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Painting out a raised panel door
If you are using a semi-gloss paint, first apply a coat
vertically, then finish with a horizontal coat.
Once you have started painting a door, finish the work
completely, otherwise streaks will show after the paint has
dried.
Choosing the right paint texture
Each paint finish has its own properties. The more matte the
finish, the more it hides imperfections and uneven
reflections, but it's less washable. The glossier the
finish, the more washable it is, but also the more sensitive
to imperfections and it will mask less efficiently. In
order: glossy, semi-gloss, pearl, eggshell, satin, matte.
Semi-gloss is best for hall walls and for windows and
frames; use matte on ceilings and satin and pearl for the
rest. Kitchens, bathrooms and basements have their own
antifungal paints.
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.
Remove hinges before stripping
It is preferable to remove hinges and ornaments before
stripping furniture. If they are covered with paint or
varnish, place them in a container with paint stripper for a
few hours. Then remove them and rub off the paint with a
cloth or steel wool and, once dry and clean, polish them
with a soft cloth.
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.
Giving old wood a fresh look
Exterior wood siding can be painted, or stripped and
painted. Strip paint using a torch by burning the old paint
and scraping it lightly being careful not to damage the
wood. Clean the surface with trisodium phosphate (TSP),
which you can find in the paint department of your local
home renovation centre. Repair siding where needed and
caulk. If you are repainting in the same colour, apply the
finishing coat after the wood is dry. If you are changing
colours, apply a primer coat followed by the new colour,
using exterior paint (an oil based primer will be necessary
if going from oil to latex). Avoid painting in full sun, at
sunset, in the early morning, in the rain or in the wind. To
keep bugs from sticking to the fresh paint, simply add two
tablespoons of citronella to the paint.
Stripping metallic objects with water
To strip paint from small metal objects (chrome, copper,
pewter, etc.) which have hard to get at spaces, like old,
copper door handles, often painted and repainted,
chandeliers, lamp bases, etc., soak them in a pot of boiling
water for a few minutes. In the majority of cases, the paint
will lift off by itself. Use a soft brush to remove the
paint residue that remains.
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.
A
more pleasing screen
To give uniform colour to a screen without replacing it,
some recommend enamel rust paint diluted with a compatible
thinner. Apply in very light layers with a paint gun, making
sure to mask frames, fixtures, etc.
Removing paint on glass and windows
It is well known that dried paint can be removed from glass
with a razor blade. If the glass objects are textured or
uneven, soak them in water and dishwasher liquid for a few
hours. |
