DIY painting

[coastiewifern]

We are moving to a new state and just bought a home. It will need some interior painting to fit our style. I need to do the painting myself to save money. I'd like to hear of any tools you suggest to make the painting job go faster. I used to have a power roller years ago....it was just ok and it died. I am sure they make better ones now. I am willing to invest in a recommended paint tool such as a power roller or sprayer. I figure I have 5 rooms that will need painting. Post your painting tips

 

[4HppyCamprs]

Quality paint! The better paints take fewer coats and it is worth the cost.
Quality painters tape to mask off any areas that you want to protect. I prefer the thicker width tape.

Brushes and Rollers. Make sure the roller is made for the type of paint you are using.

I am a DIYer but we have painted our home, a lot! We have made some rather unfortunate choices.

Another tip. Paint samples! Not just the paint chip cards but actual samples. Check it out on a few different spots in the room before making the final commitment.

Congrats on the house and good luck!

 

[wiigirl]

Quality paint! The better paints take fewer coats and it is worth the cost.
Quality painters tape to mask off any areas that you want to protect. I prefer the thicker width tape.

Brushes and Rollers. Make sure the roller is made for the type of paint you are using.

I am a DIYer but we have painted our home, a lot! We have made some rather unfortunate choices.

Another tip. Paint samples! Not just the paint chip cards but actual samples. Check it out on a few different spots in the room before making the final commitment.

Congrats on the house and good luck!

Great advice! Paint samples!

 

[coastiewifern]

Quality paint! The better paints take fewer coats and it is worth the cost.
Quality painters tape to mask off any areas that you want to protect. I prefer the thicker width tape.

Brushes and Rollers. Make sure the roller is made for the type of paint you are using.

I am a DIYer but we have painted our home, a lot! We have made some rather unfortunate choices.

Another tip. Paint samples! Not just the paint chip cards but actual samples. Check it out on a few different spots in the room before making the final commitment.

Congrats on the house and good luck!

which brands do you consider to be quality. When we had our previous home painted the painter wanted to use Sherwinn Williams.

 

[eMd]

I just want to say I learned the Frog Tape brand painters tape was a thousand times better than Scotch Blue Painter's tape last year when I had to paint my basement apartment. I used so much more of the Blue painter's tape than I needed because it was terrible. Once I switched to the Frog Tape I wasn't using as much and I got way more for my money.

Oh and my only other suggestion...becareful in who you enlist to help you paint. My uncle had offered to help paint and he was there the first night to help paint the ceiling. I ended up telling him he was not to help me again and that I'd rather do it by myself. We had enough quality paint to cover the entire ceiling(not a lot of square footage in the room!) and to give it at least 2 coats. This was according to the recommendations of the paint department at home depot, and the paint can itself, as well as a few guys I talked to who do painting as a living....My uncle globbed it on and used up all of my paint telling me that I didn't buy enough. I had to shell out more money for paint and when I realized what had happened itw as because he was just getting it all over the place. There was more paint on the floor covering, than the ceiling, and there were areas with globs of paint and areas with no paint at all.

 

[ssawka]

which brands do you consider to be quality. When we had our previous home painted the painter wanted to use Sherwinn Williams.

I have had success with Gliden, Sherwin Williams, and Dutch Boy.

By far, the worst paint we used was Behr. I have not heard of anyone using Behr that didn't have to apply at least 3 coats. Depending on what color the existing paint is, you may want to use a primer.

 

[eMd]

By far, the worst paint we used was Behr. I have not heard of anyone using Behr that didn't have to apply at least 3 coats. Depending on what color the existing paint is, you may want to use a primer.

I agree with this as well.

I used Behr ceiling paint and had no issues, but as for the colored paint? I had behr in a blue color with the primer built in. Had to apply about 3 coats and it seems to be peeling up in around the edges.

I used Glidden ceiling paint in another room but didn't care for it...used Glidden colored paint in my bedroom and living rooms. And absolutely loved it. Only needed a primer for my accent wall due to the color choice I had. The main color was perfect, barely even needed two coats of Glidden with primer included.

 

[kkwis2]

I would agree with buying good quality tape, paint brushes and rollers and paint.

