9 Rules for Painting Ceilings for a Perfect Finish

9 Rules for Painting Ceilings for a Perfect Finish

Video: 9 Rules for Painting Ceilings for a Perfect Finish *Currently 85k views

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Painting Ceilings the Right Way

If you’re daunted by the prospect of painting ceilings, don’t be.

Like painting other parts of a room such as walls or skirting boards, there are certain rules to painting ceilings the right way.

Do your preparation right.

Buy quality tools and materials.

Follow established techniques to painting ceilings, and you’ll achieve the result you’re after.

When you have a smooth, glowing paint finish on your walls, window frames and doors, you don’t want your ceilings to look streaky or blotchy.

To help you avoid this, we’ve put together 9 rules or guidelines for painting ceilings. If you follow these rules, you should have perfectly painted ceilings too!

Here they are:

Organise Your Equipment

1. Organise Your Equipment

Assemble all necessary equipment to paint your ceilings.

These include:

  • Drop sheets
  • Ladder
  • Paint brush
  • Painter’s tape
  • Roller and extension pole
  • Tray for paint

2. Get Your Room Ready

Before you start painting your ceiling, get your room ready.

  • Remove any furniture that you can from the room.
  • If you can’t remove it, then cover it well.

3. Remove ceiling lights and fixtures

Removing ceiling fixtures will make it easier for you to paint.

Make sure you turn off power to any lights or fixtures at the fuse box before removing them. Place them in plastic bags, along with any screws or fittings, and set aside.

Clean and Sand Your Ceiling

4. Clean and Sand Your Ceiling

Next, clean your ceiling properly. Get rid of any mildew present.

Remove cobwebs with a clean broom and wash the area with sugar soap.

Nobody loves cleaning, but paint won’t stick properly to a dusty or grimy ceiling.

If your ceilings aren’t textured, start with a quick once-over sand, using 100 grit abrasive paper. Sanding helps create a perfectly smooth paint job and increases paint adhesion.

Using a sanding pole makes it easier.

Afterwards, wipe the ceiling with a damp sponge to remove the dust.

Tape it Up

5. Tape it Up

  • Apply painter’s tape around cornices, edges and any down lights.
  • If you’re only painting a room’s ceiling, mask off the tops of the walls or the cornices with wide painter’s tape. This will keep roller marks off the walls.
  • Don’t use narrow tape, which is not wide enough to prevent the paint roller from touching the wall.
  • If you’re painting the entire room, start with the ceiling. In this case, taping the walls should not be necessary.

 6. Lay Down Drop sheets

  • Cover the floor and pieces of furniture too big to move with drop sheets.
  • For the most effective protection, overlap the drop cloths by at least 30 cm/12 inches.
  • Tape drop cloths to skirting boards to ensure they stay in place.
  • Use drop sheets or painter’s tape to protect windows, doors and trim as needed.

Prime the Ceiling

7. Prime the Ceiling

Prime the ceiling with a coat of ceiling primer, especially if your ceiling has stains.

Roof leaks and tobacco smoke, for example, can leave ugly stains that are hard to conceal with regular ceiling paint.

Apply stain-blocking primer to cover any stubborn ceiling marks.

  • Allow the primer to dry completely according to instructions.
  • Before applying the paint with rollers, use a paint brush to ‘cut the corners’ or paint the edges where the ceiling meet the wall. This will ensure paint will cover areas the roller might miss as well as conceal any brush marks left behind. Using a brush, paint around down lights and edges to create a border.
  • Always use ceiling paint as opposed to wall paint.

paint in sections with a roller

8. Paint in Sections with a Roller

Roll your paint in square sections about 2 x 2m. Move quickly from one section to the next to make sure the paint along the edge doesn’t dry before you roll the next section.

This helps keep edges wet. It also allows you to see your progress and ensure an even coat.

  • Keep loading your roller with ceiling paint from the paint tray. Roll the paint slowly.
  • Begin rolling when the paint cut line is still wet.
  • Begin in a corner. Roll in overlapping rows.
  • Do not roll directly overhead.
  • Vary the direction of your rolling slightly. A perfectly straight roll may show overlap marks. Continue rolling until the section is done.
  • Continue applying paint, rolling out and blending with the cut-in edge and the previous section until the ceiling is complete.
  • Wipe any drips or spatters immediately with a damp rag.

9. Apply 2 Coats and Clean Up

If you are painting your ceiling a brighter colour or shade of white that needs to stand out, a second coat may be needed. Choose a paint that’s specially formulated for ceiling application. This will yield the best results.

You need paint that doesn’t spatter, dries slowly and is flat rather than glossy.

Premium ceiling paints have added pigments to make the ceiling look brighter.

If you don’t want a white ceiling, they can also be tinted.

  • Allow your ceiling paint to fully dry before applying a second coat.
  • Apply the second coat in one direction, painting quickly until the entire surface is covered.
  • Once all coats have been applied, begin cleaning and tidying up.
  • Paint rollers, brushes, paint trays and other supplies can be taken to a garage or laundry sink or large tub for washing. Clean them with warm soap and water. Squeeze out the remaining paint, then use water to rinse out the soap. Leave the painting equipment outside to air dry.
  • Gently remove any painter’s tape when the paint is dry to the touch.
  • Reattach ceiling light fixtures.
  • Put furniture back where it was.
  • Pack up your drop sheets

Take Care Painting Your Ceiling

You might consider your ceiling as the ‘fifth wall’ of your room.

When painting a ceiling, we recommend that you apply the same care and quality you would bring to any other paint job.

