Wednesday, March 5, 2003

Top ten painting tips

Considered by most interior design experts to be the quickest, easiest and least expensive way to change the appearance of a room, painting becomes significantly more user-friendly when you follow these simple guidelines.

Before you begin your next painting project, review these "Top Ten Painting Tips" compliments of Dutch Boy Paints to ensure professional results every time.

1. For bare, unfinished drywall, you will probably have to prime the surface before painting. A base coat of primer can protect drywall and result in a smoother finish.

2. For painted walls, first, scrape any loose or chipped old paint. Fill drywall imperfections with spackling paste; allow to dry, and sand the patched area smooth. Wipe the sanding residue with a damp cloth.

3. Be certain to thoroughly clean the painting surface. Use a stain blocking product to prevent any bold stains especially crayon marks from bleeding through the new paint.

4. To ensure a professional-looking finish, use high quality tools. Top quality brushes and rollers spread paint cleanly and evenly. They can be easily cleaned and used again and again. Improper or inexpensive rollers will not spread paint evenly and may leave fuzz on the wall. Rollers come in various nap lengths depending upon the surface. For textured surfaces, longer naps spread paint into the crevices on the surface. Inexpensive brushes also do not spread paint evenly, plus they tend to leave telltale brush marks.

5. Paint should be applied when the room and surface temperatures exceed 50 degrees. One gallon of paint should cover about 400 square feet. Rough or textured surfaces may require more paint only 125 to 300 square feet per gallon.

6. When painting a room, itís best to paint the ceiling first. Next, paint the walls working from the top down. Paint the trim, cabinets, and doors last.

7. When painting, always work from the dry, unpainted areas into the adjoining wet painted areas. Paint should be applied in the form of an "N" when using a roller. Fill the roller completely. Apply the paint in the form of an "N" up the left side, down to the right at a 45-degree angle, and straight up the other side in three-foot by three-foot sections. Fill in the center of the "N" with horizontal strokes from side to side.

8. Allow freshly painted surfaces to cure for 30 days. After it has cured, the freshly painted area can be cleaned with a mild, non-abrasive cleaner and water. Do not hang objects on the surface until the paint is thoroughly dry under normal conditions, about 24 hours.

9. Timesaving Tip: During short breaks, wrap your applicators tightly in a plastic bag or aluminum foil instead of washing them.

10. Remember: Itís important to follow the directions on the back of the paint label. It contains the most important information you need for your painting project.

For more information or to locate a Dutch Boy Paint retailer, log onto www.dutchboy.com, or call (800) 828-5669.

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