Paint Tech Supplies Ltd: Painting Professional Tips and Advice

Professional Tips | Frequently Asked Questions | Request for Advice

A new coat of paint can totally transform any room, but it is sometimes difficult to know where to start. Choosing a new colour for your walls may seem like the most important decision, but it is just one step in the process. You need to prepare the surface, buy the right tools and finally, apply the paint. Below are some professional tips to make painting a little easier.

• Preparation
• Roller selection and tips
• Paint brush selection and tips
• Additional tools

Preparing the Surface

When painting a room, the first step (and probably the most important) is preparing the surface. Poor surface preparation is the number one cause of paint failure and can ruin your desired effect if not done properly.

Before you start, don't forget to put a drop sheet on the floor and cover any furnishings you don't want splattered with paint.
Thoroughly clean and dry the surface before painting.
As a general rule of thumb, anything with a shiny surface needs to be dulled before painting.
High-gloss surfaces must be cleaned and sanded in order for the paint to bond.
An oil based primer or coat of flat paint can take the shine off a surface and prepare it for the new paint. You will need a flat, smooth surface for this to work effectively.
Scrape off flaking paint and wallpaper.
Patch holes and cracks, allowing the area to dry before proceeding.
Sand raised imperfections, bubbles and blisters.
Apply a primer if necessary. Repaired, patched, stained and new surfaces require a coat of primer before painting. If the surface has been painted before, you only need to paint the patched or repaired areas.

Rollers

Painting should start at the top and work towards the bottom, painting the ceilings, then the walls, and finally the trim and woodwork. But before you can start, you need to choose the right tools

Rollers make painting large surfaces quick and easy. But, buying a roller is not as simple as walking into the store and grabbing the first one you see. You need to consider the size of the surface you are painting, the texture, and the type of paint you want to apply.

Choosing the right roller

A good roller is worth buying so look for one in the mid to upper price range.
Choose a roller that will cover a large area as quickly as possible. Trades people recommend a 270mm roller.
When buying a roller it is important to consider the nap — this is the length of the pile.
Generally, the smoother the surface, the shorter the nap.
A long nap is best used for semi smooth to rough surfaces and painting large areas.
A long nap works best with flat plastic paints (flat enamel).
Most solvent paints are used on smooth surfaces so a 5-6mm nap is recommended.
Water based paints on smoother surfaces are best applied with a 5-10mm nap.
Lambskin covers work best on smooth surfaces and with solvent based paints.
Mohair sleeves are best for undercoats and gloss and enamels on smooth surfaces.
Foam rubber covers are best for gloss and semi-gloss enamels and clear finishes.

Rolling tips:

Pre-wet the roller with appropriate solvent or water, spinning out the excess.
Load the cover by dipping the roller in the paint tray and rolling back and forth on the ridged surface. This will coat the entire roller and squeeze out excess paint.
Start with diagonal or zigzag strokes to transfer the paint onto the wall or surface.
When the roller is almost dry and the paint is distributed, go back over the area with long, vertical strokes for an even finish. This is called "laying off".
For solvent based paints, lay off from floor to ceiling. For water based paints lay off from ceiling to floor. If painting the ceiling, lay off towards the light source.
To avoid lap lines, paint the surface in overlapping blocks (approx. one metre square). If you work quickly, this will blend the edges together. For glossy paints, paint in smaller blocks as lap lines are more noticeable.
If right handed, paint left to right. Of course, the opposite applies if your left handed.
An extension pole makes the job much easier, especially when painting ceilings.
Never roll in parallel strokes or you will get an uneven finish.
Thoroughly clean the roller after use. Stand the roller on its end to dry, then store in its plastic bag so the fibres don't distort or flatten.

Paint Brushes

Paint brushes are probably the tool most people reach for when painting. However, not many people take the time to select a brush suitable for the job they are about to start. The brush can make or break the job, so consider your needs before

Choosing the right brush:

There are two types of brush on the market — filament and hog's bristle. The new filament brush is said to make painting easier as it doesn't lose bristles and leaves less brush marks.
A good brush is worth buying so look for one in the mid to upper price range.
If you're painting a large surface like a wall, it makes sense to use a large brush. Choose a brush you are comfortable handling for a long period of time. Trades people recommend a 100mm brush.
For cutting in or small surfaces, a 50mm or 63mm brush is recommended.
The shape of the handle is important and it needs to fit your hand comfortably. There are several shapes available. A wall brush or beaver tale handle is designed to be held in the palm of the hand and for painting large areas. A varnish brush handle is ideal when painting with varnish and gloss enamels.
Amateur painters should choose bigger brushes with long bristles to make the job a little easier and improve the finish.

Brushing tips:

Mark off adjacent areas that you do not want to paint, e.g. Skirting boards, switches.
Do the edges first. With a little practice, you can "cut in" your paint so that you don't have to mask. Cutting in refers to painting the edges of the area you are covering.
For best results when cutting in, use a long handled cutting in brush, with a round handle for curved work and a square handle for general painting.
To cut in, load the brush normally, leaving plenty of paint at the tip. Hold the brush like a pen with the narrow edge facing the line you are cutting in. Guide the brush along the area you are painting. Apply slight pressure to bend the bristles towards the cutting in line and allow a few bristles to overlap the adjacent surface.
Paint with the grain of the wood for an even line.
Use short strokes to distribute the paint, then go over the area with longer strokes for an even finish.
When using water based paints, load the brush well, but don't use all the paint in the brush. It is best to lay off while the brush is still quarter full.
Always paint into corners while your brush is fully loaded.
Gloss paints look best when applied with a brush, rather than a roller.
Clean you brush with an appropriate solvent, then wash in warm soapy water and rinse. Wipe the bristles with kerosene and store wrapped in newspaper.

Additional Tools

Foam Brush

A brush and a roller aren't the only tools you can use when painting.
There are many extras on the market that save time and give

Paint Edger
This tool has guide wheels to make "cutting in" easier. It gives a sharp, clean edge along the ceiling line, baseboard and trim.

Corner Painter

This tool is shaped to paint corners with one stroke. Shaped to access awkward corners and edges.

Trim & Touch-Up Pad
This tool is used for trim, louvres, shutters and touch-ups. It is ideal for stains and varnish because it doesn't leave brush marks.

Pad Painter
This tool can be used inside or out and is ideal for painting smooth or rough surfaces. It makes painting faster and gives a neat, clean line.

Foam Brush
This tool is suitable for oil and water based paints and stains. Chisel tipped for detailed work.