For example, painting a textured ceiling is tricky. If it has never been painted, the water in the paint can loosen the texture and cause it to fall off.

If you need to paint tricky ceilings, such as textured, or extremely high ceilings (like cathedral ceilings), you should consider hiring a professional.

If you’re not confident about painting ceilings, a professional can save you a lot of time and mucking around.

For an interior painting quote, including ceiling painting, contact Paintenance Melbourne today.

Enjoy your painted ceilings!

Article References:

Home Depot: How to Paint a Ceiling

Dulux: How to Paint Ceilings 

Handyman: 10 Tips for Painting Ceilings

Top 19 Painting Tips for Beginners

Top 19 Painting Tips for Beginners

Video: Top 19 Painting Tips for Beginners *Currently 159 views

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Painting Tips for Beginners to Help You Paint Like a Pro

Have you decided to paint your own home?

Or perhaps you’re keen to paint a few walls over the weekend or holidays?

If you’re a beginner, this can be an attractive proposition.

You could:

  • Develop new skills
  • Save some money
  • Gain the satisfaction of brightening up your own home

That’s great.

Well, in theory at least!

Like all serious undertakings, though, the ‘devil is in the detail’.

What might seem like an inspired DIY project can quickly fall apart. Or lead to a less-than-stellar outcome.

With over 30 years’ experience, Paintenance Melbourne is committed to producing painting work of the highest quality.

We don’t want you to waste your time and money producing shoddy work.

So, we are happy to give you some pro tips and tricks to help you achieve results you’ll be proud of.

Here are 19 painting tips to help you paint your home the right way:

