Tips on house painting

If you are new at painting I have a few tips that might help you to get the job done smoothly and efficiently. Don't think you can paint that spare room in the morning and then have guests that night... does this ahead of time.

First you will need to repair any cracks or holes in the plaster. Now the very simple ones you should be able to do yourself. If you need to fix a hairline crack or a small hole, buy some patching plaster at any hardware store, read on the label to be sure you have the correct product.

Follow the directions, usually applying it with your thumb or a putty knife.

After you have filled all the cracks and holes, then dust the walls, ceilings, and windowsills as you don't want any grease or grime still on the surface you will be painting. If you do find grease or grime you'll need to clean thoroughly and let the surface dry before painting.

If you are going to use a brush, buy one that is of good quality as the others that are foam, etc. will not even last or paint the surface well. You can use a good nylon brush many times. You don't want to pick out tiny hairs off the walls after you paint.

You will need several brushes: I would suggest buying a 4" flat paintbrush that could be used for enamel, a paint and varnish brush (3" wide for a lady, 4" for a man); a flat trim brush, 3" wide; and an all-purpose l" brush for finer detail work. Now even the best brushes could have a few bristles loose so carefully look over your brushes before dipping in paint. I also soak my new brushes in linseed oil for a couple of days, then squeeze out the oil and comb the bristles so they will be straight.

To use the paint brush, dip it into the paint at a depth of about 2". Avoid overloading the brush. Tap out excess paint again the inside of the can. Apply the paint with bristles flat against the surface. Don't push the ends into corners. Hold your brush firmly, but lightly. Never allow your paint brushes to stand on the bristle ends.

If you plan to use a brush for several days, I would suspend it overnight in linseed oil to keep the brist ends from touching the bottom. As for cleaning the brushes I would consult the local hardware store or paint department for the best possible cleaner for your brushes. Many of the newer brushes can be rinsed with water depending on the type of paint used. Follow the directions on the product you purchase for cleaning the paint brushes. When the brushes are dry, comb or straighten out the bristles and wrap them in aluminum foil or even plastic wrap to keep out air and moisture and help them to hold their shape.

Now if you prefer to use a roller along with the brushes for the small areas, follow the specific directions on the roller for the best results. I suggest this as there are many types of paint rollers available today that need to be used by the directions.

You will find roller painting very easy, as it allows you to work quickly and continuously and does produce really professional results. Always keeps the paint flowing so that the edges won't have a chance to dry and leave overlapping marks. After you have spread the paint with crisscross strokes, then finish with long, vertical ones. This will help you to compensate if there is any unevenness in your painting. When you finish painting clean the brush and the roller immediately, don't allow them to dry as you might not be able to use them again.

I would also recommend covering any furniture in the room with plastic drops cloths or old sheets as well as the floor to avoid ruining upholstery or having to do a lot of cleanup.