We LOVE Behr paint (sorry for the conflicting opinion)! I have used it in the bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms and family room. My living room and hallways need to be re-done soon and Behr is what we'll use. I've done light and dark colors (a deep blue in our bedroom) with great results.

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

Love the rollers that store the paint in the handle.


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[mrsklamc]

I was half-watching a home improvement show over the weekend that said amateurs always do the wall first and then the trim, but pros do the trim first- unfortunately I wasn't paying attention and don't know why.

What I wish I'd known when we painted our house- don't bother washing out rollers. If you need to save them for later, wrap it in saran wrap and stick it in the freezer, and when you are done, toss it.

 

[HLAuburn]

I also want to paint some rooms in my house, but I can really only tackle a square room with low ceilings on my own...and even then its a challenge! I was looking on craigslist and saw a painter who offered to just do the cutting in around the edges and then I would roll the rest. Sounded like a great, economical option - I can roll til the cows come home, but when it comes to straight lines, I just can't seem to get it right.

Just a thought, if you can find someone willing to do that...

 

[mrsklamc]

I also want to paint some rooms in my house, but I can really only tackle a square room with low ceilings on my own...and even then its a challenge! I was looking on craigslist and saw a painter who offered to just do the cutting in around the edges and then I would roll the rest. Sounded like a great, economical option - I can roll til the cows come home, but when it comes to straight lines, I just can't seem to get it right.

Just a thought, if you can find someone willing to do that...

Oh I would LOVE that.

 

[smithjefm]

For edging try the smart edge roller made by Wagner. I believe they sell them at Home Depot. They work great around all of your trim work. If you have popcorn texture on your ceiling it might not work so well but all other ceiling textures or lack of it should work.

If you are looking for one of those rollers where the paint is in the tube this try the turbo roller also made by Wagner. It's battery power and very easy to use and clean-up.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

By far, the worst paint we used was Behr. I have not heard of anyone using Behr that didn't have to apply at least 3 coats. Depending on what color the existing paint is, you may want to use a primer.

You have now. I have painted every room/ceiling in our house with Behr paint; also have painted our front door, garage doors and deck with Behr paint. It's an excellent quality paint which is always rated highly by Consumer Reports. I used to do a coat of primer, then a coat of paint; now I just do two coats of their combination primer and paint. I have never had to use three coats, even when I painted a light color over a dark red and a dark blue room.

I too always paint the trim first. Why? Because I use a semi-gloss for the trim and a flat or satin paint for walls and have found that when I paint the trim first, let it dry, then protect it with painter's tape, it's easier to remove the tape from the trim than the wall. Sometimes the tape takes off the wall paint. It's also easier to wipe off any wet wall paint splatters off the trim than it is to wipe off the trim paint from the walls.

 

[2disneyboys]

Good Thread - I'm watching it for tips myself!

What we have learned over the years...

#1.. make sure what type of paint is already on the walls. When we first bought our house, we found out the HARD way that the original owners had used OIL BASED paint throughout... ugh...

#2.. if your using brushes and rollers (nothing fancy) while you want quality tools, but, you also want it cheap enough you can consider it disposable when your done. I HATE washing out brushes and rollers and trays

#3.. either buy the containers (home depot & lows sell them) that you can store your leftover paint in (for touchups) or just start saving any glass jars that you have (like for spaghetti sauce).. it's so much easier to store a few containers or jars w/ the room, date painted, and brand/type/color stored on it, then 1/2 and 1/4 empty paint pails.

#4.. we set up a paint station. In a corner of the garage, we put out "saw horses" and an old plywood or something across them to set up a paint station. All razors, tape, brushes, paint rags, drop cloths,buckets etc etc were kept there We tend to take a weekend/week and just repaint everything and since different rooms are usually different colors, it's just easier to have a "paint station" setup. when we are done with a paint job, I have a Rubbermaid type tote that anything we are keeping, we clean it, and store it here so we know where it's at. (that's also where we keep the small jars of touchup paint.)

#5 I know this seems silly, but follow the suggested painting pattern listed on the paint bucket. It really does work to paint a "Z" or "W" on the wall and then fill it in.