  1. Wait for dry weather (if possible)
    Avoid painting on humid or rainy days. This is especially true for any outdoors painting. But this also applies to indoor painting.
    Humid or wet weather conditions can lead to drips and slow drying. If you have to paint during humid or wet weather, make sure you correct any mistakes before moving on to the next coat of paint.
    painting inspection
  2. Do a thorough inspection and preparation
    Check for any flaking, cracked or peeling areas of paint. These will need to be sanded or scraped.
    If you apply new paint over these areas, the new coat will pull the old paint loose.
    Also check for greasy or dirty spots. Wash these areas with sugar soap and rinse with clean water.
    If the area is not too dirty, you might get away with a quick wipe from a damp cloth. Just make sure that your new coat of paint will have a clean, dust-free surface to stick to.
    It’s a good idea to vacuum the wall with a soft brush attachment from top to bottom.
    Afterwards, wipe the wall with a cloth to remove any remaining traces of dust.
  3. Buy high-quality equipment
    If you’re buying top-notch paint, that’s good. You want the paint to produce quality, long-lasting results.
    Don’t then skimp on your painting equipment. Buying good rollers and brushes will give you the best coverage and avoid wasting paint and time on re-painting sub-standard areas.
    Use nylon bristle brushes for water-based paint, natural-bristled brushes for oil-based paint and foam brushes for intricate work.
    Invest in top quality painters’ tape as well. This is important to sealing off from drips and bleeds.
  4. Buy extra buckets
    It’s a good idea to have at least a couple of extra clean buckets on hand.
    You can pour in extra paint into these and mix same-colour paint from different cans to achieve colour uniformity.
    Often, you’ll find that merely stirring paint doesn’t mix it thoroughly.
    Pouring paint back and forth between two buckets can properly combine the solids that have collected at the bottom of each can.
    sanding down
  5. Sand it down
    Do you want a perfectly smooth surface for your walls, ceilings and woodwork? Then you’ll need to sand it perfectly smooth.
    Sanding removes cracked, peeling or rough spots in painted walls or wood trim.
    Sand the trim before applying each coat of paint for an extra-smooth finish.
    Sanding with fine-grit sandpaper roughs up a glossy painted surface. This allows the new coat of paint to adhere more easily.
  6. Tape it Up
    Buy decent painter’s tape. Apply this tape around doors, windows, cabinets, wood trim and other areas.
    Run the flat edge of a putty knife over the tape to firmly press it down for a good seal, to prevent paint bleeds.
    You want to avoid peeling off the tape, only to discover that paint has bled through the tape and seeped all over trim.
    Once the paint is dry, don’t peel the tape straight off. This might take pieces of the painted wall with it.
    With a Stanley or Box-cutter knife, cut off the tape at a 45-degree angle, while pulling the tape away.
    Remember to use painter’s tape, and not masking tape. Masking tape leaves a sticky residue that is hard to clean. Paint can also cause masking tape to buckle or wrinkle. This can allow paint to seep underneath. You can leave painter’s tape on for days, and it will still peel off cleanly and easily.
    cover your holes
  7. Cover Your Holes
    Make sure you fill any cracks or holes with joint compound or wood filler.
    Press the filler or compound into holes with a putty knife. With the putty knife, smooth the compound so it becomes flush with the surface.
    Allow the compound to dry before sanding it smooth.
  8. Cover your floors and furniture
    Move any furniture or decorative objects that you can out of the room.
    For larger furniture, move it in to the middle of room and cover it well with plastic or drop sheets.
    Remove obstructions such as curtain rods, door hinges, light fixtures, outlet covers, switch plates and other fittings.
    Remember to keep track of all the screws for light fittings and other screwed-on fixtures, so you can put them back on once the paint dries.
    Wait at least 24 hours before bringing furniture and other items back into a freshly painted room.
    Give your walls between two weeks and 30 days to fully cure.
    Avoid touching or washing the walls in the meantime.
    canvas drop sheets
  9. Use canvas drop sheets
    Avoid using old bed sheets or plastic sheets to cover floors.
    Thin sheets won’t fully protect against paint spills, and wet paint on plastic dries too slowly and is a slipping hazard.
    Canvas drop sheets are best to protect your floors.
    Canvas isn’t slippery, it absorbs splatters, and it’s durable. You don’t need a giant drop sheet to cover a floor area either.
    A canvas drop sheet a few feet wide and runs the length of the wall is ideal for protecting the floor.
  10. Use primer
    Using primer can improve the paint’s ability to provide a durable topcoat.
    Primer can reduce the number of coats necessary to achieve full coverage and a smooth finish.
    Use a stain-blocking primer in high-humidity and high-moisture rooms, such as the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundries.
    This will reduce the chance of the paint flaking, peeling, bubbling, or blistering.
    If you paint directly over any patched areas, the filler, or compound will suck the moisture out of the paint. This gives the paint a flat, dull look, called ‘flashing.’
    These spots will look noticeably different than the rest of the wall.
    To avoid seeing patched areas through the finished topcoat of paint, it’s important to first prime the walls.
    Rather than using white primer fresh from the tin, tint the primer with a little grey paint or with the colour of the finish paint.
    Tinted primer does a better job of concealing patched areas and covering up the old paint colour.
    This is especially true when painting over colours like red or orange. These brighter colours could require three or more topcoats if you don’t first apply a tinted primer.
  11. Box your paint
    When you buy a few cans of the same colour paint, they’re never exactly the same.
    This small difference can look glaringly obvious if you open a fresh tin of paint halfway through painting a wall.
    To ensure colour consistency, the pros mix the different tins together in a large bucket, which is to ‘box’ the paint.
    You can paint directly out of this larger bucket, if you like, with the added bonus that you may not need a roller tray.
    light it up
  12. Light it up
    It’s easy for a beginner to miss a spot while they’re painting. This is more likely to happen when painting rooms with the same colour in poor lighting.
    If you find yourself painting in poor light, get a bright work light. Use the light to check your work as you go, particularly around the edges of a room where you may use a brush instead of a roller.
    Missed spots are easy to fix while you’re painting. They are much more infuriating when you notice them after you’ve cleaned up and put the paint away.
  13. Load up your brush
    When using a paint brush, load your brush by dipping it into the paint roughly half the length of the bristles.
    Then, tap the side of the brush against the paint tin or bucket.
    This is best to get a continuous line of paint.
    Another technique is to wet your brush before dipping it in the paint and blot it. This prevents the paint dripping up towards the handle and saves the brush.
  14. Avoid drips with long strokes
    To avoid drips with long strokes of paint, brush within 1.5 cm/.5 in. along wall trim, or within the cut-in area where the walls meet.
    As the brush unloads paint, move the brush closer.
    Slowly drag the brush along the trim or corner.
    When cutting-in don’t paint too far ahead.
    Maintain a wet edge so your roller can blend into the brushed paint. If your cut-in paint dries, you’ll end up with two coats and what’s called ‘picture framing’.
    ‘Picture framing’ is where you can see a distinction between the cut-in and rolled sections.
  15. Clean and bag it
    At the end of your painting day, you can leave the roller cover on the roller frame.
    Soak the cover in paint, then wrap the cover in a plastic bag with an airtight seal. This will keep the roller cover and paint fresh for the next day’s painting.
    Rinse brushes in warm soapy water. Use paint-thinner to clean off oil-based paint.
    Rake the brushes straight with a brush comb.
    Put your brushes back into their original wrapper or wrap them in newspaper.
  16. Scrape don’t tape Windows
    Don’t bother taping around window glass.
    Instead, let a little paint onto the glass as you paint.
    Once the paint is dry, simply scrape it off with a razor scraper.
    Be careful not to cut through the paint finish and the frame, otherwise moisture could seep in and rot the wood.
    painting the trim
  17. Paint the trim, then from Top to Bottom
    It’s easier and faster to tape off the trim than to tape off the walls.
    When you’re painting the trim, you don’t have to be too neat. Just concentrate on getting a smooth finish on the wood.
    If the trim paint gets onto the walls, you’ll paint over it later. After 24 hours the trim should be completely painted and dry.
    Remove the tape, then paint the ceiling, then the walls. Always paint one wall at a time, working from top to bottom.
  18. Keep a ‘wet edge’
    To get a seamless look, cut in the edges on one wall, then roll on the paint before the cut in sections dry off.
    This means that the brushed and rolled on sections will blend seamlessly.
    To avoid overlap marks you should maintain a “wet edge,” so each stroke of your roller overlaps the previous stroke before the paint can begin to dry.
    feather the edges
  19. Feather your edges
    To minimize or avoid overlap marks on large areas, feather out the paint along the edges you can’t keep wet.
    Thinner, feathered paint edges will avoid a build-up of paint.
    Roll a near-dry roller in different directions along the dry edge, feathering out the paint as you go.
    When you have finished the entire length, move to the next section and paint over the feathered edges.
    When applying the second coat of paint, work in the opposite direction.
    Crossing over paint applications reduces or eliminates overlap marks.

Now you’re ready to tackle your first, or next painting job!

Enjoy the challenge.

And if you decide you want to avoid the hassle of following all these tips and tricks, consider hiring professionals to handle it all for you!

Check out Paintenance Melbourne’s residential painting services.

