How to get a good paint job.

 

Know our objective as to how you want the product to look at the finish. We’ll use a wall for an example. This is an older home with lots of paint on the wall. It has nap texture on the surface of the wall; it’s nowhere near smooth. Now you must decide what you want for an out come, a 50′s look on the wall or a modern look.

  • If 50′s look fix all nail holes dings and cracks. Next Wash the wall with Acetone, it prepares the surface for paint to bond to the existing layer of paint, remember to remove all crayon, grease lipstick etc. type of marks before the acetone wash. Next cover the floor with a tarp. Tape off all millwork on the wall, from baseboards, chair-rails, casings, to Crown moldings. Remove any lights, thermostats, switch cover plates and heat registers prior to painting. Use the right tools for painting read posthttp://www.home-elegance.com/articles/65/paint-roller-and-brushes/ for details.
  • If you are looking for a modern look do this. Next cover the floor with a tarp. Tape off all millwork on the wall, from baseboards, chair-rails, casings, to Crown moldings.

    Remove any lights, thermostats, switch cover plates and heat registers prior to painting. Trawl taping compound over the entire wall, this may need to coats of compound.

    Let it dry after every application up 24 hours. Then hand sand the wall with 150 grit sand paper and finish with a 220 or better sand paper and wall will be smooth.

    • Using a 5 Star paint (http://www.home-elegance.com/articles/63/who-makes-the-best-paint/). Prime the wall first wait at least 8 hours before applying the color coat to the wall again wait 8 Hours the label may say 20-40 minutes but you are dealing with a new wall.

    By waiting you are allowing each coat of paint not only to dry but also to reach its maximum bonding strength before applying another coat of paint.

    As a roller rolls over the wall, it’s applying the paint on the lead edge of the roller and pulling the excess off the wall with rear edge of the roller.

    If wall the paint coats before this coat is not bonded it will remove the lower paint layer making a mess.

    Always apply 2 layers of finish paint for a better job and for durability.

  • Know this white paint dries fast, and bonds fast this is what the label on the can is saying.

    When you add color the more color (pigment) mixed in the can the longer the bonding time for example a pastel color paint will bond (harden) in 30-60 days, while a dark blue or brown will time up to 6 months to bond (harden).

    In this bonding time wall can be damaged very easily, be careful.

    • 01/29/2006 by Gary Korpi on Construction Tips, Materials, Paint

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