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HOW
TO
PAINT YOUR
INTERIOR WALLS
Your interior walls
are a
direct reflection of your home and all that
it is. From the moment you enter a home it is the condition of the
walls that make such a profound and indelible impression. When walls
have been beautifully painted and the color(s) have been tastefully
selected to graciously accent the surrounding area the sight can't be
anything short of resplendent. That's the effect that walls handsomely
done can have on you.
Your house interior walls consist of more square footage
than your ceilings, floors and everything else so it is imperative
that they should be addressed in a very special way. To neglect to do
so would be just short of criminal, I think. Your walls make a
statement that can be warm and inviting or cold, negligent and
uninviting...it all depends on you.
Here is a guide that can help you
give your walls a new and appealing appearance, all the while
potentially saving yourself a great deal of money not to mention the
satisfaction that comes along with doing a good job yourself, so let's
begin the journey.
PREPARATION
Whether your house interior walls consist of: gypsum board/drywall,
plaster,
simulated plaster, plywood, or wood paneling, before painting
it you will need to prepare the substrate (surface) to receive the
paint or finish coat.
Herein lies the work; however, some cases may
prove to be less demanding then others but it is so important to get
it right here because this literally is the foundation on which you
will build, for instance, if your walls consist of drywall or
sheetrock as it is most commonly known you must inspect it thoroughly
before proceeding.
Check to see if there are any small holes, cracks,
mapping lines; not to mention pits, large holes and possibly failing drywall
tape. A careful inspection should shed some light on what you
really need to do in order to get the walls ready and worthy to receive
paint. And if you do need to remove the existing tape and replace it
with new tape then by all means do so.
If you have a large hole in
your walls you may need to install a piece of new drywall
and finish
it
out. Sometimes, installing a whole new drywall panel is
necessary when
the hole is extremely large but whether you're installing a new panel,
partial panel, or just skimming over some areas try to do a good job by
keeping your work smooth and neat.
After all, everything that you do
at this stage will definitely show up in the finish work. So remember
to keep it neat and smooth throughout your repairing and preparation
stages.
If your interior walls consist of plaster
and repairs
are in order,
again, smoothness and neatness are the operative words. Superficial or
cosmetic repairs to plaster can be done by most homeowners; however, if
you have a more serious problems such as: plaster falling to the
floor; failing lath, large size crevices and cracks call a reputable
plaster repair contractor right away! But as I stated earlier, many
simple
repairs can be successfully done by the homeowner.
Your walls might consist of wood, if that is the case, be sure to take
the time to inspect it carefully to see if you have any problems, if
so, try to correct them as neatly and professionally as you possibly
can. You can fill in dents and small holes with a good wood filler, and
then sand it smooth with an electrical sander, or maybe you can hand
sand it and avoid using electrical sanders that can quickly cause
damage to your wood.
And with using any electrical tools always work
safely and wear full safety gear. If some of your wood boards or
paneling need to be replaced then do so. The key to beautiful walls is
properly preparing your substrate to achieve a uniform and symmetrical
look...and that applies to any type material that your walls may
consist of.
PRIMING
YOUR WALLS
Now that your walls have been carefully prepared/repaired and
thoroughly cleaned you are now ready to begin priming. Priming your
walls is a very important step in getting your walls ready to paint. To
neglect to do this is plain folly in every sense of the word. And to
use anything less than a quality primer is truly gambling with the out
come of your project.
In my opinion there really isn't a good
substitute for a quality primer that also acts as a sealer. To avoid
having your walls looking incomplete and half done, I highly recommend
that you spend a little more and purchase a quality primer/sealer and
apply two coats of it on all the substrate(s) that you are going to
paint. This is the single most important move you can do to help ensure
you of uniform looking walls that do not flash, or of stains that
cannot leech through and damage your finish coating.
I wouldn't think of painting
a wall without first priming it with a quality oil base primer/sealer
or a latex alkaline resistant primer if the substrate is plaster.
Even if your walls already have a coat of paint on them, to go ahead
and prime it with a quality primer/sealer will all but guarantee you
that nothing will leech through the existing finish and soil your new
finish. The choice is yours to make and yours alone.
Personally, I prefer to use an oil base primer/sealer in practically
every situation; however, there are some cases where a water base
primer/sealer will suffice, but my choice is always an oil base product
except when it comes to preparing/repairing plaster(as I stated
earlier), in that case I
always use a latex alkaline resistant primer--always.