For references and further reading:

How to Choose the Colours of Your Walls

How to Choose the Colours of Your Walls

Video: How to Choose the Colours of Your Walls *Currently 60 views

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Choose the Right Paint Colours for Your Walls

Are you planning to paint the walls of your house?

If you intend to sell your home soon, it is a good idea to paint your walls white or off-white. This gives a clean, bright feel and enables the next owners to add whatever colour they fancy.

What if, though, you want just the right colour for the walls of your home, to enjoy and live in?

As there are a myriad of colours to choose from, there are many ways to help you choose the right colour to paint the walls of your home.

Colour Has Meaning

Colour is linked with memory, perception, and emotion. For sighted people, it’s how we perceive and interpret the world.

Nature is awash with colour.

Think of a bright blue sky, green forest, yellow sun, and red berries.

Colour has cultural connotations:

  • Purple for luxury or spirituality
  • Blue for peace and dependability
  • Yellow for happiness and fun
  • Green for nature and abundance,
  • Red for passion or anger

Colours can be cool, like blues, greens, and purples, or warm, like reds, yellows, and oranges.

Colour can be bright and intense, or muted and dark.

With so many meanings, how do you choose the right colours?

natural colours

Colour Basics

Do you remember the colour wheel from school?

You know, the primary colours – blue, red, yellow.

Then the secondary colours of green, purple and orange, and all the colours and combinations in between.

It was pretty simple, wasn’t it?

Well, colour selection IS simple, in essence. But it certainly can seem complicated!

colour wheel

Key Elements of Colour

Choosing the right colours for your walls can be broken down into 4 key elements. These are:

  • Temperature
  • Tone
  • Hue
  • Chroma

Temperature

We’ve already mentioned cool and warm colours.

Choosing a certain colour’s temperature affects the mood of a room, and how it is perceived or experienced.

If you think of colours with a ‘warm’ temperature, reds, oranges and yellows, it’s because they are associated with things like fire, sunshine, and heat. Warm colours can also be energetic, playful, and full of life.

If you want a warm, inviting feel, you might choose warm colours.

On the other hand, perhaps the look and feel you are going for is designed to evoke the soothing sense of water, or grass. In this case, you might consider lower temperature colours like blues and greens.

Cooler colours tend to be less harsh on the eye and may give you a feeling of larger space within the room.

Cool colours are generally more suitable to warmer regions.

Painting with cool colours such as blues, greens and purples makes small rooms appear larger and airier.

Green, for example, is a calming, cool colour great for bedrooms and bathrooms.

Warm colours, such as reds, yellows and oranges will give a room a more vibrant appearance. These colours are more acceptable to cooler climates.

Tone

The tone of a colour refers to its lightness or darkness. If you recall mixing paint in primary school, black added to colour makes it darker (tone), while adding white makes it whiter and paler (tint).

Choosing lighter paint colours such as blues, lavenders, pinks and soft yellows are suitable for a romantic feeling of tranquility and restfulness in a room.

If you are going for a feel of calm ambience, choose lighter shades of either cool or warm colours.

White evokes peace, purity, and intellect. White suits office spaces, for example, and areas where you need to think.

Hue

Hue is just another word for colour.

Hue is the foundation of your colour scheme.

Hues can be Primary colours (red, blue and yellow).

Hues can also be Secondary colours (mixes of two primary colours) or tertiary colours (combinations of primary and secondary colours).

If you plan to use mainly whites for your walls, choose cool whites and neutral colours.

Choose warmer whites that can brighten up darker or south facing rooms.

Neutral colours can provide a sense of elegance and flexibility.

Don’t just think of neutral colours as simply white or beige.

You can add favourite colours into neutral white shades of paint to give them a lift. These can add a distinct accent or flavour to a room, such as warm and cosy or cool and muted.

Conventional wisdom is that small, dark rooms should be painted white to maximise the feeling of space. However, this doesn’t always work out.

If there’s not much natural light reaching the room, applying a whitewash can make it look even more dim, grey and depressing.

You can create a feeling of warmth and elegance by selecting varying shades of neutral colours such as pale walls with a hint of tan or brown, with trims of terracotta browns.

Blacks and browns are grounding colours and can be used in varying shades throughout your home.

Chroma

Chroma refers to the strength, or intensity of the colour.

Chroma colours are bold and stand out.

These bold chroma colours work best for feature walls, or doors that are a focal point in the room.

Bold colours can be complementary by contrasting two next to each other like gold or orange, and one from the opposite side of the colour wheel such as purple.

You can also select black and red for a standout contrast and look of the far East.

Tips for Choosing Colours

Look around at the décor of a room.

Look at features like curtains, rugs, drapery, tiles, tablecloths, throw pillows or bedding.

Consider the colours of any artwork in the room. If there is a colour theme there, consider painting your walls in a similar colour, or complimentary colours.

You should avoid going for too close a match up with your decor.

Colour co-ordinating can look boring and washed out. If you select a much lighter or darker colour than the pre-existing elements of a room, this will be more effective.

Look within nature for inspiration.

Think about the laid-back blues of the ocean, dusky purples of a mountain range, pale warmth of beach sand, and greens of the surrounding foliage.

Another source of inspiration is from catalogues, magazines, and fabric swatches.

Look at other houses, other walls, and decide which you like and dislike.

Sometimes the hardest part of choosing a paint colour is having too many options!

room lighting

Room Lighting can Affect Colour Choices

If a room or space receives little natural light, consider lightening it up with a light, cool colour.

A room that receives a lot of sunlight might benefit from being painted with a deeper, richer colour.

On the other hand, a dark colour may create a stand-out feature wall, but without natural light, it may end up looking dull and depressing.

