4 great tips!
1. Tint the Primer
To further enhance the coverage of the topcoat, try this pro tip: Tint the primer toward the finished color by mixing a small amount of topcoat paint into the primer. (Be sure the primer and topcoat are both latex-based or both oil-based; never mix coatings with dissimilar solutions.) This will greatly enhance the ability of the topcoat to hide the prepped surface completely, especially when painting a lighter topcoat over an existing darker color.
2. Invest in Canvas
Canvas drop cloths are durable, and rip- and puncture-resistant. They lay flat as you walk across them, presenting less of a tripping hazard; seldom, if ever, must you tape canvas to the floor. Canvas also absorbs paint drips, unlike plastic drop cloths that become slippery when spattered with wet paint. You're much less likely to pick up paint on your shoe soles from canvas. Canvas drop cloths can easily be folded around corners and doorways--something that's virtually impossible to do with plastic sheeting. Plus, canvas can be reused countless times. I always felt bad about discarding plastic drop cloths after just one use, but reusing them was messy because the dried paint drips and splatters would flake off and get all over the room. However, If you do use plasic drops you can reuse them for other things. I use them to cover my "wet" roller and paint trays for reuse the next day, especially on larger more time consuming work. That way there's no need to wash and clean everything until the work with that particular color is complete.
3. Roll With a Pole
To attach the extension pole to the paint roller, simply thread it into the hole in the paint-roller handle. Check to be sure your paint-roller handle has a threaded hole in its end; most of them do. The shaft of the pole telescopes out and can be locked anywhere along its length with a twist of the wrist. Extension poles will save your back from fatigue and pain. Bending over all day to load your roller will take it's toll.
When shopping for extension poles, look for one that has a soft, nonslip rubber grip and a rigid metal core. And be sure the threaded end of the pole is metal, too. All-plastic handles are too flexible, making them hard to control, and the plastic gets fatigued over time and can snap under pressure. Also check to be sure the telescoping shaft locks securely in position and doesn't collapse when forced.
4. Record the Color
Before replacing the light-switch covers and electrical-outlet covers in a newly painted room, you can write the vital information (brand name, paint color, paint number) onto a piece of masking tape and stick it to the back of a switch plate. And there it'll stay until it's time to repaint, when it'll be discovered by me, or--with any luck--the next homeowner. Ultimately, do what works best for you and have fun doing it!
Should I hire a pro or do this project myself?
A couple cans of paint can totally change the look of a room, but when it comes to painting your home, should you do it yorself or hire a pro? That all depends. Do you have any painting experience? Are you under a time constraint? Painting your home can potentially save you money, but there are some more questions you should ask yourself before making a decision:
1. What's you level of expertise? If you have never painted a room or the exterior of a home before, you might find yourself overwhelmed by the task. Painting looks easy enough, but getting a quality finished product can be difficult for a novice. Professional painters know all of the tricks of the trade and can promise good-looking results. Cutting the lines between walls and ceilings, for example, takes finesse, and taping often comes off looking sloppy. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you can make a big mess in a hurry.
2. When do you need the project done? If you only have a short window to get your painting project completed, you might want to hire a pro. Pros have all of the equipment and know-how to finish a painting job much faster than your average weekend warrior. When you do it yourself, expect to spend twice as long as you think.
3. What is the condition of the walls? Painting on perfectly smooth drywall isn’t hard, but most drywall isn’t perfect. Drywall repairs and surface preparation work are the first step in most painting jobs. If your walls need extensive repairs from holes, cracks, water damage or settling, you should probably hire a pro. If the prep work isn’t done right, it will show right through the paint.
4. What is the old finish? The current finish on the walls will have some bearing on how you repaint them. For example, if the finish is alkyd based, it needs to be primed with a super adherent acrylic primer before it can be repainted with latex paint. If you fail to do this, the paint will not adhere properly. Professionals can recognize things like this that you might overlook.
5. Do you have all the tools you need? Paint requires more than just paint and some rollers. There are a lot of items you need to purchase to get the job done right. These include: Drop cloths, scrapers, sandpaper, hole filler, primer, paint brushes, roller frames, extension poles, paint trays, caulk and ladders. If you are painting the exterior of your home, you may also need to rent a paint sprayer, sander and taller ladders. Getting all the tools you need could cost you an extra couple hundred dollars, so be sure to factor that in when you are estimating the cost savings of a DIY paint job.
If you decide the tackle the job yourself, you’re probably going to have to trade of some level of quality for cost savings. If you choose to hire a professional painter instead, save money by comparison shopping. Most professional painters will come to your home and give you a free estimate
My
name is Tim Wick and thank you for taking the time to allow me to introduce myself and my service to you.
I am 47 years old. I've been married to my wife Shelley for 20 years and we are blessed with our 2 children, Sam (13) and Maisy (6). We are residents of Lannon ,WI
I take tremendous pride in improving your home by bringing a fresh new look into your life while providing you with top notch friendly customer service at a
price that you can afford. That is what Wicks Pro Painting stands confidently by. You can look forward to being provided with the same master quality of work and professionalism that
the Wicks Pro Painting customer family have come to expect and appreciate.
I’ve been doing interior residential painting for the last 20 years. I've done work for Bieck Management, Dittmar Realty, Remax Realty, Menomonee Falls School District as well as Brookfield Central
and East HS as well as hundreds of homeowners in and around southeastern Wisconsin and beyond. Since starting Wicks Pro Painting 15 years ago I have done countless painting jobs for satisfied
homeowners and property managers. I am genuinely thankful with an attitude of graditiude for all the customers i've had the privilege to serve and look forward to gaining many, many more and meeting
new people to serve during 2023!
Wicks Pro Painting is FULLY INSURED and as always, all estimates are completely free. I will be happy to come out and spend some time with you to go over color and paint options
together and provide you with your free estimate. If you or someone you know is interested in having me come out and give a free estimate for any size job, feel free to call me anytime at 414.510.6374
Thank you again for taking the time to read about Wick’s Pro Painting llc. and I look forward to hearing from you! Make today an Incredible Day! - Thank you. - Tim Wick
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