1. Give yourself time. A professional painter can paint a 10x10 room in about 3 hours. However, if he were taking phone calls, changing diapers, or making lunches that 3 hour time would be just a pipe dream. So do what you can to eliminate distractions. Find a babysitter and screen your phone calls, because you are on a mission!
2. Clear the Area. One reason you hate to paint is because you hate maneuvering around your furniture and usually something gets paint on it! Move everything you can out of the room. An empty room is easier to lay drop cloths in. It's easier to tape off base, and it's easier to paint! For around $10 you can buy furniture sliders. These nifty inventions make moving furniture a breeze.
3. Don't Cheat on the Prep. This is going to take some time on the front end of your project, but it will really save time once you actually start painting. So how much should you prep? A lot! First cover all of your floors this should be easy since you have removed most of the furniture. Then patch any unwanted holes with spackle or drywall compound.Take off outlet covers and vents, there is no skill needed to paint around switches and outlets when the covers are off. Tape off all trim make sure you get good adhesion to the surface use an old brush or a dry rag to remove any dust. Most pros don't tape off door or window trim but I do and so should you! I haven't meet a painter yet that can cut an edge by hand as straight as you can with tape and it's faster too! Lastly sand and prime your patches.
4. Let's get Ready to Rumble. So you've done your prep and your ready for paint. If your room is going to take more than one gallon to finish the job, you need to "box the paint" that means combine you paint together. Why,..You ask? When colors are mixed there can be variances in the color so let's say you've run out of paint in the middle of a wall. No problem, you open the next gallon and proceed to paint. Now isn't usually when you notice there is a color difference, it is usually after everything is dry. After you've moved everything back into the room and cleaned up then someone says, "Hey, how come the wall looks like it has two different colors on it?" And that's when you lose it! Well let's avoid all of that. Box your paint, into a 3 or 5 gallon bucket. Give it a good stir and proceed worry free.
5. May I Cut In? "Cutting in" is the term painters use for edging or using your brush. Just as someone might "cut a trail" in the jungle, woods, or snow that person is expected to go first and make a way for anyone who follows. If your like most homeowners this is the part you dread! And that's why you'll want to reach for that paint roller first... Don't do it! Professionals cut first then roll. Why? Brush strokes are unsightly, rollers make walls look more uniform. If you have done the proper prep work, the doors and base will be easy. it's that dreaded ceiling! You have three options. First you can tape off the ceiling, this is not easy and may be more frustrating than painting. Second you can use a cutting pad and believe it or not some of them work pretty good. Your third choice is to do what the pros do... Get your brush and start cutting. If you choose the third option here is a trick of the trade. Use a putty knife or a pencil, place it in the corner between the wall and ceiling and draw a light line, this will help as guide. I haven't met a professional painter yet who didn't use this trick when they first started and some of them never stopped. Be sure not to leave heavy edges of paint. Feather them out.
6. Let's Roll! Before you get your roller full of paint do what the pros do. Cover your roller in tape then remove the tape. Notice all of the lint stuck to the tape? There's a good chance some of that lint would have made it's way onto your wall,...well not this time! Most pros will cut a whole room and then roll it out. For the average homeowner it may be a better idea to roll each wall right after cutting it in. If you have an extension pole now is time to use it. If you don't there is a good chance your broom handle may screw right into your paint handle. Your back will thank you. Contrary to what you see on television, professional painters do not paint in a "W" pattern. Simply start about 4" or 5" from a corner and start rolling (if you are right handed you will want to work to your right, and lefties to your left) work away from the paint about 18' to 24" then work back towards the corner get as close as you can. Check to make sure your paint is even. At this point you should probably need another dip. This time start about 4' to 5' inches from where you left off and repeat throughout the room.
7. Are we done yet? if you've checked your room for consistency and your happy with your result, it's time pull all of your tape. It's best to pull tape when the paint is still wet. This a great time to keep your eyes open for any misses you might have. Also keep a damp rag on you in case any paint bled through onto spots you didn't want painted. A damp rag is a painters best friend! Make sure to clean all of your tools, also allow the room some time to dry. After that, place everything back where it was and you are DONE! BEHOLD THE POWER OF PAINT!
Painting can be a real pain and can sometimes get overwhelming, but if you follow these steps it will speed up your time and prevent quite a few mistakes. Best of luck!
