10 easy tips to help you paint your house

Last Updated on Friday, 10 June 2011 12:55 Written by ermand Thursday, 3 March 2011 02:22

House painted by E D Painitng

1 Choose the color

Making sure you have the color you like is very important. The best way to know before you actually buy all the necessary paint is to buy a small sample first and apply it on the wall.

2 Choose the sheen

Generally walls and ceilings look best in flat. An eggshell is also a good choice for the walls depending on your taste. Trim is usually done in semi-gloss. If outside the best combination would be flat on walls and satin/low luster on trim.

3 Calculate how much paint you are going to need

Usually it takes one gallon to cover around 350-400 sf.

4 Make a list of tools

Finding out you don’t have the right tool at the last moment will cost you time and money. Make a list of all the tools you will need.

5 Prepare the working area

Make sure that the area where you are going to be working is easily accessible. This will prevent any accidents caused by tight spaces or objects on your working area.
Cover any furniture or other items with plastic and use drop clothes for the floor.

6 Prep

Prepping is very important for a paint job to look good and to last. Fill holes and cracks with spackle, compound or caulk as needed.

7 Use a brush to cut

There are many different devices marketed for cutting corners with paint but the brush has been around for thousands of years and is still the best. It might take you a little time to get used to it but it will be well worth it. Here is a trick, put the brush against the corner you are trying to cut, and then drag it across, even if it doesn’t cover the first time it’s OK go over it again and you will have a straight edge.

8 Use a roller for larger surfaces

Unless it’s a very big surface you are trying to cover, a 9 inch roller is always the best for regular rooms. Start at one corner and work your way across the wall.

9 One wall at a time

Be it inside or outside the best way for achieving a smooth finish is to take it one wall at a time. Cut first and then roll, it is best that you roll while the edges are still wet. Flat paints are easier to work with. If working outside on a clapboard wall, take 4 boards and paint them all the way to the end without letting the edges dry.

10 Clean up

If there are a few drops on the floor don’t freak out. Try to remove it by rubbing it with a wet rag and if that doesn’t work use some paint remover. Be careful when using paint remover on the carpet because it might discolor it, tiles and hardwood floor is fine.

Warm Colors and Cool Colors

Last Updated on Saturday, 5 March 2011 06:17 Written by ermand Wednesday, 13 October 2010 02:36

Reds, yellows and oranges are considered to be warm colors, while blues, greens and violets are considered to be cool. Warm colors condense a room making it feel energized, intimate and cozy while cool colors expand a room making it feel open and calming.

You can combine both colors in your home cool or warm, to complement or contrast each other.

A warm color placed next to a cool color will look warmer and make the cool color look cooler.

More muted tones tend to work better than brighter hues with strong color intensities.

Try to keep colors similar in big open spaces to maintain a visual harmony. Separate rooms can maintain a more distinct color identity but still need to have a sense of color cohesiveness.

Choosing sheen for interior painting

Last Updated on Monday, 20 December 2010 07:43 Written by ermand Wednesday, 13 October 2010 01:37

Sheen affects the amount of light reflected from the painted surface and the color perception. Darker colors with higher sheen might appear lighter due to the light reflecting from them.

For depth of color choose flat which also hides any imperfections on the surface. Flat paint is easier to touch up and maintain.

Colors appear with a soft glow on an eggshell finish. Eggshell is easy to clean and could be ideal for kitchens and baths.

Semi-gloss is usually used on trim and woodwork, it is also more durable and withstands repeated cleaning.