|
 |
Let's paint! |
Intro | Getting Ready | Let's Paint! | About
Paints | Application Charts
Brushing & Rolling | Painting Pointers
 Brushing
& Rolling
The more glossy a surface is, the more difficult it
is to touch up or "cut in." The degree of difficulty is also dependent
upon color, type of paint and age. Flat paints, either latex or alkyd, are the
easiest. Semigloss and glossy paints lose about a third of their gloss after a
couple months, making the touch-ups too glossy - especially with alkyd paint, which often
requires several more months to match the lower gloss of the original surface. Latex
paints, regardless of gloss, will touch up better than alkyd paints, because they show
less change upon aging.
The colour and adhesion of touch-ups can be affected
by high humidity and/or low temperatures, and paint applied below 10ºC may not dry
properly, and frequently appears lighter in colour. Use the same tool for touch-ups,
that you used for the first coat of paint - every brush or roller makes its own
characteristic surface texture, and changing tools may leave a noticeable difference.
Brushes can be cleaned and dried in the middle of a
job - or in the case of alkyd paints, stored overnight wrapped in aluminum foil, to
prevent stiffening. Synthetic bristles will develop a permanent curl, if left
standing in water or mineral spirits for any length of time; and natural bristles
will absorb water, changing the shape of the brush.
Short nap rollers will actually carry more paint and
provide better coverage than shaggy rollers, which will however provide a deeper stipple,
if desired. Avoid rolling back over latex paints after 5 minutes, or over alkyd
paints after 30 minutes, or a rough texture may be visible when the paint fully dries.
Two thin coats are always better than one thick coat. Multiple coats
of paint reduce the chances of visible runs and other imperfections.
Repeated painting of a surface with rollers creates a
surface texture, which when patched, will show smooth. You can "stipple"
the smooth patches by dabbing with a brush, possibly more than once.
Apply exterior stains in the shade whenever possible,
avoiding dry lap marks by painting only one or two boards at a time. Paint ceilings
with the light to your back, working away from the light. When working in hot
weather, or any time your paint is too tacky, use the appropriate thinner to extend drying
time. Avoid application of alkyd paints in direct sunlight, as blistering may occur.
Ensure all water or mineral spirits are dried from
your brushes or rollers before resuming painting, as the residual moisture may thin the
paint on the brush or roller.
Remove any masking tape as soon as possible after
painting, and use only tape designed for painting. Wide tape can be lapped over
carpets for protection, when painting baseboards.
Neat Idea: Poke some small holes in the
rim of your paint can, so the paint will drain back into the can instead of filling the
rim - which makes resealing the can very difficult.
Don't buy cheap paints or cheap tools. Cheap
paints have poor spreadability and reduced coverage. Cheap brushes and rollers loose
bristles and leave lint.
Keep a wet edge... always work from the
unpainted surface, back into the freshly painted areas, to reduce brush and roller marks.
An extension pole will allow you to make longer strokes and maintain more wet edge,
and reduce strain when painting ceilings.
Intro | Getting Ready | Let's Paint! | About
Paints | Application Charts
Back to Directory
| 
All
Around The
House™