Natural light is always best to see how a colour really looks.

Incandescent lighting brings out warm tones while fluorescent lighting brings out blues. Before selecting any paint colours, ensure you get your lighting right.

Colours to Suit Spaces

For areas with lots of activity, traffic, and stimulation, such as a games room, think about using warm colours.

Rooms that require calmness and contemplation, such as a bedroom or reading room, favour the use of cool colours.

colour samples

Sample Your Colours First

Before you commit to using a certain colour, always get a sample.

When you are committing litres and litres of paint and several hours to painting your house, you have to get the colour right the first time.

Don’t rely just on sample swatches.

Always test the colour directly on the wall. This will give a real sense of what the paint colour will look like.

Try this technique to avoid painting directly on the wall.

  • Get some sample pots to paint each of four to five colours you’ve chosen onto a sheet of white A3 card.
  • You may need a couple of coats of paint, depending on the depth of your new colour choice.
  • Place the swatches on walls with ‘blu tack’ or tape around the room.
  • Leave the colour on the wall for a day or two.
  • Observe how the light affects it, including shadows and bright reflections at different times.
  • You should be able to see the effect of sunlight and artificial light on the colours you have chosen.

This will help you to narrow down your choice to one or two colours or tones at most.

colours throught rooms

Flow Colours Throughout Your Home

If you’re painting a small home, consider extending, or flowing the colour throughout the rooms.

This can give the illusion of a larger space.

An effective way to use flowing colour is to choose a neutral paint colour that will be your signature hue for your home.

Each room you paint can then have their accent colours, or you can use the same accent colours in different amounts in each room.

Colour Matching Apps

Wish there were software solutions to guide your colour choice?

Well, there are.

Fortunately there are smartphone apps like Dulux Colour AppColor 911​ or Resene ColourMatch that allow you to snap a hue anywhere and then match it to the closest paint colour. (Once you’ve found the preferred colour, measure the room and check the back of the tin to check how many metres it will cover.)

You could also use a paint simulator, such as this one from British Paints.

colour for impact

Choosing Colour for Impact

Choosing the right paint colour has more impact than you might think.

  • Colours can make a small room feel larger, and a large room feel cosier.
  • Colours can lighten a dark room, and they can minimize glare in a bright, sunlit space.
  • Colours can warm up a chilly north-facing room or create warmth and intimacy in evening light.

We’ve given you several ways and tips to choose the right colours to paint your home.

As always, if this choice is too daunting for you to figure out on your own, ask a professional painter.

For example, at Paintenance Melbourne, we offer a free colour design service at no cost to you (upon acceptance of our quote) to assist in selecting the right colours for your home.

*If you want to talk to us about getting a free quote, call on 0404 227 330.

It’s your choice!

Article references and for further reading and information on this topic:

  • How to Choose Paint Colors for your home – Dunn-Edwards Paints
  • Colour Basics – Dulux
  • Tips for Choosing Interior Paint Colours – The Spruce
  • How To Select the Right Paint and Color For Your Home – DIY Network
  • 10 things to consider when choosing paint colours – Domain
The Top 11 Ways to Paint Your House Exterior like a Pro

The Top 11 Ways to Paint Your House Exterior like a Pro

Video: The Top 11 Ways to Paint Your House Exterior Like a Pro *Currently 33 views

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A Great House Exterior Paint Job

Do you want a great paint job for your house exterior?

Of course you do!

You want it done just right, so that it looks like all those pristine houses in the magazines, brochures and real estate ads.

You could choose to hire a pro.

Or, you can spend the necessary time, effort and money to get it done like a pro.

If you want to paint the outside of your home or property the right way, then preparation is everything.

You will have the best chance of success if you follow these instructions.

1. Get Your Materials Ready

What you will need to paint your house exterior like a pro:

Before you start make sure you have the right tools:

  • Filler and Filling knife
  • Sandpaper
  • Sugar Soap
  • Sponge
  • Wide paint brush
  • Masking tape
  • Drop sheets

Avoid Painting During Poor Weather Conditions

2. Avoid Painting During Poor Weather Conditions

First, avoid painting when it’s wet.

Humid or damp conditions can lead to paint drips and slow drying.

If you still want to paint on a humid day, then take your time. Take advantage of slow-drying paint to correct your errors before moving on to the next coat.

Try to plan your exterior painting job.

Be aware of the weather, and choose, if possible, dry spells when there is less rain and lower humidity.

Paint needs time to dry. If surfaces are damp, paint will not stick to it.

We also advise you to play it safe and avoid painting in extreme heat.

You can probably think of better things to be doing than painting your home exterior on a 40+ degree day.

Extreme weather causes paint to dry at a much faster rate. This can cause paint blistering or peeling, poor adhesion, and unappealing stroke marks.

Below 35 degrees Celsius is the ideal temperature, for both your health and the paint!

During the hotter months, it’s important that you regularly apply sunscreen, don your best broad-brim hat and stay well hydrated.

Australian weather, especially down here in Melbourne, can be unpredictable. Other warmer areas can be prone to a summer storm or two each week.

You are advised to avoid painting on rainy, windy, or dusty days. These harsher elements can affect paint adhesion and cause small particles of dust to stick.

 3. Prepare and Clean Your Exterior Surfaces

Inspect your exterior surfaces to see if there are any areas of paint that are cracked, flaking or peeling.

Any cracked, flaking, or peeling areas need attention. Be sure to sand (or scrape as needed) any peeling paint to create a solid surface for the paint to adhere.

