Home Painting Tips for Beginners

Home makeover shows got many home owners interested in giving their respective residences a lift. Although they have the iron will to get this done, the greater challenge lies on their lack of funds to hire professionals to do the work. Here are some of the basics which can get beginners started with their first painting project.

Wrap up. With the use of newspaper and masking tape, cover all the lamps, fans, fixtures, light switches, faucets and cabinets attached to your ceilings and walls. You do not want them dotted with coat drips, right?

Patch up. How does your wall look like? Do you spot any holes, cracks or chips? If yes, smoothen these areas first. Apply ample patching paste on them with the use of putty knife.

Clean your walls, baseboards, ceilings and crown moldings. Using a feather duster may not be enough especially in the presence of thick dust. Wipe these parts with damp cloth to avoid dust from flying off. Never paint over unclean areas. Painting a house covered with dust can cause peeling of dry coat.

Select your coat. The two important things to consider here is the color and the type of paint. Perhaps, you already have a color combination in mind. It would not hurt to ask the opinion of other people regarding your choice. This is advisable especially if you have housemates. Purchase gallons of test paint. Cover certain wall sections with your chosen colors to see if the outcome fits your taste. Moving forward, choose the best type of coat for your walls. Do you need wall protection? Then go for oil-based coats. They could be pricey though. Do you need ease in cleaning? Purchase latex-based coats. Stains on walls covered with latex-based paint can be quickly cleaned with soap and water.

Choose the right brush. This is part of house painting tips as well. Oil-based coats are best applied using brushes made of natural materials. Latex-based coats are best applied using brushes made of synthetic materials like nylon.

Prime the surface. Before applying paint, apply the primer first. The primer will cover all the patches applied over the holes and cracks on the wall. Be sure that your house is well-ventilated during priming. Open all your windows and turn on exhaust fans. Use roller brush for priming. Remove excess lint on the roller brush first with the use of a masking tape.

Get the proper mix. A section of your walls can get a shade darker or lighter than the rest if you are unable to mix paint properly. For this, you will need a big bucket and a paint stick with holes.

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