Homeowners wishing to perk up their homes for sale or just to enjoy an updated home often paint the walls. The object of upgrading a house is to give potential buyers what they seek. Neutral colors sold a house back in the day, but today’s buyers want colors that are fresh and bold.
Zillow did a study in which paint colors were associated with selling prices. The study found that neutral colors made the house sell for upwards of $1,100 less than other colors. The study found that the selling price was elevated by much the same amount when colors like sunny yellow, eggplant purple, and light green were used.
While it’s not the most onerous honey-do in a house, most homeowners just want DIY painting and be done with it. There are tips and hacks professional painters use that will help homeowners with this particular task. Here are five that will help.
1. Paint In Dry Weather
Humidity and temperature play a large role in how well the paint adheres to the walls. If the temperature is too cold, the paint will thicken and will dry unevenly. If the humidity is too high, condensation will form on the walls. The relative humidity should be between 40 and 70 percent for best results.
If homeowners are interior painting in hot weather, using a dehumidifier and cranking up the air conditioner will keep the conditions conducive to good painting. Those painting in winter should be mindful of how the paint adheres to the walls. Walls need to be 50 degrees for the paint to adhere well.
Tip: Keep in mind that ventilation is important while you’re painting. You don’t want to huff paint in an enclosed area. Even if you have to run the AC and dehumidifier with open windows, do it for your health.
2. Prep The Walls
Homeowners painting walls without first prepping them will find finished walls with bumps, scratches, and gouges showing through. Grease spots should be removed with dish soap and water so they won’t shine through the new coat of paint.
Lightly sanding imperfections will leave a smooth wall to which the paint will adhere better. Fill in scratches and gouges with melted wax. Sand it to smooth it.
A new coat of paint won’t stick to the walls if the walls aren’t primed first. Prime the walls using primer matched to the type of paint you’ll be using. If you use a primer meant for oil-based paint, then the paint won’t stick to the walls. Match primer meant for latex paint with latex paint and primer made for oil-based paint with oil-based paint.
Tip: Among professional painting hacks is to tint the primer with a bit of paint for a one-coat job with better adhesion.
3. Paint Using A Grid
Paint is going to drip onto your canvas no matter what. Painting trays don’t hold enough paint, they tip over onto your canvas, and your roller can’t get good saturation. The ideal solution is to use a five-gallon bucket.
A neater painting job would be to use a grid. Pour your paint into your bucket. On top of the bucket place a grid. Dip your roller into the paint and drag it along the grid to remove drips. When you’re finished painting, store the grid in the bucket and place a lid on the bucket.
Tip: If you can’t find a grid, it’s a simple matter to use a cooling rack from the kitchen. Just place it over the bucket to catch drips, and put it inside the bucket when you’re done.
4. Use Quality Rollers And Brushes
For the best results in interior painting, the quality of the roller cover and the bristles of a paintbrush are vital. These are specially formulated for the optimal coverage of latex and oil-based paint.
Latex Paint
Paint Brushes are best used for trim, corners, and small, tight areas. Nylon and polyester paint brushes are the tool most professional painters use. Paintbrush bristles are cut with their ends rounded or squared for a certain purpose. An angle sash cut, for instance, is meant for trim to have a smoother finish.
Wall brushes are larger and also cut with straight ends. Some professionals prefer wall brushes over rollers. Trim brushes, though, are cut with rounded ends perfect for trim and corners.
High production brushes pick up more than 25 percent of paint and leave a smoother finish. One hundred percent nylon brushes are hardier and last longer than other brushes. They do well on rougher surfaces like decks.
Nylon/polyester roller covers were formulated specifically for latex paint. They don’t mat up and retain their shape. Polyester knit, sheepskin, mohair, and soft woven roller covers also do a fine job. Mohair and soft woven are best used when applying gloss and semi-gloss paints.
Oil-Based Paint
Natural Black China bristle brushes are specially made with coarse hair for use with oil-based paint. They are built with better flow and a smoother finish. White China bristle brushes are softer and thinner. They’re perfect for varnishes, stains, and clear coating. They, too, can be used with oil-based paint.
Natural fiber like sheepskin and blended roller covers are made especially for working with oil-based paint due to low matting and superior finishing.
5. Other Tips And Hacks
Some homeowners paint around electrical outlet covers and light switch covers, but it’s best to remove them. Beneath the covers, place masking tape with the color, paint number, and brand name for when the paint needs refreshing.
Place a length of plastic wrap on top of the paint can before putting the lid back on. This eliminates splatters from splashy paint can lids. Store the can upside down.
Punch holes in the paint stick before stirring the paint. This aerates the paint and mixes it more thoroughly. Paint won’t dry up in a half-full paint can if you add golf balls up to the lid.
