Chris / Published on September 5, 2014
You don’t need to hire a tradesman for home improvement projects which you can do yourself, especially if you want to paint your walls.
Painting a room is actually one of the easiest and cheapest DIY tasks, and some of you may actually find it’s therapeutic!
So here’s how to freshen up rooms with a new coat of paint, efficiently and effectively;
1. Prep the Surface
You need to ensure your surface is smooth so that the end result is perfect. Fill in any imperfections, and scrape and sand any irregularities. If the walls are dirty, use a damp cloth to clean the dust or any marks off. Use a primer to hide any dark stains and to make your paint job last longer.
2. Tint the Primer
If you’re painting over a dark colour or a new wall, using a primer is essential, but as a general rule, it’s always useful to prime every time you paint walls. Primer helps the paint go on more smoothly and ensures the paint doesn’t peel off easily.
Put a small amount of your chosen paint colour into the primer and mix it well when you paint the walls, so it covers the colour of the primer.
You can choose to buy a paint which already contains a primer but it’s best to do it separately as this is the most effective method of painting walls.
3. Protect the Floor
Instead of using a plastic dropcloth, invest in a canvas one to protect the floor and furnishings from paint splashes.
Canvas lays flat, is rip-resistant and ensures you don’t trip over because of the robustness of the material. It can also be folded around corners and doorways, wheras plastic dropcloths can’t.
Although plastic dropcloths are cheaper, you can re-use canvas over and over again, usually being just a one-off purchase.
4. Painting the Walls
Firstly, you want to paint along the trim, ceiling and corners with a brush. Once this has dried, you can begin paint rolling the walls. Paint upwards in a long stroke then do a small u-turn and paint back down again. This is the best way to paint your walls. When using a paint roller, aim to cover a three foot wide section at a time.
Once you have finished the first coat, let it dry completely then go back and do a second coat. If the colour you’re using is light, you may need to do three coats for a more even finish.
5. Looking After the Paint
If you have leftover paint, make sure you secure the lid properly so it’s airtight and stays fresh. Store it at room temperature level and not in your garage, where it may get too hot or cold.
To ensure your paint doesn’t try out, cover the tin with cling-film before putting the lid back on and store it upside down.
If you want to get rid of the paint, place it in the bin but never put it down the sink or you will block your drains.
We hope this guide to painting walls helps your DIY project go smoothly and brilliantly!
Good luck
