Make Painting Easier Using Simple Tricks

4 Parts:

Common Tools and Materials You Need for Painting the House

Here are Simple Tricks to Make Painting Easier

Tips, Tricks and Warnings

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In the past, painting the house is a job left to either a professional house painter or your friendly handyman. Today, it is a task that can be accomplished by homeowners - thanks to the availability of products and tools that can be easily had from local hardware stores. What used to be the complicated art of mixing and splashing paint colors on any surface in the house is now a chore that even a housewife can accomplish without sweat. More than ever, there are ways to make painting easier using simple tricks that can give a seasoned painter a run for his money.

Painting any room in your home is the easiest and fastest way to give it a facelift. However, the job can be both exciting and intimidating. Doing a make-over for the house using your own two hands can merit you some compliments, especially if the result is something stunning. Apart from being economical, it allows you to be in your creative best. On the other hand, embarking on a DIY house painting may consume much of your time and effort. Unless you are prepared to offer some lifestyle sacrifices, there's no reason to hesitate painting the house yourself. And when you do, you can rely on countless simple tricks to help lighten up your painting job.

• Paint/s
• Paint brush: angle brush, sash brush
• Roller
• Roller cover
• Roller extension pole
• Paint tray
• 5-in-1 tool to serve many purposes, such as opening paint can and wall cracks, scraping loose paint, and cutting tape
• Putty knife
• Old newspapers
• Painter's tape

A. Before Painting

1. 1
   Estimate the amount of paint you need for the area

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   Measure the area to calculate how much paint you'll need to cover the target surface. As a general rule, allot one gallon of paint for every 350 square feet of surface area. Knowing this before you dash off to buy paint will help you avoid being over or under supply of what you actually need.

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2. 2
   Choose the right brush

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   Not all brushes are created equal. Synthetic brush is used for latex paint while a natural bristle brush is meant for oil-based paint. Keep in mind that the more natural the bristles are the smoother and glossier your paint finish becomes.

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3. 3
   Clean the surface

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   Paint and dirt are not exactly the perfect combination to make your wall look great. Wipe clean the surface first and remove unsightly stains, including cobwebs, before starting to paint. Attach a piece of cloth, paper towel, or an old sock to a long roller pole and reach up to get rid of those high-rise spider webs.

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4. 4
   Use old newspapers to cover furniture and floor

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   Cover the remaining furniture that you can't remove from the room. Instead of spending for a canvas tarp, use old issues of newspapers and tape them onto the furniture and floor. The sheets will catch the drips and protect both furniture and floor from paint splatters.

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5. 5
   Remove light switch faceplates and screws

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   This is to avoid staining them with paint. Keep each set in separate plastic bag so that you'll not be confused when it's time to replace them back. Make sure to cover the switches with tape once the faceplates are removed. An old ice cube tray or small jars may also be used as organizer.

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6. 6
   Press the painter's tape with a putty knife

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   Run a putty knife along the edge of the painter's tape to secure it in place. Apart from preventing the paint to bleed through the adjoining surface, this trick helps create crisp and clean lines. If you have no putty knife, you may use a butter knife instead.

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7. 7
   Cover the door elements with foil

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   The nice thing about aluminium foil is that it easily conforms to any shape. You can even recycle used tinfoil to wrap doorknobs and other hardware to allow you to paint around them without dabbing a single splatter on them.

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B. During Painting

1. 1
   Prevent paint spills

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   Wrap a heavy duty rubber band around the paint can and position it across the middle of the opening. Tap the paintbrush against the rubber band every time you dip it into the can. You can control the amount of paint in the brush this way less splatters, drips, and spills.

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2. 2
   Recycle paint tray

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   Line the paint try with either plastic grocery bag or aluminium foil. This enables you to use the tray many times over, especially if you're applying multiple paint colors. It saves you from cleaning the tray since all you need to do is to remove the used lining and place a new sheet every time you're about to use a new color. It's also an efficient way to pour extra paint back into its can without spilling.

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3. 3
   Reach tight spaces

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   It can be a challenge to paint hard to reach spots, like the space at the back of a toilet. This smart tip from familyhandyman.com is indeed helpful when you find yourself in such situation. Just hot-glue the paint pad onto a stirrer stick to have an instant painting tool that is able to insert itself behind toilet tanks and other similar tight spaces.

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4. 4
   Raise lightweight furniture

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   Do this by tapping nails on furniture legs to enable you to paint even the area underneath. There's no need to wait for the paint to dry before you can flip it back to its normal position.

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5. 5
   Start painting the corners and along the trim

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   Painting any room surface is done by starting from the edges using a brush. Wait for the paint to dry before painting the entire surface with a roller.

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C. After Painting

1. 1
   Preserve the brush for tomorrow's work

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   If you're unable to finish the day's work, don't bother to clean the brush. Instead, squeeze the remaining paint on it and tightly wrap the brush in tinfoil or plastic wrap. Make sure to seal the wrapper tightly around the brush handle.

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2. 2
   Clean the brush after completing a paint job

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   Pour just enough hot vinegar to soak mucky paintbrushes. Let soak for 30 minutes before rinsing with hot, soapy water.

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3. 3
   Place an onion to eliminate the paint odor

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   If you can't stand the stink of the newly-painted room, cut a big onion in half and place them apart in opposite corners. The onion will do its job in absorbing the odor without actually leaving its own stench in the room.

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• Make sure to have an extra quart of paint just in case you need to retouch some spots.
• When using a roller, go only in one direction to avoid marks on the surface.
• Peel off the painter's tape shortly after the paint has dried already. If you take long to remove it, the surrounding paint may chip. In that case, run a razor in between the tape and the painted surface to peel the tape away.
• Gently run a brown paper bag over rough painted surface to smooth it. Unlike sandpaper, the paper bag will not leave any scratch marks.
• If the painter's tape you're using is old, place it in the microwave for 10 seconds to rejuvenate it.
• Use cotton ear buds to remove paint smudges in small spots.
• Use wet wipes with alcohol content to remove tiny drops of paint.

If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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