Fill any gaps with flexible gap filler and apply primer paint to these specific areas.

Remove any rust on metal surfaces by wire brushing or sanding the surface. Then, use a quality Metal Primer before applying the topcoat.

Plastic down pipes and spouting need a clean and a light sand before applying paint.

Then, you’ll need to clean the surfaces.

Brush any grime away from surfaces, including dirt and cobwebs.

Dirty or greasy patches will need washing with soap and water, followed by a rinse with clean water. For stubborn areas, a scrubbing brush may be required.

If the walls are not too dirty, you may be able to give them a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth.

Make sure the walls are dry before you begin.

Your exterior paint job should have a clean, dust-free surface without peeling paint to stick to.

Pro Tip: To test if you need to strip the paint first cut with an “X” with a sharp knife. Then, press 10cm of adhesive tape firmly across the middle of the cut. Remove the tape quickly. If any pieces of paint come with it, you will need to strip the loose paint off before applying the new topcoat of paint.

painting window frames

4. Mask the area

Masking before you paint makes the job faster and cleaner.

  • Use a good quality masking tape along any edges you don’t want to paint, including trims or windows.
  • Push the edges of the tape down firmly to ensure straight edges.
  • Remove the masking tape at a 45° angle before the paint dries completely. If the paint is too dry, the masking tape can rip the paint film when it is removed.
  • If the paint dries before the tape is removed, using a sharp blade, score the edge of the tape before removing so that it doesn’t pull paint away from the wall.

 5. Use Quality Paints

If you use good quality paint, this will last longer and result in fewer repainting jobs. You will also get better paint coverage.

Recently paint technology has improved significantly.

Colours are guaranteed to last longer than ever before.

Avoid the temptation to skimp on paint costs to save a few dollars. It’s false economy.

Cheaper paints will give you more trouble, need repainting sooner, and will give you less coverage.

You’ll pay more in the long run, so invest more upfront to buy the better brands.

Don't Paint on Rotten Surfaces

6. Don’t Paint on Rotten Surfaces

Don’t paint on rotten wood or siding material. It’s a waste of time and paint. Rotten surfaces or walls will continue to get worse.

You have two options here.

One, is to replace the siding or wood trim with new wood or material.

The second option, particularly relevant in the case of small areas, is to use a wood hardener and match the wood colour and texture with an exterior filler product.

Be sure to do your preparation and sand either one prior to painting.

7. Use Primer

Previously, the rule was to apply a good coat of primer, sand, then apply your coats of colour paint.

This is still a good rule to follow, but some modern paints have combined primer and paint into one product.

This might cut down on the number of coats you have to apply, but it also may be an expensive option, even as costly, or more so, than purchasing primer and paint separately.

If you are painting over a dark colour or surface that’s never been primed or painted, you will need to use an undercoat. It can also provide a better coverage and hiding power than just applying extra topcoats.

combine cans of paint

8. Combine Cans of Paint

Mix multiple cans of the same colour of paint into a larger container, such as a large 20L bucket. This will help ensure a uniform colour is applied to your home’s exterior.

This step is a method the pros follow.

It’s important if, for example, you initially bought a few litres of paint less than you needed and then picked up the extra paint at a later time.

9. Paint From Top to Bottom

Start painting at the top and work your way down. This helps control painting streaks. You will be working with gravity rather than against it.

Drips are inevitable, but this method will allow you to feather out mishaps in the direction you are working.

painting outside

10. Seal Off Paint Tins

Properly close your paint containers with their lids after you finish for the day. This will keep the paint from drying out.

You can use a rubber mallet to lightly hammer the lid shut. If you also add a film of plastic wrap over the opening this will ensure a tight seal.

11. Prepare Your Landscape

Painting can be a messy business.

Be sure you cover the ground, bushes, and any other vegetation below the area you are painting.

Cover up or move any outdoor furniture, hoses, or grills.

Use drop sheets and weigh them down on the corners or securely wrap them around the items you are protecting.

painting house exterior

Painting Your House Exterior is Not Easy

The truth is, the effort involved in preparing and painting exterior walls and surfaces is not easy.

It requires patience, careful planning, hard work and, importantly, the right products, tools and techniques.

If you aren’t confident in following the pro tips that we’ve shared with you, or you simply don’t have the time or inclination, but you want top-notch professional results, then hire a trusted professional painting company to paint your precious home or property just the way you expect and desire.

You can check out some of our exterior (and interior) painting jobs here: https://www.paintenancemelbourne.com.au/residential.

Happy painting!

 

How to Spray Paint Interior Walls

How to Spray Paint Interior Walls

Video: How to Spray Paint Interior Walls *Currently 12k views

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Choosing Interior Wall Spray Painting

If you want an alternative to painting your walls with a roller and brushes, then you might consider spray painting.

A lot of professional painters use a mix of spray painting, roller painting and brush painting, depending on the surface being painted.

If you’re just painting a single wall, it may not be worth spray painting. On the other hand, if you have several large areas to paint it might be worth the set-up time.

why choose spray painting

Why would you choose spray painting?

First of all, it’s tough to beat the smooth surface of a sprayed-on paint finish for uniform coverage.

Secondly, you have a bit more control over the finished paint job. Want a perfect finish with razor-sharp lines? Then spray painting is for you.

Thirdly, spray painting can be the fastest way to paint large areas – if you do it right!

Downside of Spray Painting

There’s more preparation involved with spray painting. The techniques are harder to master, and you’ll need more equipment.

It’s also easy to over-spray, so preparation is everything!

