Home Painting - Advice Please

[Homerboy]

QFT - I thought the only time you might prime a painted wall was to cover a loud color or a large color transition. Going from solid red to a neutral or dark green to light yellow for example.

You thought that because it's true.

 

[alkemyst]

Don't tape at all. It is just a PITA and I never have any luck with it. The paint either bleeds through the tape or the tape pulls up paint with it when removed. Just buy a decent quality angled brush and use a steady hand. Its faster, easier, and the results look a lot better. Just keep a damp rag around and wipe off any mistakes right away.

Dude...you are doing it wrong.

I cut pretty good, but nothing is faster than running 20' of painter's tape and then not worrying.

The trick with tape though is to pull it before the paint starts drying.

OP you just missed a great home depot sale on applicators and brushes.

For tarps (drop cloths), if you have a harbor freight they are great to pick them up cheap.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The paint manufacturers must love you guys recommending priming already painted walls. I hope they at least send you a Christmas card.

Agreed. The only time I've used primer is when going from a dark color to a lighter one. Then again, our house was completely white inside when we bought it. Only an idiot would put primer over flat white paint.

 

[SandEagle]

I've never seen blue painters tape pull up paint unless maybe the paint was put on horribly.

It happens. Learned the hard way that you should pull off the tape before the paint dries :-/

go to home depot and get the paint that has primer mixed in it already. works great

 

[Modelworks]

I enjoy painting and it need not be something you hate doing.
The key is in the preparation .
Make sure you set enough time aside to do it. Don't plan on painting a whole room in one day with the idea of preparing for it that morning and finishing the room that afternoon.
Instead prep the room the day before. Make sure to get anything that could get in your way moved. Painting around things in the way or trying to reach something out of reach with the brush is why people hate painting. If it is a one bath home do the painting when everyone is gone. Stopping and starting because people need to use a room is annoying.

Try to get eye level or as close as you can get to what you are painting.
Reaching way over head and dabbing paint is another thing that will frustrate because it will drip, get on what you do not want it to, etc.


When you get the paint get some cups. Cheap solo plastic cups work great to hold small amounts of paint. If the paint is in the older can format get some plastic adapters to snap on top to make it easy to pour and to prevent drips down the side.

tape. Lots of debate about this. Really if you take your time then tape is not needed. I have painted probably 20-30 apartments, did it for extra income when I was younger, and I never once used tape. Get some rags you can throw away and some good chisel shaped brushes.

I do the trim first and around all outlets, counters, etc with the brush then use the roller for the large areas.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

My technique is to hire someone else to do it.

 

[HN]

a tip for drying your brushes if you rinsed or soaked them in water:

instead of just flicking them in the air as one is wont to do, tap-tap-tap them against your shoe. water will come flying off like a sprinkler. see below for reference (image not to scale):

 

[Thump553]

Inisde or outside painting, it is a world of difference. Preparation is longer and even more important outside. Some outside tips:

1) It may already be too late to start. My paint (solid stain, actually) calls for 50 degrees plus.

2) Get a standoff for your ladder-it greatly extends your reach and makes the ladder enormously more stable. One of the best tool investments I ever made.

3) If your not using a standoff, put those soft rubber mittens over the end of your ladder to prevent marring.

4) Spray the wasps in the evening before sunset and don't be stingy. It may take two doses.

5) Painting is boring. Inevitably my mind focuses on some really bad song I haven't heard in 20+ years-then repeats in a loop all day long in my mind.

6) Paint a couple of slats at a time, all the way across the house horizontally to avoid stripes. Start at the top and work down.

Indoor painting is a lot easier-I leave it to my wife. Heaven knows she's going to change the color in six months anyway.