All of my working life has been spent on building sites and working in peoples houses.
Even though I'm a carpenter I've worked with a lot of painters and over that time I've picked up loads of tips that make things fast, easier and give a better finish. So I thought I'd share a few of them here with you guys.
- I was always told that painting is 80% prep. I know it's boring to fill and sand walls and woodwork but the time spent before painting pays off on the finish you'll get at the end.
- Buy some caulk. Any black lines between skirting and walls or architrave and walls always scream that an amature has done it. Run a line of caulk across the top and smooth it over with your finger so there be no gaps in your painting.
- On fresh plaster save paint by rolling everything with a mist coat first. his is 50-50 water and paint. It seals the plasterwork and means you use a lot less paint on your first coat - also when you put this coat on the wall it's easier to see any defects and fill them.
- Buy a pole for your roller! This has to be the most important tip on here! I hate seeing people up close to the ceiling rolling a 2ft square patch before moving the ladder and repeating it. The pole means you can cover a huge area without moving much and save your back (it also gives a more even finish). Use the pole on the walls and ceiling and you'll see how much easier it is.
- Buy good quality paint. It covers better and gives a better finish. Sometimes it can mean the difference between 2 or 3 coats, then it doesn't seem so cheap anymore.
- Bag it up - If you've got to do another coat of paint the next night don't wash your roller up. Just place it inside two plastic bags and wrap tightly around it. It should keep for a couple of weeks or more like this without drying, the same goes for brushes. You can only do this with water based paints though!
I saw a painter who was painting some porch steps one day, someone left a small piece of wood trimming laying on the step and the guy painted over it, didn't even move the loose piece of wood. There is no helping someone like that.
ReplyDeleteI've heard the same kind of story of painters painting roud paintings and things! I suppose it takes all sorts!
DeleteYou need your own tv programme kev
ReplyDeleteHARD HAT MAN
Sounds good to me! Does it have a good salary?
DeleteWhen I married I didn't realise the mate part meant carpenter's, painter's etc mate. I've got quite good at prepping but never good enough for the boss. I swear when he is in his coffin a voice will waver up from under the lid "It could do with a light sanding".
ReplyDeleteLove the morbid comment! I take it he's not going to read it! I have to admit I might be a little bit like this with my wife....
DeleteAm starting to paint our rooms at home, having just painted the entire inside of my mum's houe , to sell...always good to review the tips! We also put the brushes and rollers, after wrapping, in the fridge oe even freezer!
ReplyDeleteSounds cold! Anything to stop them drying out really. When we sold our last place I painted most of the rooms to make it feel fresher. Trouble is when you've done it, you wish you had years before and enjoyed it yourself!
DeleteMy painting tips:
ReplyDeleteBuy paint, rollers and trays.
Give to the native and tell him to get on with it.
Park a chair in the shade alongside of which is a table laden with gin, cans of tonic water, a bowl of ice and a glass.
Supervise.
Here they call that first wash 'burning the cement'. It is done very, very quickly and in this heat dries off in no time providing the base for the top coat.
The natives in my village are mostely retired, so not much good for a hard days graft! Also I can't say I like gin (unless there are some sloes in there)
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