#6 Take off all outlet/switch covers.. it's easier to pull them off and paint & then put them back on then to tape and paint around them. At the same time you do this, check & see if the "outlet/switch box" is insulated. if not, home depot, Lowes,Wal-Mart etc sell these inserts you stick onto of the box/outlet & then put the cover back on and that really does help with drafts. and lastly, if you have the generic contractor's grade covers, maybe build a little into your budget to upgrade. It's amazing what nicer covers add to the room then just your standard plastic covers.

#7 paint clothes. I don't' care how careful I am, I always get paint on me.. either in my hair, on my skin, on my clothes, etc. I have found it's best (for me) to put my hair up & under a hat or something, wear disposable gloves, and I wear one of DH's old work shirts with my "painting" pants. When I'm done painting, I through away the gloves and strip out of the painting clothes and viola! I'm "done' I don't' have to scrub anything off my skin or bemoan some ruined clothes. The next day, or whatever, I just pull on what I had before and I'm ready to go.

#8 Don't' wait until the day your going to paint to do your prep work. Usually the day or so before we plan to paint, we take down all pictures etc, fill any holes, recaulk the trim edges, clean and wipe down all surfaces being painted, and if possible move the furniture/cover the furniture. The more prepared the workspace is, the fast and flawlessly the paint job can go!

and my #1 rule is if you are not actively helping with the painting then you can't be here while I"m painting (this goes along w/ being careful who you have help you!). So I make arrangements for the kids to be somewhere else. and I have only have whoever is helping (if anyone) at the house.

 

[branv]

Well, we learned the hard way that if you have deeply textured walls (as we do), you may need a lot more paint than you expect. We'd purchased the thick rollers as per suggested, plus a good quality paint, but it still wasn't enough. We put on two coats, thought we were done, but a few hours later went in and saw specks of original wall color inside the craters of the texturing. Ugh.

We also learned that because of this texturing, getting a straight line at the ceiling is nearly impossible. I did a fantastic, careful taping job, but it just seeped in -- again, b/c the tape couldn't bond completely with the lows and highs of the texture. We switched to cutting in, but it was just impossible with that crazy texture. So, I learned that a trick for this is to tape it, paint the original paint color (or ceiling paint color if you're changing it) over the bottom tape line. Let it dry, then paint with your new wall color. The original color will "seal" the line from your new wall paint (because, obviously, any of the original paint will fill the gaps, but be unnoticeable b/c it's the same color as the ceiling!). I also read this is a great idea if you want to do stripes on your textured walls, to get a truly straight line.

 

[StephMK]

I have never had good luck with painter's tape. I've had better luck with a quality angled brush and just take the time to paint carefully. Lowe's paint is my fav, Behr is way too runny imo.

I would recommend checking the oops section of the store if you have some flexibility in color. I saved a lot by buying discounted cans when I had a general color in mind but wasn't set on the exact shade.

Also, not sure around the country but our city has a recycling facility for paint. You can drop off any paint, thinner, stains, cleaning, or hazardous liquids. They dispose of the unusable items and have a small store that gives away free usuable leftover cans. It's hit or miss but I've found some colors there to use for small projects.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

I like Behr, Sherwin Williams and Olympic. I do not like Benjamin Moore. We only bought a quart to sample a color we thought we liked but it was extremely watery.

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[ssawka]

You have now. I have painted every room/ceiling in our house with Behr paint; also have painted our front door, garage doors and deck with Behr paint. It's an excellent quality paint which is always rated highly by Consumer Reports. I used to do a coat of primer, then a coat of paint; now I just do two coats of their combination primer and paint. I have never had to use three coats, even when I painted a light color over a dark red and a dark blue room.

I too always paint the trim first. Why? Because I use a semi-gloss for the trim and a flat or satin paint for walls and have found that when I paint the trim first, let it dry, then protect it with painter's tape, it's easier to remove the tape from the trim than the wall. Sometimes the tape takes off the wall paint. It's also easier to wipe off any wet wall paint splatters off the trim than it is to wipe off the trim paint from the walls.

Perhaps things have improved, but I remember trying to paint my DDs room. We were using a white paint with a slight tint of pink. The walls were pre-primed and after 3 coats, it still did not look right. Never had a problem any other brand.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

I paint a lot, Behr is the only paint I use, shocked to see a few people dislike it.