For larger jobs use at least the 9" more coverage less strokes. For smaller ones use the 7". Getting a 5 gal. bucket is the best, no more trays! If you must, get a screen that fits inside the bucket. You will also need a 2 gal. bucket for cutting and smaller jobs. You can use the paint can, but a roller won't fit inside. (mix well all like colors together), this helps with different batches of paint. Okay, you've chosen the roller, the room is masked and your ready. Put your roller in the mixed paint, Get a short extension pole to attach to the end of your roller, this makes application easier, an adjustable or one that comes apart is okay too. It should be about 3-4' long. Your brush is important also, I would recommend a "purdy" they last a long time. You have to determine what size and the type (go to WWW.purdycorp.com/catalog/brushes/). I know, they are also a tip and trick place, but why buy a DVD? If your hand is steady you might try a 2 1/2" or 3" wide taper one. This is your choice. A smaller 1 1/12" taper if your new to painting, "block brushes" (big square ones) are good for corners and cutting in ceilings, if you are painting both with the same color as the walls. Attach the roller to the pole and put in paint only far enough to get the bonnet (actual roller) full of paint, bonnets will vary depending on the type of wall. heavy texture on the wall means a heavier nap on the bonnet. Smooth walls (rare) are a thin bonnet. Run it on the screen in the bucket to get off excess paint that will only drip anyhow. Immediately put the roller on the wall and make a slight 30° movement to the upper right or left,(this depends on if your right or left handed) about 5 to 8' up. Roll and fill in the space, up right, straight down, back left 10-15° straight down again, repeat, back to where you started. This takes a little practice to do, I have faith. Repeat this until the wall is covered and isn't running paint down all over, roll hard into the corners so you don't have to cut them in later. If only doing one wall be careful not to splatter on the other walls, a slightly dry roller helps with corners. rest your roller in the paint can "trying" not let it sink all the way down,there is a lip on the roller to hook on bucket. Take off the pole. you won't need it for now and you won't trip over it either. This helps with clean up later. Now grab your brush and can, fill a little in the bottom just enough to get the brush wet(about 2-2 1/2"). Keep the brush above the Ferrule, ( metal top between brush and handle) This will help in paint from running down your hand. Tap the brush inside the can to get excess paint off. Cut the inside corners, along the base and along the ceiling. If done right this involves little paint as the roller got most of it,(the corners should still be wet) use the excess already on the wall. Slobber in the paint!
check for coverage and touch up "holidays" (missed spots on wall). rest brush in can and wait a few minutes to check again,(always check your shoe bottoms to prevent footprints everywhere other than the tarp)! take a break, and have your wife look at it for her okay! If all went well we're ready for cleanup. 1st take the brush and roller outside near a hose away from the house. leave in the 5 gal. bucket for now,leave the brush in the 2 gal.bucket (called a deuce). go back and remove the tarps, than pull the staples from the base and roll the plastic and paper into itself until you have a ball. put it in the trash. by now the walls are probably different shades, this is normal as paint dries uneven. Enamel is worse, if not scary when drying. check for "holidays" again, if your happy, remove the tape from everywhere but the base, this should dry a tad longer,(about as long as it takes to ball plastic, just enough to pull the tape and not the paint). Cut in the base very carefully! If your still happy remove the base tape. If you got a little on the floor use a putty knife and cover with rag to wipe up. I know this won't happen to you! Remove any tape and plastic, and paper from anywhere it is left. The room/wall is done! Congrats. so far! Now for tool cleanup, this is very important keep them clean and they last,(except the bonnets) I've had my rollers and brushes for some 20 years. pour all paint into original can, scrape the buckets with the brush into original can. Tap lid closed. Now clean the inside of your buckets 1st. scrape with a putty knife if needed. get them clean. Put water into the 5 about 2 gal.s push the brush up and down touching the bottom of bucket until the water is dirty throw away water, squeeze the bristles, refill, Repeat until the brush comes back clean. Spin the brush inside the bucket until the bristles are going in different directions. Now get a clean wire brush, if needed wire brush the Ferrule, remove all paint from the bristles using the wire brush until smooth( stroke all in the same direction, (down and away), and free of paint, Put brush back in cover. Now the roller. pull down the bonnet holding the metal part of the handle with opposite hand until it's about 1/3 down, (I know a little paint on the hands), rest it on the metal part on the outside of the bucket. get a hose with high pressure nozzle. holding the roller against the side away from you, spray the bonnet with the hose until it spins, going up and down on the roller until it comes back clean this takes some time to get it clean but if done right, your dry. take the roller with the bonnet still loose hang it on the side to dry. by now you are done or called a professional in. I always suggest a pro. if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, or you have a couple extra hundreds laying around. E-mail me I'm always looking for some side work! Let me know how it goes there is always room for improvement here and in your other endeavors. You are now an apprentice painter. Next doors and "casings" (molding around doors) See ya' then!