When I am
priming wood, new or old, I prefer to use an oil base penetrating
primer to get the job done. These are just some pointers that I'm
sharing with you in order to help you make an intelligent decision on
what you should use to achieve the best possible results regarding your
project. It's really all up to you but here are some time tested
pointers that just might help you on your merry way...they certainly
have helped me for the past quarter of a century.
PAINTING
YOUR WALLS
There isn't one single move that can bring elegance and charm into your
home like painting does. Painting the interior
of your home can have
such a stunning effect and not to mention the utilitarian
effectiveness that it yields.
Your house in general and your walls in
particular can have new life breathe into them with a quality paint
job.
Your new freshly painted walls can become the focal point of your
interior de'cor. You really are only limited by your imagination.
Interior walls that have been masterfully painted can be exhilirating
and touching, that is why so many put so much emphasis on the look of
interior walls...and that's why it is so important that you take your
time and do a real first rate job. This is the last and final stage of
painting
your walls.
Before you begin painting your walls take a moment and make sure that
everything is covered that you don't won't to get paint on: Floors,
furniture, drapes, and everything else you see nearby. It is better to
be safe than sorry. When I begin painting a wall I like to work from
top to bottom, this is not always the case but this is the way I prefer
to do it.
First, I start at the top of the wall where the ceiling meets
the wall then I proceed to cut a straight line with my brush, or as
close to straight as I possibly can. My objective is to paint a
perfectly straight line between the ceiling and the wall. I want to
make this line wide enough so that I will be able to roll into it with
my roller nap after I finish cutting in the ceiling line.
In
other words, all around the ceiling line where the walls meet the
ceiling I want to cut (draw) a near perfect straight line with my paint
brush that should be about 3 or 4 inches wide. Make sure you are
applying enough paint on the walls to avoid having what is known as the
"hat band" appearance after you have finished rolling your walls, for
instance, you want to achieve a uniform appearance even though you
applied the paint with a brush (cutting) and a roller.
You don't want
your walls to show where you used a brush and where you used a roller.
In order to accomplish this you need to apply an equal amount of paint
whether you're using a brush or roller...and when rolling, roll into
the area that is brushed with this little fact in mind. Your goal
should be to have a wall that is uniform and well matched.
Once the ceiling has been cut in you can proceed to cut in the corners
and just above the baseboards and of course around doors and any other
type trim that might be on the wall(s). Now that you have completed
cutting in or trimming out your walls and ceiling you are ready to
begin rolling. You're free to start wherever you wish, just make sure
you have a system to avoid skips and holidays.
Some people choose to
work from their right to left while others choose to work from their
left to right. However you choose to roll just make sure you roll
uniformly...that's all. Your objective should be to achieve an even and
attractive looking wall(s). And this objective is achievable even by
the novice who has no experience whatsoever.
All you have to do is
commit to the job and give it your best. In teaching, it is not my way
to overload you with a lot of bit by bit details that can prove to be
staggering and exhausting; instead, I just want to give you enough
direction to help you get started and possibly avoid any pit falls. So
start your engines and let the fun begin.
Contact American
Painting and
Pressure Cleaning, Inc.
(we are interior painting contractors and exterior painting
contractors and
so much more)
about your upcoming painting project.Call us concerning all your
residential (house) and commercial projects.Thanks, Don.
| American
Painting and
Pressure Cleaning, Inc. also
provides quality craftsmanship along with friendly down home service to
the following areas: Benton Louisiana, Haughton Louisiana,
Plain Dealing Louisiana, Bossier
Parish, Cotton Valley Louisiana, Sarepta Louisiana, Sprighill
Louisiana, Shongaloo Louisiana, Heflin Louisiana, Dubberly Louisiana,
Sibley Louisiana, Webster Parish, Homer Louisiana, Haynesville
Louisiana, Claiborne Parish, Lisbon Louisiana,
Athens Louisiana, Arcadia Louisiana, Gibsland Louisiana, Beinville
Parish, Bienville Louisiana, Arcadia Louisiana, Grambling Louisiana,
Ruston Louisiana, and Lincoln Parish
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NOTE:
Always follow
manufacturers' instructions on the correct way to
use their products,equipment and/or tools.
Disclaimer:
This author assumes no responsibility
for any injuries or
worst that might occur do to the content of this article or any other
article written by him. This article as is with all other articles
written by him are for the sole purpose of entertaining and informing.
Please contact a reputable contractor in your area for all your home
improvement projects. Thank you.
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