Painting an Indoor Room
Painting a room can change the entire feel of the living space. While it can be a bit of an undertaking, by following the advice in this article you can avoid common pitfalls and create a more beautiful paint job.
Before You Start:
Know Your Paint:
Some paints may have special application instructions, or have other characteristics that will make some of the steps detailed below inappropriate for it’s specific application. Make sure to read the label or consult a Costello’s ACE paint specialist if you have questions.
Seal Paint When It Is Not In Use:
Never leave a paint can open when you are not painting. While it does take a decent amount of time to dry, if left unsealed, you could have partial drying set in and other factors that could compromise the quality of the paint.
Do You Need A Primer?:
If you are planning on painting a room that currently has a darker color of paint than the new one you plan to apply, or if you are painting a wall for the first time that is made of a darker colored material, you will probably want a primer. As mentioned before, you should check the paint you plan on using as many have primer mixed into the paint itself.
Calculate How Much Paint You Will Need:
Measure the height and width of each wall and multiply the two numbers. DO this for every wall to be painted, then add all the results together to get the total square footage you need to cover. Most paint types typically cover 300 to 400 sq. ft. of wall, so take that into consideration. Also remember that you will likely be using two coats, so you may want to double the final calculation. Be aware that certain types of paint will have different characteristics than what is considered standard and that may affect coverage calculations, as such it is worth discussing this with an ACE paint expert if you have concerns.
Know The Material You Will Be Painting:
While most of the time you will be painting drywall or on a pre-painted surface, you may find yourself painting a different surface, such as concrete, brick, paneling or another type of material. Learn what you can about these surfaces before you begin painting as they may bring special complications to the project. Also be aware that certain types of paint (such as Semi-Gloss and Gloss Enamels) will require special prep to paint over, as their stain resistant properties may also resist the new paint coat.
Don’t Have Enough Supplies After All?:
You know the old adding “measure twice, cut once”, well I don’t have to tell you that sometimes it ends up being “Measure twice, cut once, swear, buy a new board, measure twice…” No matter how much we try to be prepared, sometimes oversight or unexpected factors make it so we don’t have enough supplies to finish a product once started. If you find yourself in this position, don’t forget that you can order supples from Costello’s and have them delivered directly to your home, keeping you from loosing precious time while trying to complete your painting project.
What You Will Need:
• Paint •
• Hand Brushes •
• Paint Roller brush and rollers •
• Ladder •
• Roller Tray •
• Painter’s Tape •
• Clean Rags •
• Slop Bucket (For Cleaning) •
• Drop Cloths •
• Putty Knife •
• Goggles •
Additional items you may want:
• Paint Edgers •
• Primer •
• Dish soap •
• Broom •
• Tools For Dusting •
• Second Slop Bucket (For Clean, Soapy Water) •
• Spackle •
• Sand Paper •
• Paint Sprayer •
• Paint Roller Extender •
• Fan •
• Trash Bags •
• Plastic Bags •
For an additional breakdown on key paint tools, click here!
1. PREPARE THE ROOM
Clear the room you intend to paint of furniture. Remove a wall plates and other wall fixtures such as blinds and curtain bars. Due to the bare switches/outlets as well as the paint and other potentially dangerous materials, it is strongly advised you keep animals and small children out of the painting area for the duration of the project.
2. GIVE IT A GOOD CLEANING
Dust the room and sweep the floor. Use a broom to clear spider webs from the corner’s of the ceiling and walls. You may wish to wash your walls before painting using a solution of water and dish soap. Make sure the walls are dry after the washing before applying paint. If you notice any screw holes, nicks, scrapes or other minor damage to the walls, take the time now to spackle them and, once dry, sand down any excess until it is smooth.
3. TAPE IT OFF
Tape off corners, edges and any edge you don’t want paint on. You may want two widths of tape; a thin roll for edges with detail (such at on trim) and a thicker one to apply on top of it for extra protection and wiggle room when applying paint. You will want to press a putty knife along the edge of the tape that is against where you will paint (as to make sure the grip there is tight), then run a clean cloth while applying mild pressure to ensure it has a tight edge lock. You may wish to apply the tape in really delicate areas in strips of a foot in length, overlapping the ends to ensure a continual coverage. Once room is properly taped, lay down the drop cloths and stir your paint.
4. CUT IN
Start applying paint with the “Cutting in” method, wherein you use a paint brush and paint any area that is too tight for a roller or require a more controlled application, such as anywhere you taped off.
5. ROLL OUT
Now switch to a roller. Make sure the roller is of a good quality as to control splatter and to minimize the potential for it to leave residue on the wall along with the paint. You may also wish to use an extension pole to lessen the fatigue of painting and extend your reach. Use moderate pressure as to avoid excess paint being applied to the edges of there the roller runs. Use slow, even strokes to apply the paint, and make sure you have good coverage.
* Note: Be aware of the ventilation in the room you are working in. If the room does not have good air circulation, you may want to take several breaks outside the room to avoid complications from the paint fumes.
6. LET IT DRY
Once room is covered by a solid coat, wait until it dries (usually 2 – 4 hours), then apply a second coat. During this time you will want to wash your brushes and other tools that have some amount of paint on them. Instead of washing the rollers right now, you may instead want to simply cover them with a plastic vendor bag to keep the air out and avoid the need to wash them now and risk them still being wet when it’s time to apply the second coat.
7. BACK AT IT
When applying the second coat, make sure that you have a solid coverage with no signs of the old paint’s color peeking through. You may need to appy an additional coat beyond the second if the old paint color is STILL showing through. It's advised that you step away from the wall every so often to get a good look and make sure the coverage is to your liking.
8. DON'T LET THE TAPE STAY UP TOO LONG
You should remove the painter’s tape while the final coat is still drying. By removing the tape then, you should avoid paint pealing. Remove the tape slowly and carefully in an even pull at a downward angle. If you find some bleed through occurred, you should be able to take care of it with a putty knife and a damp cloth.
9. FINAL STEPS
Allow the room time to dry. If you are able to increase the airflow with a fan or by other means it can help to expedite the process. After a full 24 hours, the room should be dry.
Before you finish, now would be the time to apply paint to trim and any other place that requires a different color of paint. You will want to follow most of the process detailed above, with the exception that for detail work such as this, you will want to use brushes and avoid rollers.
Once all the painting is done, clean and put away all your supplies, making sure to wash the brushes and rollers and allow them time to air dry before putting them away as to avoid damage or mold. Put the wall plates and fixtures back up. Now simply put the furniture back into the room and start enjoying the new vibe of your freshly painted room!
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