Easy DIY Wall Painting Techniques
To Enhance the Beauty of your Home
To Enhance the Beauty of your Home
Fabulous walls don't have to cost a fortune and by following some easy wall painting techniques you can transform your drab walls quickly and econmically to look like a million bucks with just the cost of materials and a few hours of your time.
The hardest part is just making the commitment to get started and finding out how to purchase the right materials and tools to get the job done right.
First Step - Choose Your Color Scheme and Type of Paint:
Whether you plan to paint a single room or a whole house, this first step may prompt you to stall. Given that there are thousands of paint colors and many different types of wall painting techniques, how do you select the right ones for your project?
Start by collecting paint color cards from your paint store and try matching different color cominbations on your walls. Match colors with existing upholstery and carpet.
Be sure to factor in floor color, furnishings and how much light the room receives at different times of the day.
Leaf through home decorating magazines to find inspiration.
Always buy a small sample can of paint to test several colors and your wall painting techniques before making a final decision.
Visit our page on choosing the right decorating color schemes and learn
how to use the color wheel.
Maybe you're interested in exploring and finding out more about creative faux wall painting techniques and finishes which requires a little more time, work and practice on your part.
However, mixing paint with glaze creates lovely translucent color that gives the illusion of fabric or stone or gives the illusion of dimension to your walls. Glaze adds transparency to paint allowing the first color underneath to show through.
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You will love the look and reap the rewards of these beautiful soft and subtle wall painting techniques if you have the time and the motivation to get through the learning curve.
Step Two - The Proper Paint Selection:
You'll need to research whether you want oil or latex-based paint.
Oil is generally preferred outside for its long lasting quality. Latex is often chosen for indoors since it makes for easy clean up.
However, there is no iron clad rule. For example, an interior room that gets lots of sunshine all day long will generally do better with an oil or alkyd based paint.
Also trim and doors look better painted with alkyd type paint even in a room otherwise painted with latex. The added brightness and rich color gives a nice contrast.
Whether you choose latex or oil-based paint for your wall painting techniques you will also have to choose a finish:-
- Glossy - High gloss paint leaves a very shiny, easy to clean surface.
- Semi Gloss - Has a lower sheen and works well where there is high humidity. Excellent for trim and other wall painting techniques.
- Satin - Satins give a mild sheen and cleans easily.
- Eggshell - Eggshell paints have a low sheen and are a perfect choice for hallways, dens or other quiet areas.
- Flat - Flat paint goes on thin and leaves a matte look with little light reflection. Far from being dull flat paints may give just the right low key subtle effect for a bedroom. Flat paint doesn't reflect as much light and is perfect for masking wall defects and making quick touch ups as well as being the ideal choice for ceilings.
Step Three - Tools of the Trade:
Paint, paint brushes and rollers are only the most obvious things you'll need.
Prep work may require sanding blocks, sandpaper, wood putty, spatulas and more.
Whether you're painting the interior or exterior you'll want a number of different types of brushes to use for various wall painting techniques.
Even if you use
a power sprayer to do
the exterior, there will always be a number of spots that call for hand
painting. But here's the kicker, brushes and rollers come in a bewildering array of sizes, materials and types. So which one is best for the job?
Proper Paintbrushes:
There are two basic types of brushes - natural bristle and synthetic.
Natural bristle brushes are perfect for oil-based or alkyd type paints.
Synthetic brushes are best used for water-based finishes.
Bristle brushes are quite a bit more expensive than synthetic brushes but they have earned their popularity because of their variety of uses such as ease of cleaning, reuse capabilities and ability to apply a smooth even heavier coat of paint.
Whether you use a good quality synthetic brush or a bristle brush make sure its the right size and the right brush for the wall painting techniques you plan to use speeding the painting process and ensuring better results.
If you plan to use the best wall painting techniques you'll need good quality brushes. Here's what to look for in a quality brush:-
- A wooden handle that absorbs moisture. A plastic handle will get slippery.
- A bristle length that is twice the length of the brush.
- A definite flex and snapback when pushed against your palm.
- Match the brush width to the width of the object being painted.
- Little shedding - no more than 3 or 4 bristles when tugged.
- Flagged - varying length ends for a smooth finish.
Different shapes for different strokes:
- Sash brushes are good for reaching into corners.
- Square end brushes are the best for flat surfaces.
- Use low cost foam brushes to apply smooth finishes to small areas.
When should you use a roller?
The roller lays down paint at least three times faster than the largest brush and a good roller with beveled ends leaves no roller overlap marks.
A roller is definitely the tool of choice for large flat areas such as ceilings and walls.
However, most jobs will require both a roller and a paintbrush. The key to success is understanding that you need to use a paintbrush for many wall painting techniques such as painting narrow strips or painting in a sharp edge.
