You wouldn’t want to find yourself creating awkward lap marks, inconsistent colour or miss a few spots. Luckily, we’ve been doing our research and put together 7 of the best tips to consider before you whip out the brushes and rollers. Read on to become more paint savvy for that next DIY job!
#1 Avoiding lap marks
Lap marks happen when uneven layers of paint build up, causing stripes on your wall. To avoid this, roll the full height of the wall or ceiling and keep a wet edge.
#2 Assuring colour consistency
Even paint of the same hue and brand may vary slightly from can to can. The easiest way to ensure a consistent colour throughout the room is to combine all of your paint cans in one large bucket. Just be sure to estimate the amount of paint you’ll be needing.
#3 Getting the perfect edge
Consider the order in which you paint a room. By painting the trim first, you don’t have to worry about being neat or taping off the wall—it’s much easier to tape off the trim when you’re painting the walls! Once your walls are dry, only then should you cut the tape off and be left with perfect, straight edges.
#4 Know your paints
If you’re painting the exterior of your house, there are two basic types of paint to choose from. The first is water-based latex paint and the other being oil-based alkyd. Latex paint cleans up with soap and water, dries quickly and has low odour. Alkyd paints require paint thinners for cleanup and also takes longer to dry. This paint also has a strong solvent smell, but is also durable, stain-resistant and dries with fewer brush marks—making it ideal for exteriors.
#5 Take it from the top
By starting at the top of your exterior and working your way down, you will avoid creating marks with your ladder or other objects that may be leaning against the wall. Working your way down will simply make the whole process a lot easier.
#6 Achieving perfect trim
Hiding the underlying colour and sheen of the trim can be a tedious task that takes a few coats. To ensure the smoothest finish, sand the trim after every coat (after giving it time to dry, of course). You’ll be thankful for putting in the extra bit of effort when you see the results!
#7 Leave it to a professional
If you’re not quite keen on painting the house yourself, why not find a local painters to do the job for you!