Prepare Your wall for Interior Spray Painting

Prepare Your Wall for Interior Spray Painting

Spray paint is thinner than paint you apply with a roller.

This means you should fill all cracks, holes and uneven spots in your walls first.

Your walls should be perfectly smooth, because any uneven places will stand out after you’ve spray painted your walls.

Spray Painting Equipment

Spray Painting Equipment

If you don’t have your own, you can rent or buy spray painting equipment.

Airless sprayers may be better than sprayers that need air.

Airless sprayers are easier to use, and you won’t have heavy equipment to lug around when spray painting walls in different parts of your home.

Airless sprayers are fast, covering more area in less time than other types of paint sprayers. As a bonus, they handle most types of paint without requiring thinning of the paint.

Also, these types of spray guns create less overspray, which means that more of your paint ends up on the wall instead of in the air!

You will also need:

  • A respirator or gas mask
  • Eye protection, such as goggles
  • Long sleeved clothes
  • Long pants
  • Head covering
  • Drop sheets
  • Masking tape
  • Plastic and plastic bags

prepare your room for spray painting

Prepare Your Room for Interior Spray Painting

Spraying paint indoors generates a mist of paint. This mist, or tiny droplets of paint, can cover everything in the room if you’re not careful.

Whatever you don’t want painted in the room, you need to mask.

Cover the floor with drop sheets, taping them to the edges of the wall.

Mask or cover light switches and skirting boards.

Remove heating and air conditioning vent covers. Apply masking tape over any remaining switches and outlets.

Windows should be covered with plastic sheeting, taped around the edges.

Cover doors, sealing off doorways and door jamb edges.

Move as much furniture out of the room as possible. For any remaining furniture, move this to the middle of the room and cover it completely. Allow plenty of space for your tools and equipment.

Cover Yourself

You’ll need to cover and protect yourself while doing interior spray painting.

You should wear old clothes with long sleeves and long pants. Put on old shoes or sneakers, wear a hat and use safety googles.

A gas mask or respirator is recommended to cover your mouth and nose.

Using a Spray Gun

Using a Spray Gun

If you’re not familiar with your equipment, read the directions carefully.

Make sure you understand how to fill the spray gun with paint, how to adjust the paint nozzle and how to thin the paint to the right consistency.

It’s a good idea to do a little painting practice on a piece of scrap cardboard or plywood, for example.

Practise so that you can work out the correct distance to spray and stick to that distance while painting.

Set the sprayer in motion before squeezing the trigger. Then release it before stopping when you reach the end of a pass.

Don’t spray paint in a wide arc, as this can cause the paint to be thicker in the middle and thinner on each side.

Hold the spray gun about 250-300mm from the wall and spray in smooth, even sweeps.

Move your whole arm to ensure even coverage, rather than bending at the wrist.

More Interior Spray-Painting Tips

To avoid patchiness, don’t stop until the entire wall is covered.

Spray the outer edges of the wall first, “banding” the area that you will spray and cutting in any corners.

For inside corners, aim the spray tip directly into the corner so it overlaps both sides.

When you have finished the corners, stand in one area and move at a steady pace.

Keep spraying as far as you can reach with the spray gun at a 90-degree angle.

When you move to the next part of the wall, overlap vertically and horizontally. This will help you get an even coat of paint on the walls.

Spray around windows and doors first. Then spray the remaining flat areas using overlapping strokes.

Repeatedly spray paint down the walls, pointing the spray gun tip at the edge of the previous pass and overlap by one-third to 50 percent.

Just as you would do if using a roller and brush, you’ll need to let the paint dry and do a second coat.

cleaning up after spray painting

Cleaning Up

Allow significant time for the paint to dry before removing masking tape. This will result in crisp, clean lines.

Remove all coverings from furniture and other areas.

Replace any lighting fixtures that you removed and move furniture or other items back into place.

Make sure you clean your airless spray gun after each use. Follow the directions in the user’s manual.

Interior Spray Painting

Interior Spray Painting for Faster, Superior Results

For a skilled painter, it can be much faster to spray-paint interior walls than using a roller and a brush.

Preparation and practise are essential for optimal results. Once you get your pacing and rhythm right you can learn to spray paint interior walls quickly and with precision.

You might even find you prefer this method to standard roller and brush painting!

leave it to the professional spray painters

…Or Leave it To the Professionals!

If spray painting your walls (and other areas like ceilings, stairs, fences, woodwork, and cabinetry) sounds like way too much time and trouble to master, then go with the pros!

Paintenance Melbourne is a leader in spray painting. We use the latest equipment and cutting-edge techniques to suit a wide range of paint jobs.

Our expert spray-painting delivers flawless mirror-like finishes in a fraction of the time that more traditional painting methods would take. And certainly, a lot quicker than the average DIY home painter!

Contact us today for a free quote, or to discuss how your next painting job might benefit from our advanced spray painting services.

How to Prepare Your Home for Interior Painting

How to Prepare Your Home for Interior Painting

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Prepare Your Home for Professional Interior Painting

Okay, so you’ve made the wise decision to invest in a professional painter to paint your home interior. Congratulations!

The next steps are simple.

You get a quote, then book your chosen painter to paint your house.

They turn up with their equipment, ready to go. That’s all, right?

Wrong.

There is plenty to do before your painting pro can start on your next interior paint job.

A professional painter can help you get the job done quickly with top-notch results. Knowing how to get your house ready is super-helpful when preparing for a large project.

Remember, unless otherwise agreed with the painting company, it may be up to you to make sure your home is adequately prepared.

