Painting is the #1 Do-It-Yourself project because it is relatively easy and inexpensive. However, many people have questions about painting, including the types of paint, brushes, preparation, and techniques. This guide aims to answer all your questions and provide tips from professionals to help you achieve the best results.
Painting Basics: Understanding Hue, Tint, Shade, and Tone
When selecting paint colors, understanding basic terminology is crucial:
- Hue: The pure color or color family, such as red, blue, or green.
- Tint: Created by adding white to a hue, lightening the color (e.g., pink from red).
- Shade: Created by adding black to a hue, darkening the color (e.g., garnet from red).
- Tone: Created by adding gray (a mix of white and black) to a hue, making the color less vibrant.
Primary and Secondary Colors
Primary colors are Red, Yellow, and Blue. Secondary colors are created by mixing primary colors:
- Red + Yellow = Orange
- Yellow + Blue = Green
- Blue + Red = Violet
Choosing the Right Paint
Oil vs. Latex Paint
- Latex Paint (Acrylic): Easy to use, quick to dry, and easy to clean with water. Ideal for most interior and exterior applications.
- Oil-Based Paint (Alkyd): Durable and smooth finish but requires paint thinner for cleanup and has a strong odor.
Paint Sheens
- Flat: No shine, hides flaws, ideal for ceilings and low-traffic areas.
- Eggshell: Slight shine, washable, great for family rooms and hallways.
- Satin: Soft shine, scrubable, suitable for any room and exterior walls.
- Semi-Gloss: Visible shine, durable, easy to clean, perfect for high-traffic areas, doors, and trim.
- Gloss: Shiniest finish, extremely durable, highlights flaws, commonly used for trim and cabinets.
Preparing for Painting
Room Preparation
- Clear Space: Move furniture to the center or out of the room, cover with drop cloths, and secure with tape.
- Remove Fixtures: Take off switch plates, outlet covers, and hardware. Use painter’s tape to cover switches and outlets.
- Clean Surfaces: Wash walls with a mixture of water and household cleaner to remove dirt and contaminants.
- Patch and Sand: Fill nail holes and cracks with spackle, sand smooth, and clean dust.
- Protect Areas: Use painter’s tape to mask off areas not being painted.
Primer Usage
- New Wood: Use a latex or oil-based primer. For stain-blocking, an oil-based primer is more effective.
- Old Wood: Sand and clean thoroughly, then apply primer.
- Masonry: Primer fills porous surfaces and reduces texture telegraphing.
- Metal: Clean and sand rust, then apply metal primer.
Painting Techniques
Using a Paint Brush
- Choose the Right Brush: Synthetic bristles for latex paint, natural bristles for oil-based paint.
- Load the Brush Properly: Dip one-third to one-half of the bristles in paint.
- Apply Paint: Use long, even strokes, starting from the wet edge and blending into the dry area.
Using a Paint Roller
- Edge First: Use a brush to paint edges and corners.
- Load the Roller: Coat the roller in paint and remove excess in the tray.
- Apply Paint: Start with a “W” pattern, then fill in. Work from top to bottom, keeping a wet edge.
Cleaning Paint Tools
Cleaning Paint Brushes
- Latex Paint: Wash with warm water and dish soap. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
- Oil-Based Paint: Clean with paint thinner in stages, then rinse and dry.
Cleaning Paint Rollers
- Latex Paint: Rinse with water. For storage, wrap in plastic.
- Oil-Based Paint: Dispose of roller covers after use due to cleaning difficulty.
Advanced Techniques for Faux Texturing Walls
- Sponging: Use natural sponges to apply paint for a stippled effect.
- Dragging: Apply paint and drag a brush to reveal base color.
- Striping: Use analogous colors and taped borders for a damask effect.
- Stamping: Create patterns with stamps.
- Stenciling: Outline shapes and fill with paint using prefabricated or homemade stencils.
- Ragging: Use cheesecloth to apply or remove paint for texture.
- Color Washing: Apply a subtle finish paint with brushes or cloths.
- Frottage: Apply paint, then press and remove plastic or paper for a stone-like texture.
- Clear Glazes: Add sheen and mix with pigments for pearlescent effects.
Using a Paint Sprayer
- Types of Sprayers: Conventional (compressor), airless (high pressure), and HVLP (high volume, low pressure).
- Application: Hold the spray gun at the correct distance and move your arm in steady, smooth motions.
- Clean Up: Thoroughly clean after each use to prevent paint from drying inside the sprayer.
By understanding these basics and advanced techniques, you can confidently undertake any painting project, transforming your home with beautiful, professional-quality results. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to check out our reader forums for more advice and tips.
