February 12th, 2008
So those stark white walls are starting to remind you of an insane asylum. Or perhaps you’ve come to the realization that florescent pink in your living room just isn’t that “in” anymore. Regardless of your reasons, applying a fresh coat of paint to your house is the highest impact home improvement and renovation project that you can undertake. It’s also one of the most economical. And for the do-it-yourselfer, it can easily be done over a weekend if you plan it properly. I personally have gone from someone who couldn’t even properly open a can of paint without getting splattered, to someone who can tackle any painting project with confidence and ease. The key is proper planning and patience. Here is some guidance on how to eliminate the fear factor of taking on a home painting project, and end up with results to make you proud.
1. Develop a vision
The important thing here is to put your thoughts down on paper. Selecting colors can be daunting for most people. What if I don’t like the way the color looks on my walls? Will it make the room look too dark or too light? I can speak from personal experience. Due to tight deadlines and insufficient planning, I ended up painting my kitchen three different colors until I was happy with the result. I could easily have avoided this had I taken the time to plan it properly.
Some things to ask yourself:
- Am I aiming for a complimentary colour scheme?
- Am I trying to lighten up a small dark space?
- Am I going to go crazy and go for bold colors?
- Have I picked up color samples and sample size containers jars I can test on the walls?
- How much natural sunlight do I get in the room I’m painting?
- What type of sheen should I go with? Eggshell, Semi-gloss, etc.
- Will the colors match the carpet, broadloom, and furniture?
- Should I consult decorator or color consultant? Some paint dealers offer this type of service for free if you buy paint from them.
2. Put together a budget
Paint and paint supplies are fairly inexpensive when you compare them to other building materials, but the costs can add up quickly.
More budgetary considerations:
- How much are you prepared to spend?
- How much extra do you have for contingencies.
- How much paint will you need to buy? (Roughly 400 square feet per gallon)
3. Create a schedule
Creating a schedule is important so that you can ensure you have adequate time to complete the project if you’re taking it on over a weekend, or if another improvement project is dependant on the completion of this one. Allow adequate time for the pre-paint prep work, and for the paint to dry between coats. Remember, you have to account for the time required for the paint to dry enough so that it won’t peel right off with the painters tape you put over it, such as when you go from painting the ceiling to painting the walls.
4. Purchase your paint and supplies
Always go for the best quality paint that you can afford within your budget. I cannot stress this enough… in fact, let me say it again. ALWAYS GO FOR THE BEST QUALITY PAINT YOU CAN AFFORD. Cutting corners on the quality of the paint will more often than not cost you more in the long run. Better quality paint not only requires fewer coats than cheap paint, but the same gallon can will take you farther, and the paint durability will ensure it lasts longer. It actually works out to the same or less overall cost than if you went with cheap paint. I personally use Sico Paints for everything. For an eggshell finish their Cashmere line is second to none. I also love their Shantung which is more of a semi-gloss and ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, and playrooms. I’m also a fan of Benjamin Moore paints, which might be easier to find for most people. Latex or Alkyd (oil based) is the next question everyone wonders about. A few years ago, oil based paints were far superior to anything that was latex based, but latex has caught up in quality and durability. The fact that it doesn’t emit harmful vapors and cleans up easily is a huge plus! Here is a good article on the difference between the two. A rule of thumb to remember however, is to avoid applying latex paint if the existing walls were done with oil based paint.
Typical items you’ll need for the job:
- paint can opener and stir sticks.
- old newspapers.
- paint tray and liners.
- canvas or plastic drop cloths
- clothes.
- clean rags.
- ladder or step ladder.
- rubber or latex gloves.
- eye protection.
- cap - a friend of mine had to shave his head after getting splattered.
- comfortable but expendable clothing.
- extension handle.
- roller and roller brush - the knap thickness you need depends on the existing and preferred wall texture.
- painters tape - I prefer the lower tack blue tape over the green tape.
- screwdrivers - don’t forget to remove wall switch and receptacle panels.
- sanding block.
- shop vacuum.
- bucket of water.
- T.S.P. solution
- paintbrushes - I use a variety of sizes and always go for the best I can afford, and I always reuse them.
5. Prepare the surface
Clean the surfaces thoroughly by removing dirt and dust from the walls:
- add 10 grams of T.S.P. per litre of lukewarm water.
