Interior Painting Tips - Part 2

Paint Application 

After getting the walls cleaned and prepared, it’s now time to paint the walls. Master painters spend years learning their craft and perfecting their techniques. No amount of YouTube videos or how to articles will replace hands on experience, but here are some helpful tips. 

• Use a drill and mixing paddle or have the paint store shake the paint immediately before use. This will ensure the components are properly dispersed in the mixture and performs as intended. This is especially important if the paint has been sitting for several days or weeks before application.
• Box your paint. If you need 3 gallons for you project, mix them all together to ensure consistency.
• Paint the ceiling first. When painting the ceilings, two coats of quality flat paint are commonly used. 
• Use the right tools for the job. Rollers come in a variety of sizes, materials, and nap lengths. Smooth walls are often painted with 3/8” or 1/2” nap rollers. They hold an appropriate amount of paint and coat the surface well. Textured surfaces, such as knockdown or orange peel are better suited for 1/2”-3/4” nap rollers. Longer nap sleeves hold more paint and can coat the wall more efficiently. However, proper technique is essential to avoid excess “stipple” or roller texture in your finish. 
• Larger paint rollers can improve productivity on large open walls and ceilings. 18” rollers can beneficial as they can apply twice as much paint as a 9” sleeve. Mini paint rollers are beneficial for cutting in or accessing tight areas where a traditional 9” roller may not fit. It is beneficial to use the same nap size, if multiple rollers are used on the project. Using the same nap length will keep the finish more consistent. 
• Dont overwork the material. Modern paints dry incredibly fast. Proper technique of applying the paint will reduce roller marks or brush strokes in the finish. Maintain a wet edge and complete each wall in entirety for the most uniform finish.
• Roll tight in the corners. “Picture framing” can occur where corners of the wall, painted with a brush, meet the field that is coated with a roller. The difference in texture of the brush and roller can create a noticeable difference in color, keep the roller as close as possible to the corner to ensure a consistent appearance.
• Apply 2 coats of paint. While high performance paints boast one coat coverage (and often they perform well) many colors can benefit by applying two coats of paint. Two coats can improve consistency of color on your Alternatively, some projects may call for a primer to be used prior to painting. Often primers may be tinted to a similar color as your finish. This can also improve the finish. 

There are many other aspects to achieving a perfect paint job and we will cover more on this topic in the future. If you are looking for a professional painter near the Clarks Summit or Scranton area, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We provide quality wall and cabinet painting for both residential and commercial clients and look forward to helping you with your project.  570-650-6372