Paint rollers are two-piece tools. There is a handle with a wire cage and an interchangeable roller cover. The handle will last as long as you clean it so invest in the best that you can afford.
Look for handle with a good grip, a heavy frame and nylon bearings that spin easily.
Once again, rollers come in natural or synthetic materials and are the
tool of choice for many wall painting techniques.
The nap of a roller determines the final texture left behind. A long rough nap creates a rougher look. If you want the smoothest possible surface, then choose a very fine low nap.
As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. It will cost a little more to get a roller with a fiber core and well attached nap, but its easier to clean and will last through several projects.
Other Must Haves:
You'll need a good quality ultra sturdy ladder.
The
ladder
will have to support your body weight, plus a bucket of paint or a
heavy spray canister. In addition you'll want brushes, pans, rollers and other equipment within easy reach so the ladder needs to support about 10-15% more than your actual body weight.
Don't skimp here.
Walls are always higher than they look and you need to stand two or even three steps down from the top rung for safety so be sure to spend wisely and buy the best possible ladder for your painting projects.
You are going to need two or three buckets.
Never paint out of the paint can. Always pour no more than half - one inch of paint into a painters bucket and replace the lid on your can so that dust, grime and insects don't get into your paint
.Also exposing your paint to the air for any periord of time thickens the paint and it starts to dry making it gooey and sticky and harder to apply smoothly.
You will also need a paint pan or two for using a roller.
There are also optional lids which can be very helpful. A standard paint can lid can be a real pain to open, especially when paint starts to dry around the top lid. Slip on lids with paint pouring spouts can save you a lot of trouble.
Blue painters tape is a must for those wall painting techniques that require careful painting of window sills, walls near baseboards and other close areas.
The tape has a special adhesive that clings well and comes off cleanly. Without it you won't be able to avoid splattering paint on trim and other unwanted areas.
Drop cloths, plastic or canvas tarps are vital for covering floors and protecting surfaces from dripping paint. A slight flick from your brush or a little too much speed with the roller can splatter paint where you least expect.
Don't try to cut corners like a lot of do it yourselfers by using newspaper or cheap plastic such as large trash bags.
Using specialized paper designed for house painting masking jobs is flexible and sturdy, sheds water and holds up well to paint drips.
Plastic or tarps that are made specifically for paint jobs are probably your best bet and are cheaper than paper.
Just keep in mind spending a few extra dollars for good paper or plastic covering is definitely very worthwhile.
Paint thinner is essential for cleaning off oil-based paints.
Soap and water cleans nicely if you're using latex paints.
Covering your head with a hat or a scarf will save you having to wash paint out of your hair.
Also if you have to do any sanding when preparing your walls, you might need a mask to cut down on dust and particles which could cause breathing difficulties and allergies.
A scraper or two comes in handy for prep work and for those areas that you weren't quite careful enough. You may also need patching putty if your walls have large dents or holes.
When it comes to applying certain wall painting techniques, equipping yourself with the proper painting gear will save time and effort. Quality tools and materials are an investment in painting success so don't skimp and you'll be assured of the best possible result.
Step Four - Prep for Success:
Unfortunately the hard reality is that about 80% of any interior or exterior home painting project is the very important and very time consuming advance preparation work, unless of course your surfaces are brand new.
Exterior wall or trim can become cracked, oxidized and suffer other damaging effects.
Interiors can require patching of dents, holes,scrapes and other similar defects.
It's not much use going to all the trouble and expense buying the tools and the materials and then painting your house using the best wall painting techniques without fixing any of these problems first. That is if you want the final result to look new and as professional as possible.
A well prepared surface also makes the painting project go faster and easier and produces a beautiful result that you can be proud of and that will be long lasting.
Step Five - Getting Ready to Paint:
- Remove wall fixtures, outlet and switch covers.
- Plug any nail or screw holes with putty.
- Repair any gouges or cracks.
- Clean surface thoroughly - exterior walls may need power washing.
- Scrape any peeling edges - a heat gun can be used to loosen the paint.
- Sand- use a mask to control dust especially indoors.
- Use painters tape to mask trim and moldings.
- A spray bottle of sudsy water to clean up latex paint paint drips.
- A primer may be needed for fresh dry wall or if the area is discolored or contains water stains.
Step Six - Now for the Fun Part:
Once good prepartion is completed, the paint selected and the wall painting techniques decided upon the actual painting can go quickly and easily.
Confine Fido and Phoebe and it's time to go!
In most cases Priming is Essential:,
Priming helps ensure a professional looking paint job and primes your wall for all wall painting techniques and applications. It's not just watered down paint but is a specially formulated product designed to:
- Increase adhesion
- Help the finish coat develop maximum sheen
- Give the finish coat a uniform appearance
- Increase the finish coat coverage
- Block stains from water dirt or smoke
Primer provides bonding and blocking. Paint provides durability and color.