- rub surface vigorously and work from the bottom up to avoid runs.
- let the solution work for 2 or 4 minutes.
- rinse the surface with clean water.
If you have mildew growing on the surface:
- Put on a pair of rubber gloves, pour 1 litre of bleach per 3 litres of warm water into a bucket.
- apply solution to the surface working from the bottom up.
- rub the surface with a stiff bristle brush or scouring sponge.
- let the solution work for about 10 minutes.
- rinse with clean water.
6. Prep the room and surfaces to be painted
- move furniture out of the way and place drop cloths over the ones you can’t.
- protect the floor with drop cloths.
- remove doorknobs, receptacle and switch plates, light fixtures that might be in the way (don’t forget to turn the breaker switch off)
- tape edges and anything you don’t want splattered with paint.
- ensure there is proper ventilation in the room without drafts that could dry the paint unevenly
7 . Prime and paint the surface
The ideal temperature to apply paint is between 15°C and 25°C (60°F and 77°F) with a relative humidity of between 30% to 55%. If it’s a very hot and humid or rainy day, it may have some uneven drying issues.
Think of primer as two sided tape. Once side sticks to your walls, and the other side provides a clean surface for the new paint to adhere to. Priming is not always necessary on clean, light colored walls, but is highly recommended. On darker colored walls or new drywall, it’s a must. One coat of a good quality primer is usually enough. (unless you’re painting over black paint, or your toddler’s artwork done in permanent marker)
There are several different priming and painting techniques out there, but here’s the one that works for me.
- Start with the ceiling.
- always paint toward the narrower side of the room.
- start in the corner and paint the borders of the ceiling with a brush.
- paint a 2′x4′ section with roller by rolling on a ‘W’.
- without taking the roller off the ceiling fill in the ‘W’ proceed the same way with the other sections working your way backward toward the back of the room, then starting back at the front and to the right of the section you just painted, from forward to back, eventually working your way through the room from left to right.
apply two coats for an even finish.
Painting the walls
- When the Ceiling has dried, tape the edges of the ceiling where it meets the wall
- Start in a corner of the room and paint the edges of the wall, one wall at a time.
- On the top left side of the starting wall, mark out a section of about 2 x 4 feet with a roller, by drawing a “W.”
- Without lifting the roller from the surface, fill in the “W.”
- Draw another “W” under the first section.
- Roll the roller vertically along both sections, since some rollers leave different textures.
- Start over next to the section and repeat.
- Continue in the same manner with the remaining sections
- Once the wall is complete, move on the next wall. It’s recommended that when you finish one wall, make sure you have enough paint to complete the next entire wall. If you start with another can of paint in the middle of a wall, it can result in slightly different colors, which may be perceptible side by side, but not wall to wall.
- After the first coat has been applied and the paint has been allowed to dry (2-4 hours depending on the paint) repeat the entire procedure and apply a second coat of paint.
Doors, Trim, and Baseboards
- Once the second coat has been applied to the walls, and has had enough time to dry, apply painter’s tape around the windows, door trim on the recently painted wall portion above the baseboards.
- Apply the first coat of paint the doors and trim.
- Once dry, apply second coat.
8. Cleanup
Although latex paint is quite forgiving, always clean spills and splatters as soon as possible with a damp cloth you should always keep nearby. After any given stage, I always put my paint rollers in new garbage bag, wrap them up tightly, and place them in the fridge. This will allow you to reuse them for the next coat and any required touchups. I always clean my brushes after every coat by rinsing, applying hair shampoo, and then conditioner. Rinse thoroughly. I have painted several coats in at least six different colors in my entire house using the same brushes.
Don’t forget to carefully remove the painters tape once you’ve finished painting around it. The longer you leave it on, the more likely it will peel the paint off with it when it comes off.
9. Touchup
Once you’ve cleaned up the bulk of the mess, and have given the paint ample time to dry, go back and look over your work. You’ll likely notice a few areas you need to touch up, Especially around the taped areas. Some of the paint may have slightly peeled off with the tape. Just go back with a brush and a small amount of paint, and go over the affected areas.
Put the wall plates and fixtures back (turn off the breaker!), move the furniture back, and clean up any leftover mess.
Now you can sit back and admire your handiwork. I hope this article proves helpful and gives you some confidence to take on this project yourself.
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