Painting Advice

A new paint job may just be what your house needs to look good as new! From the kitchen to the living room to the office, a fresh coat of paint will do wonders. Fortunately, this does not need to be much work, money, or time, as proper preparations and a bit of elbow grease will show…… a little patience doesn’t hurt either. Of course, it’s never a bad idea to hire professional painters to do the job, but sometimes due to budget restraints, it’s a better idea to just do it yourself. Regardless, learning a thing or two about painting is useful. Interior painting might be a little tricky, but with a little patience and the right tools it is possible to do an adequate job. The first thing to decide upon is the color scheme of the room because this will create a cozy atmosphere and give the room or the whole house a real character that says something about your tastes and personality. From bright and whimsical to warm and welcoming, paint colour can set the tone in a home. The proper colour combinations can also make a room seem bigger and brighter.

Interior Painting Victoria

Next step is to purchase the proper tools. Believe me when I tell you, your best friend is a professional paint brush. A good brush makes cutting in to all those delicate areas so much easier and gives you a much straighter line. I recommend the Wooster lindbeck pro production 2 1/2 in brush. I have used this brush solely for over 5 years now and I swear by it. It holds a fair amount paint in the bristles and retains a very solid line after numerous uses. It is important to always clean out your brush with cold water after every use (if using latex) as this keeps the bristles in top notch form. You can buy cheaper brushes but it has been my experience that a straight cut line is half a keen eye and half a decent brush. The keen eye takes time, but have no fear, if you find you have a shaky hand just pick up some painters masking tape to aid in the process. Again, more costly but more effective than the competitors, is frog tape. It holds back paint bleed and leaves a great line upon removal. Once you have picked out your brush and your tape to mask off those tricky interior painting areas, you will need painters poly (plastic sheeting) for covering up all the family heirlooms. A couple canvas tarps for covering the floor as you motor around your future masterpiece will also come in handy. A painting tray as well as a roller cage and a sleeve (roller) will also be necessary, as will an extension pole for your roller and a step ladder, unless you have a bullet proof back or are ten feet tall! Your sundries should include but are not limited to, sandpaper (120 grit) , filler (Drydex) for wall repairs, a filler knife (4inch will be fine unless you have extensive wall damage), caulking and a caulking gun for filling in all those unsightly gaps around trim work and cabinets, and some methyl hydrate to clean up any latex spatters you may have, and believe me even the pros have them….gravity does not discriminate! It is now time to consider your paint brand as you have your perfect colour picked out. Most interior painting projects are done in acrylic latex these days and I am a fan of various brands of paint for a variety of applications, but I use Cloverdale Paint on most of Pro Palette Painting’s jobs. Most interiors require a flat ceiling paint for the ceilings (semi- gloss in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens) , eggshell sheen on the walls , and semi-gloss on the trim. That being said, there are times when you may prefer a low- sheen eggshell on your trim, or a flat on your walls ( if you don’t have children or pets running around the home). Sheens typically run in this order: flat, eggshell, semi-gloss, high gloss. The first hiding the most flaws but being the least durable, and the latter being extremely durable and washable but hide qualities are not the best (shows imperfections more). Of course, the sheen is a personal preference and over the years the durability of these products all across the board has improved and continues to do so. Once you have all your tools of the trade and new castle colour ready to go, its time for the prep. The worst part of the job, but the most important. The holes and gaps need to be filled and sanded, gaps caulked, and walls pole sanded in entirety to give a nice smooth finish. A new colour won’t look so new if underneath it looks like the surface of the moon. If all of this is sounding like more trouble than it’s worth, give us a call at Pro Palette Painting – interior painting Victoria BC. The fun begins as you patiently apply that first brushstroke of colour to your new canvas, being careful to smooth out your brush strokes with nice even pressure. This even pressure also comes in very handy as you apply the colour on by roller after you have cut in all your outside edges. Remember to roll all the way up to the top cut and all the way down to the bottom cut. Rolling in a choppy uneven path can put more pressure on one side of the roller and leave heavy build up on the walls and will tarnish your perfect prep! It is always a good idea to back roll ( with light pressure and the same up and down motion). Back rolling is essentially re-rolling the (just rolled) area with light pressure to smooth out any imperfections, before dipping the roller in the tray to start the next segment of the wall. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, for the most part paint is mistake free (it can all be fixed). Weather you’re tackling interior or exterior painting, every good painter made his/her fair share of mistakes along the way. Have fun with it, enjoy your creation! Be proud of your new castle…and if all else fails and the fine lines test your patience to the point of exhaustion, then by all means give me a call. We are always happy to add to our family of customers.

Happy Painting, Gord Koehn (Pro Palette Painting)