Applying Interior Paints

After preparation work is complete, and you are ready to start applying the paint, follow these steps to a professional quality do-it-yourself paint job:

Spot prime repaired areas. For latex paint, simply use the paint you will be using for the finish coat; for alkyd paint you should use a latex primer if at possible.

Cut in, (with a brush) ceilings to walls, walls to ceiling, corners and baseboard.

Paint the ceiling first to avoid splattering onto the finished walls and trim.

I like to finish paint all of the trim before the walls, with the exception of baseboard which must be painted after the walls. It is easier to cut the walls into the trim than the reverse. However, many sources may disagree with this philosophy. If you are unsure of the choice to make here, you may want to do the edges of the windows and door jambs, and leave the "face" of the trim to be done after the walls.

Paint the walls. There are many rolling techniques. I find that long vertical runs from baseboard to ceiling work very well. Just use care to overlap the widths several times to avoid having "lines" from the roller edges.

Touch up if necessary. Use a fairly dry roller, apply in the same direction as the previous application, and feather the edges.

Paint remaining trim and baseboard.

House Painting Tips & Ideas

Drying paint and the temperature
Paint in a ventilated and temperate space. When temperatures are between 10C and 32C there's no risk, although 15c to 22C is ideal. Latex paint will dry in a few hours at this temperature. Oil-based paints will dry more rapidly in a warm, dry environment.

Wood preparation before painting
When we paint wood, we're decorating it, but we can also protect it for good if the surface is prepared properly. New wood must be sanded along the grain. Painted or stained wood as well, unless you strip it down to its bare surface. Pores, screw and nail holes can be filled with plastic wood or joint compound, according to the case. Remove all accessories to minimize trimming. Paint over knots with orange shellac to hide them forever. Finally, be sure that the wood is dry and clean.

Painting old moldings
Over the years and after many coats of paint, door frames, windows and wall molding joints are no longer well defined and easy to trim. Carefully trace over the joints with a plasterboard knife using a yardstick if necessary. The traced cut will act as a paint dam? as long as you don't use too much.