Wayne represents Turner’s Painting, a five star rated Long Island painting company specializing in residential painting services, by exterior and interior house painters. If you need qualified Long Island painters for work at your home, contact Turner’s Painting today
2. Clear the Area. One reason you hate to paint is because you hate maneuvering around your furniture and usually something gets paint on it! Move everything you can out of the room. An empty room is easier to lay drop cloths in. It's easier to tape off base, and it's easier to paint! For around $10 you can buy furniture sliders. These nifty inventions make moving furniture a breeze.
3. Don't Cheat on the Prep. This is going to take some time on the front end of your project, but it will really save time once you actually start painting. So how much should you prep? A lot! First cover all of your floors this should be easy since you have removed most of the furniture. Then patch any unwanted holes with spackle or drywall compound.Take off outlet covers and vents, there is no skill needed to paint around switches and outlets when the covers are off. Tape off all trim make sure you get good adhesion to the surface use an old brush or a dry rag to remove any dust. Most pros don't tape off door or window trim but I do and so should you! I haven't meet a painter yet that can cut an edge by hand as straight as you can with tape and it's faster too! Lastly sand and prime your patches.
4. Let's get Ready to Rumble. So you've done your prep and your ready for paint. If your room is going to take more than one gallon to finish the job, you need to "box the paint" that means combine you paint together. Why,..You ask? When colors are mixed there can be variances in the color so let's say you've run out of paint in the middle of a wall. No problem, you open the next gallon and proceed to paint. Now isn't usually when you notice there is a color difference, it is usually after everything is dry. After you've moved everything back into the room and cleaned up then someone says, "Hey, how come the wall looks like it has two different colors on it?" And that's when you lose it! Well let's avoid all of that. Box your paint, into a 3 or 5 gallon bucket. Give it a good stir and proceed worry free.
5. May I Cut In? "Cutting in" is the term painters use for edging or using your brush. Just as someone might "cut a trail" in the jungle, woods, or snow that person is expected to go first and make a way for anyone who follows. If your like most homeowners this is the part you dread! And that's why you'll want to reach for that paint roller first... Don't do it! Professionals cut first then roll. Why? Brush strokes are unsightly, rollers make walls look more uniform. If you have done the proper prep work, the doors and base will be easy. it's that dreaded ceiling! You have three options. First you can tape off the ceiling, this is not easy and may be more frustrating than painting. Second you can use a cutting pad and believe it or not some of them work pretty good. Your third choice is to do what the pros do... Get your brush and start cutting. If you choose the third option here is a trick of the trade. Use a putty knife or a pencil, place it in the corner between the wall and ceiling and draw a light line, this will help as guide. I haven't met a professional painter yet who didn't use this trick when they first started and some of them never stopped. Be sure not to leave heavy edges of paint. Feather them out.
6. Let's Roll! Before you get your roller full of paint do what the pros do. Cover your roller in tape then remove the tape. Notice all of the lint stuck to the tape? There's a good chance some of that lint would have made it's way onto your wall,...well not this time! Most pros will cut a whole room and then roll it out. For the average homeowner it may be a better idea to roll each wall right after cutting it in. If you have an extension pole now is time to use it. If you don't there is a good chance your broom handle may screw right into your paint handle. Your back will thank you. Contrary to what you see on television, professional painters do not paint in a "W" pattern. Simply start about 4" or 5" from a corner and start rolling (if you are right handed you will want to work to your right, and lefties to your left) work away from the paint about 18' to 24" then work back towards the corner get as close as you can. Check to make sure your paint is even. At this point you should probably need another dip. This time start about 4' to 5' inches from where you left off and repeat throughout the room.
7. Are we done yet? if you've checked your room for consistency and your happy with your result, it's time pull all of your tape. It's best to pull tape when the paint is still wet. This a great time to keep your eyes open for any misses you might have. Also keep a damp rag on you in case any paint bled through onto spots you didn't want painted. A damp rag is a painters best friend! Make sure to clean all of your tools, also allow the room some time to dry. After that, place everything back where it was and you are DONE! BEHOLD THE POWER OF PAINT!
Painting can be a real pain and can sometimes get overwhelming, but if you follow these steps it will speed up your time and prevent quite a few mistakes. Best of luck!
Wayne represents Turner’s Painting, a five star rated Long Island painting company specializing in residential painting services, by exterior and interior house painters. If you need qualified Long Island painters for work at your home, contact Turner’s Painting today
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