Paints are a great way to change the look of a house, a room, or even something as small as a piece of furniture. They can change the look and feel of your home – from bright and vibrant vibes to your own cozy haven at the end of the day. Paint can even be used to make a room look bigger or smaller by guiding the eye to the room’s focal point. Some paints and techniques will make the room appear taller (in rooms with lower or uneven ceilings), or wider, airy, and more inviting through the use of a lighter paint scheme. The trick is to know how to use paints to your advantage to achieve the look and feel you want for each room in your home.
Step by Step – How to Paint Walls and Ceilings Properly
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Step 1: Start by removing anything you do not want to get splattered with paint.
Move your furniture and appliances out of the way, cover it if it is too heavy. Use fabric drop cloths or plastic covers. Paint can spill and splatter on the floor, cover it to make cleanup easier after the painting is done. It is best to use fabric drop cloths to cover the floors. Plastic is slippery. It is risky as the ladder, and you, may slide.
Step 2: Clean the surface.
Paint won’t stick on dusty, greasy and dirty surfaces. Remove cobwebs and dry dust off the walls. Then, use a damp cloth to wipe grimy areas.
Step 3: Take care of the borders.
You may want to have a different color on the borders. Baseboards, moldings, and window or door frames might look better with a color different from the rest of the walls and ceilings. To avoid getting paint on these borders, tape them off with a painter’s masking tape. Make sure to pat the tape securely in place so that no paint would bleed through.
Step 4: Consider the old paint and the new one.
If the old paint is several shades darker than the new one, it is advisable to use a coat of primer first. Use the primer to cover the old paint before you paint in the new color. You will also need to use at least 2 coats of the new paint color.
Drying the primer would take about 6 hours. To save time, effort and money, you may use self-priming paint. It costs more than regular paint but you do not need to buy a primer anymore. If the old paint and the new shade are both light colors, 2 coats of regular paint are all you’d need.
Step 5: If the primer (if used) is already dry, you can now start painting.
Start with a sponge tool or an angled brush to paint the edges (close to the borders, frames, molding, etc.). Paint about 2 inches around the taped edges. This step is better known as edging step.
Paint the central area of the wall or ceiling with a roller. For smooth surfaces, use a ¼-inch nap. For semi-smooth painting surfaces, it is best to use the 3/8-inch nap. Rough surfaces are best painted using a 5/8-inch nap.
It is important to use the correct paint roller because it will determine how much paint will be applied. Incorrect tools can apply either too little or too much paint. Worse, it may apply uneven amounts of paint with each stroke.
Paint in overlapping M or W strokes. These strokes are best for even distribution of paint. Allow the 1st coating to dry for about 2 hours before putting the 2nd coat. While waiting for the 1st coat to dry, cover the paint tray and the roller with a plastic wrap. The plastic should be touching the surface of the paint. Some experts recommend refrigerating the whole thing to avoid paint drying on the paint tray and roller.
Step 6: After painting, rinse the roller and the paint brush under running water.
Dry them thoroughly before storing. Brushes should be stored in their original wrapper to prevent the bristles from fanning out. If the original wrapper is not available, wrap the bristles with a thick piece of paper then tape to secure. Leftover paint in the tray is returned to the can. Place a paper towel over the paint can lid to help create a seal. Tap the lid in place with a hammer. Rinse the tray and dry before storing.
Step 7: Remove the plastic covers and fabric drop cloths.
If there are wet splatters of paint, wipe with a moist cloth or rag. For dried splatters, use a plastic spatula or plastic cards (e.g., ano-longer-valid credit card) to scrape it off. The painter’s tape can be removed after the paint has dried. Pull the tape at an angle. This way, you can avoid tearing off paint portions around the edges and borders.
Types of Paints and Their Uses
Water-based (Latex) Paints
Water-based paints are easily cleaned with plain water. They have low VOCs and are relatively safer to use. These paints dry much faster than oil-based ones.
Water-based paints take about 1 to 6 hours to dry, which means less waiting times in between coats. The colors are also stable. They do not turn yellow over time. The paint retains its original color and hue for a good number of years. They are also chalk-resistant. The finish is elastic and flexible. It is also cracking-resistant.
They do not get brittle over time. Water-based paints are also resistant to peeling, blistering and flaking. These paints also have better adhering qualities that make them perfect for a variety of surfaces. Exterior surfaces that do well with latex paints include:
• Wood
• Vinyl siding
• Weathered aluminum
• New stucco
• New masonry
Oil-based (Alkyds) Paints
Oil-based paints have very attractive glossy finish. The finish is also hard and durable. They have good leveling properties. That is, brush strokes fill them selves and create a smooth finish with little effort from the painter. Oil-based paints are a popular choice for painting furniture, doors and glossy woodwork.
These paints have excellent adhesion qualities. This means a durable finish. The disadvantage with oil-based paint is oxidation and cracking when used for exterior surfaces (e.g., outside walls). The paint yellows and chips over time when used in interior surfaces such as walls inside the house.
Oil-based paint is the best choice for exterior surfaces that are prone to heavy chalking. Chalk refers to the powdery substances that often coats exterior surfaces. It is also a great choice if the surface has more than 4 layers of oil-based paints previously applied.
Never use oil-based paints on galvanized iron and fresh masonry. It takes more than 24 hours for oil-based paints to dry.When working with multiple coats, it takes a while before additional coats can be applied.
These paints have stronger odors than water-based ones. The painted rooms can’t be used for quite some time. Clean up is also more difficult with oil-based paints. Paint thinners are needed to clean splatters, spills and drips. Equipment cleaning also needs thinners.