However, you may be able to skip this step if your wall has been previously painted with latex and needs no patching. You could consider the old paint to be the primer for the new paint.
Try this test. Place a piece of transparent tape onto the old paint and if the old paint comes off with the tape, you need to prime.
Use an all purpose primer for either latex or oil based paints. Most primers can be tinted and tinting will ensure a good coverage for the finish coat. Follow directions from the manufacturer for the amount of tint and drying time.
Start at the top with the ceiling and work your way down.
A roller can do those large areas quickly, but be sure to pick a nap length that will produce the desired result. The longer the nap, the rougher the final look.
Take care not to move too fast and fling paint off the roller as it moves.
If you use a latex paint which is recommended for interior projects, you'll need to paint a smaller area at a time. Latex dries quickly and you need to keep a wet leading edge to ensure there are no overlap marks left when it dries.
Oil based paints require a little more care to apply. They tend to drip more and leave runs as well as requiring more smoothing.
When you get to the trim and baseboard that's where you'll pick up a brush to use a wall painting technique called "cutting in".
Cutting in requires a steady hand.
- Dip the brush into the bucket or pan about two inches and scrape off any excess paint onto the rim.
- Move the brush close to the border and give it a short jab, taking care not to touch the masking tape. A couple of tries and you'll soon get the hang of this wall painting technique.
- Then go over the same strip near the edge horizontally, in
order to smooth out any lines or narrow vertical strips produced by
cutting in.
Make Life Easier with the Accusbrush XT:
If you are painting multiple rooms and want to make your painting job go much faster, easier and still ensure professional results, the Accubrush XT pole mountable paint edger allows you to paint around door frames, wall and window trim and ceilings without using masking tape and without having to get up and down on a ladder.
Just watch this video demonstrated by Paint Helpers to see how easy and remarkable this system is to use.
This Accubrush XT Jumbo paint edger is available in a kit exclusively from Amazon and contains everything you need to get started and is an excellent choice especially if you have a lot of painting to do.
Printed instructions & video tutorial.
2 XT paint edgers.
Paint tray.
2 additional brushes.
2 additional rollers.
40" paint pole.
Loads in paint trays and 5 gallon buckets.
Can be handheld or mounted on a pole.
Thirty day money back guarantee.
What a great time saver especially if you plan to
paint the entire house.
Painting Exterior Walls:
Wall painting techniques vary somewhat when it comes to painting exterior walls. For example, painting exterior trim can be a bit tricky and requires more preparation and greater care during execution.
Once again, proper preparation is key especially with exterior painting projects and of course the age and condition of your house.
Our houses have been around for 90 years and there's years of paint build up, peeling, cracking, wood rot and you name it.
Professionals take one look at these houses and immediately suggest siding because they don't want to take the time that it would take to prep so many old walls and windows.
However, if you house is in relatively good condition and you just want a new color scheme or a relatively quick redo you may be able to keep the prep work down to a minimum.
Weather conditions and the time of the year play an important role in planning the best wall painting techniques to paint the exterior of your home.
More than moisture temperature is an important factor. Moisture gathers more readily in cooler temperatures. Cold weather causes paint to dry too slowly and extreme cold temperatures can cause wrinkling.
The opposite extreme is high temperatures which cause paint to try too quickly. Blistering is common when oil-based paints get too hot.
Ensure that your surfaces are dry before painting and that you do a precision masking job around windows and window panes. If you're just painting trim, it's necessary to mask around the trim to avoid getting paint on the walls.
As with any painting job, always start at the top.
Dip the brush a couple of inches into the paint and remove any excess by wiping the brush against the rim of your bucket.
Don't try to rush the job and
work the brush perpendicular to the grain for the first few strokes.You need to get paint into all the small grooves and crevices and then smooth with your brush.
You will need to use a smaller brush when painting trim and around windows. Even though the windows are masked be prepared to take the time to do the trim right using the right wall painting techniques.
A fast brush will flick paint onto windows and surfaces where it's not wanted and will be a pain to clean up.
Step Seven - Last but not Least - Finishing Up:
The painting is finally finished - Wow! Phew!
Your professional wall painting techniques have passed the test!
Now all you have to do is check your paint job and clean up. However before removing any masking tape check edges and corners in case they need a touch up.
Look for streaks, blotches and any uneven or iregular areas. Just be prepared to scrape off a little paint off windows and if the weather is hot there might be some bubbles to smooth out.
Then leaving drop cloths in place, remove all masking tape from the trim and walls.
If you used latex paint, clean up is fairly easy just using soap and water.
To remove excess oil or alkyd paint a good solvent is needed.
No need to throw away rollers and brushes if they are soaked and cleaned thoroughly with either solvent or soap and water.
Now you can proudly stand back and admire your wall painting techniques, all your hard work and finally the fruit of your labors.
