Painting and Decorators London | What can cause problems with painting and how to avoid them?
Painting is related to house decoration, an important part of developing a nice home. It is the process of painting walls, ceilings, and other surfaces with different colors or having them prepared for that purpose. You can paint your property yourself or buy it done by contractors who are specialized in this field. Here are some problems you meet during this process that need to be avoided in order not to spoil the result.
Always use the right type of paint for your project
It is recommended to use high-quality exterior paint for outside surfaces and something cheap or low grade for inside walls. Never mix them together because it can cause severe problems. The best is to request the right type of paint for your project at the store where you purchase it. You should also prepare properly before painting outside walls or other surfaces because there are some things which can damage them, like salt on roads in winter or lime from the plaster. In this case you should remove them before painting, to prevent future problems with your painted walls. Always protect surfaces surrounding the one you paint because it is easy to spill or drop some paint on them which can be seen even after a long time.
If you paint your walls yourself, you should also prepare them before and protect surrounding surfaces with plastic covers which can be bought at stores. It is very important to do this right because it will prolong the life of painted surfaces and make the result better.
You should also choose the right kind of brushes and rollers. Never use those intended for exterior painting on walls because their structure is very different and finishing leads to problems which you need to avoid, like stains around light sockets etc.
Prep the surface thoroughly before painting to ensure that it is clean and dry.
Use a spirit- or de-greaser (ideally one that can be used as paint thinner) to remove oil, grease and any other dirt from the surface. Let the solvent evaporate before attempting to paint. If you are repainting an item of furniture, take it apart where products allow so that each component is clean and ready to paint.
Do a thorough inspection of the surface before commencing painting. Look for cracks in plaster, scratches in wood, rusting nails and do anything you can to work round these flaws. Fill holes with an appropriate filler and sand down any blemishes on the surface.
Ensure that there is plenty of ventilation when working with oil-based paints. Also, avoid using in very hot weather as the paint will dry too quickly.
A painting and decorating brush is required for most paint jobs. Start with the largest one you need before moving on to smaller sizes as appropriate. Wash and dry brushes thoroughly after use and store them so that they do not bend or split, especially if they are made from natural bristles such as hog hair. Use a metal tin stand to keep brushes in.
Before commencing painting, have masking tape, duck tape or masking fluid to hand. They will be essential for creating clean lines and preventing unnecessary mess (wet paint seeping into places it does not belong).
One of the best methods for achieving a professional finish is to apply several thin coats of paint rather than one thick one. Apply a first coat of the paint to the entire surface, then allow it to dry thoroughly before starting again.
Don’t try and include any detailed artwork in a large painting or decoration job – the best results are achieved when working on a small scale. Also, avoid using too many colors as they can limit your options later on.
Always wait for a thin coat of paint to dry
Always paint in the direction of the wood’s grain to avoid unsightly brush marks. Light-colored surfaces should be painted before dark ones, otherwise, your work will show through and ruin any effort you make.
Prepare the surface by removing any dirt or grease with a cleaner or de-greaser before painting it. Use a spirit- or de-greaser (one that can be used as paint thinner) to remove oil, grease and any other dirt from the surface. Let the solvent evaporate before attempting to paint. If you are repainting an item of furniture, take it apart where products allow so that each component is clean and ready to paint.
Before commencing painting, have masking tape, duck tape or masking fluid to hand. They will be essential for creating clean lines and preventing unnecessary mess (wet paint seeping into places it does not belong).
A painting and decorating brush is required for most paint jobs. Start with the largest one you need before moving on to smaller sizes as appropriate. Wash and dry brushes thoroughly after use and store them so that they do not bend or split, especially if they are made from natural bristles such as hog hair. Use a metal tin stand to keep brushes in.
Darker colors can take longer to dry than lighter ones
If you are seeking to paint your room with dark colors, it’s good idea to separate the painting task into different sections. We’re talking about walls and ceilings here.
If you paint one wall at a time, then once finished move on to another wall until every bit of the room is done. This will let each section dry in between. This will allow the other areas to dry properly.
Lighter colors will absorb humidity faster than darker colors
If you are painting your room with lighter colors, it’s good idea to separate the painting task into different sections. We’re talking about walls and ceilings here.
If you paint one wall at a time, then once finished move on to another wall until every bit of the room is done. This will let each section dry in between. This will allow the other areas to dry properly.
If you do paint the whole room in one go, then leave the windows open. This will help to let fresh air circulate and dry out each section along with letting humidity levels balance back out.
Tips for choosing the right color of paint
One tip is to take a little swatch of the paint color and place it inside a sealed container with a wet cloth over top. Leave this in a dark place overnight, and check on it in the morning. If the paper has gone moldy, then this will be an indication that light, humidity and water will accelerate this process even faster.
If you are painting your kitchen cabinets, then it’s good idea to use rust-proof paint. Not only is this safer with all that water around, but it can also help prevent unsightly stains and mold from forming over time.
Protective gear is needed when using oil based paints for any type of project at home due to the toxicity of the fumes. Place your protective gear on before you begin each paint job to avoid having a serious health hazard in your home.
A water-based paint is much safer, and it will dry faster too. However, you will need to clean up with soap and water – not turpentine – after finishing this project.
If you are painting a wooden floor, then use a primer first, and let that dry before moving on with the top coat. This will allow sanding dust particles to be removed from the surface of your newly sanded floors.