As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, property owners and leasers have increasingly been looking for ideas to make their living spaces more appealing. And many times, painting comes up as one of the most viable options. There are valid reasons for that, the main being that it is a fast and cost-effective way to spruce up your room.
However, it is not as easy a job as many may imagine. Patrick Coye, the owner of a leading painting firm in Northern Virginia, stated that this is the year they have done the most repair jobs caused by failed DIY painting gigs. As much as it may look negative, novice painters can still do a good job and achieve neat results but they must be willing to put in some time and effort.
That being said, we contacted home designers, entrepreneurs, and of course expert painters to get some good tips on doing a good job, figure out the frequent blunders made by beginners, and how to steer clear of them.
Invest in good equipment
Good tools give you the confidence to work and deliver results.When it comes to painting tools,Patrick Coye prefers rollers made by Wooster or Purdy. He especially likes the Wooster rollers since they carry more paint and leave a finish with a nice feeling. His advice for a first-time roller user is to slide it on some painter’s tape to remove excess lint. Backdrop co-founder, Natalie Ebel, vouches for better quality tools and brushes because they will give a better look. Backdrop is a brand that was founded to focus mainly on DIY painters.
Do enough prep
DIY painters should spend more time on what is known as "prepping". It involves clearing the area, tidying it up, and covering the space. Use a damp rag to wipe the walls, tape the baseboards together and ensure the area is free of dirt by vacuuming the place. Allocating an entire day for this would be a good idea to do it properly and without rushing.
Finishes are not the same always
Finishes are crucial, and one type of finish can never be fit all scenarios. A good idea is to use eggshell for most of the walls; the reason being that it balances with matte and satin and can be easily wiped off using a magic eraser. Shinier finishes like semi-gloss work well for doors and baseboards because they are easy to wipe dirt off and they can handle some damage too.
Avoid skipping the primer
While there exist divergent views on its importance, the general agreement is that it is useful. It is crucial in some scenarios, like when you are working on naked wood, new drywall, or metal. It could also be of good use when working on an older building that was done with oil-based paint products. Primers also save on money, as their price is lower in contrast to high caliber paint. When coating a bright color on top of a duller one, use prime as it will save on paint required since instead of four, only two will be used.
Peel the painter’s tape early enough
The majority of beginner painters are reluctant to remove the painter’s tape until the paint has fully dried. This is the wrong way to do it because when the paint has fully dried, peeling the painter’s tape will come out with some of it. Removing the painter's tape just before the last coat dries is the right way to do it.