The first step for paint preparation is to get in touch with your professional house painting service.

You should find out what extras or optional services they offer if you do not want to do the prep work.

  • Does the crew fix minor repair issues?
  • Who should patch up nail holes and small dents?
  • What cleaning methods work best for prepping your walls for paint?

Some painting firms will take care of at least some of the prep in accordance with your arrangement, but there are still certain steps you should take ahead of time.

Here are some expert tips to save yourself time, hassle, and money on a professional paint job.

remove breakable items

1. Remove All Breakable Items and Wall Hangings

To begin with, protect any breakable or fragile items.

Move all breakable items out of the rooms to be painted.

Make sure they are boxed and stored away so your painter can move your furniture quickly and easily.

The same goes for ornaments or free-standing decorative items you might have about the place.

It’s also a good idea to take out anything that may be hanging on the walls to be painted and putting them in a safe place.

Painters are not going to get their job done if there are still mirrors, photos and other decorative bits and pieces all over your walls.

Rather than fumbling around and trying to get the job done after the arrival of the painters, take down your decorative features and make sure they’re stored somewhere safe.

Don’t take chances with your most precious objects. You might want to consider a temporary storage room, such as a basement, attic, or garage.

Handy hint – if you want picture hooks removed (or left on walls) please use a grey-lead pencil for any instructions (no sticky-tape, pens or textas please – to avoid expensive patch-up jobs!).

remove curtains, blinds

2. Remove your curtains, blinds, rugs and throws

Remove your curtains and blinds before your painter starts – or you’ll pay extra for the service.

A day or two before you plan to prepare the area for the paint crew, take down drapes and remove fabric items such as rugs from the space.

When you roll up your rugs, you can secure the carpet with a fabric tie. Putting plastic or a tarp over valuable items can protect them while the paint crew is working.

No one wants to walk into a freshly painted room to find expensive rugs and throws with paint splatter and splash marks. Accidents happen, but you can avoid these problems by removing the fabrics before the crew shows up.

If you’re installing new carpet when you’re having your house painted, we recommend you have your painter cut a strip around the wall to paint your skirting down to the floor. This avoids additional time and cost for extra painting work, when new carpet is installed at a lower height than the old carpet.

Access and Obstructions

3. Consider Access and Obstructions

Leave enough room from your walls (at least 2 metres) for your painter to place his ladder and work safely and efficiently.

Please don’t stack items under beds, so that they can be moved easily.

It is a good idea to carefully consider access and any obstructions that could potentially get in the way of the painters.

Move bulky items of furniture out of the way if you can and keep the area to be worked on as free of obstructions as possible.

The easier it is for your chosen painting team to get the job done, the faster and more efficiently it will be finished.

Not only this, but faster and easier paint jobs can also be considerably cheaper than those that are unnecessarily challenging.

wall preparation

4. Wall Preparation

Speak to your chosen painting service before they visit your home regarding whether or not you will be expected to carry out any kind of wall preparations.

Your painter may request that you clean the walls a few days prior to the paint crew’s arrival. This ensures there is a good, dry surface for the paint to adhere to. Some painters offer to clean the walls for an additional fee.

The same also goes for any kind of damage or deterioration of the materials to be painted themselves. If for example you have problems with rotting wood, rusting metal or infestations of any kind, these will need to be addressed prior to the painting going ahead.

Clean the Room

5. Clean the Room

It’s a very good idea to give the room a full, thorough clean, prior to the new paint being applied.

The last thing you want is to allow dust and dirt lurking in the room to be stirred up and settle on the surface of your once-flawless new paint job – before it even had a chance to dry.

The day before the painting is to be done you should clean the room thoroughly.

Vacuum the walls, ceiling and floor. Vacuum and polish any furniture being left in the room during painting. Once you clean the room, try to prevent anyone from entering the space.

Then, for 24 hours after the painting is done, try not to track any dirt or debris into the room until the paint dries thoroughly.

Remove Kids and Pets

6. Vacate the House and Remove Kids and Pets

Make sure you plan to ensure that kids, pets and people in general are kept as far away from the workspace as possible.

The aim is to minimize the likelihood of messy accidents. You might even be able to arrange for the job to be done and finished while nobody’s home at all.

Professionally painting your house will take some time.

If you have pets, ask friends or family to look after them for a while, until the painting work is done. Placing your pets in a kennel is an option if you do not have someone you can ask to help.

Another strategy is to set up an area in another part of the house for the kids to play in and the pets to stay in.

You are paying an interior house painter to paint your home. If they can remain focused on the job, it will get done faster and produce a better result.

If they are constantly distracted by your kids or your pets, it will take them longer to finish and could result in a poor painted finish.

consider your painter

7 – Other considerations

Here are a few other considerations that can help you get the most out of your professional painting experience:

  • Designate a specific toilet and bathroom for your painters’ use.
  • Provide facilities on site for painters to clean their brushes, rollers and spray gun. If you don’t, then let your painter know, as there may be an additional cost for cleaning these off-site.
  • Set aside storage for your painters to leave their equipment. This will minimize time they might spend going back and forth to their vehicles and help them focus on completing the paint job.

Always Ask in Advance

Every painting job is unique.

When you hire professional interior house painting services, it’s always advisable to ask what type of preparations you need to make. They might have specific needs in your home that is not common in others.

Asking in advance will ensure you are ready for the painting crew the moment they arrive at your home. This will save you time and money.

If you want to know what preparations we prefer you to make before painting your home, give us a call on 0404 227 330!

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