are certain techniques that should most definitely be adopted. Here are five tricks that will help obtain the right color, design and texture for your walls.
- Choosing the Right Color and Texture
Choosing the right colors can be a tricky job to begin with. Everything from neighborhood color schemes, to regional influences, to even your house’s own color palette can, and should, influence your color decision. More technical factors to be considered include the interplay of natural lighting, the balance of color intensities, and the visual harmony of colors. Another important aspect is the quality of the paint you select. This should depend firstly on the texture that you’re painting or are hoping to attain. For example, textured paints give a great finish and usually hide minor imperfections on the masonry, whereas smooth paint can disguise blemishes and is easier to apply. Paint technology, in terms of durability, resistance to mold and mildew, resistance to UV rays, and overall performance should always be analyzed beforehand.
- Prepping the Surface
The surface which you are painting on should firstly be free of dirt, grime, mildew and residue. If it isn’t then it is likely that your paint will not adhere to the surface properly. Techniques like trimming through the siding, scrubbing, scraping, and using a power sprayer are great ways to start. Be sure to repair holes and cracks using caulk and prime all surfaces (especially bare wood) before beginning to paint. You may paint directly over old painted surfaces provided that they are in good condition. Otherwise you must scrape and sand the flaked off bits there, too.
- Brush Techniques
Load your paintbrush by dipping about 2 inches of the bristles into the paint and remove any excess paint by slapping the brush back and forth. Start with two or three thick back and forth strokes until you’ve covered about 3 or 4 square ft. You can then smooth it out by using longer and smoother strokes with your brush. While oil-based paint will require even coats, latex paints will require less brushing due to their quick drying technology. Brushes are best to paint onto narrow surfaces, edges, and smaller areas.
- Painting with a Roller
Using small diameter rollers is an effective and fast way to paint large and long surfaces such as trim and siding. They also work very well with porous surfaces like masonry and stucco. Once your load a roller with paint and remove the excess paint to a paint tray you should go for long, even strokes, and roll in different directions to coat the entire surface.
- Avoiding Common Problems
Among the various problems that arise one to definitely avoid is bad weather. Direct sunlight is no good and nor are windy days as they both cause the paint to dry up too fast. Lap marks (painting over dried paint which causes dark areas) can be avoided by working in small sections, so that the previously worked area is still wet and all of it can be brushed out at once or by brushing from one end of the wet surface onto another. Working your way down the wall is always a smart idea and to pay attention to inside corners, and edges where paint usually builds up and runs is also important.
If you’re still confused about where to get started then it’s time to consult a professional. Whatever you decide make sure you keep these tips in mind!
