3 House Painting Fundamentals

painting, paint, color,

We Love Painting, and we’ve been painting houses for over 30 years—through three generations!

That is why we wanted to share some house painting fundamentals that any novice painter or hobbyist should know to save time, money, and aggravation.

When we go to work on your home, the fundamentals of what we do are so ingrained in our DNA that we don’t even have to think about it. We know how to use the right brush and brushstroke and what paint is needed for the desired end result. We know about safety protocols, trends, and time tables without a second thought. We realize, however, that not everyone has the experience we do. Even a small project, such as painting a room, can be overwhelming for a novice when it comes to the nuts and bolts.

Picking your color and paint is very important. But we’re not going to go into too much detail about this because that would detract from the purpose of this post. Our goal here is to save you time, money, and aggravation. Since there are so many other well-done posts on picking the right paint, we are comfortable pointing you to those, such as this one from the DIY Network. The same notion goes for choosing the most important tool: your paintbrush. This article from the For Dummies book series is great for that. They do a nice job of breaking down this important aspect in a very simple manner. This leaves us with the option of discussing other fundamentals that may get overlooked.

Do the Prep Work

When it comes to house painting, prep work is where you are going to spend the majority of your time. This is especially true for interior house painting jobs. You will want to tape off areas with sharp lines, move furnishings, repair and patch any imperfections, and remove things like switches and doorknobs. All of this will allow you to paint without restriction, which is critical because it is impossible to paint right when trying to tiptoe around obstacles. Be sure to thoroughly prep the area you want to paint so that you get a smooth and beautiful finish.

Cut and Roll

It is okay to cut when painting. This means painting corners and edges before painting the main wall. This will allow for a smoother finish and help you avoid ugly lines. Once this is done, use rollers to save you time. For smooth lines and a better paint job, remember to paint an overlapping “W.” On this note, be sure to use an extension pole when using the roller. While using a ladder for cutting or tough spots is fine, a roller on an extension pole will allow you to paint faster and reach places like ceilings without much movement.

Boxing

Boxing” refers to combining multiple gallons into an appropriately sized bucket. Simply pour your gallons into a sealable bucket and mix. By doing this, you avoid any inconsistencies in paint color and coverage. Plus, you save yourself time and waste by not having to do one bucket at a time. This really streamlines the process and provides a fail-safe in case you make a slight mistake.

Other Fundamentals:

Primer is key to covering stains, and you need to add a layer for the top coat to adhere to.

Do the math to know how much paint you need by measuring your painting area. Try samples first to ensure it is the color you think you are getting.

Sheen is also a critical component to painting as it can vastly affect how an area looks and functions. Choose wisely.

Painting your house using the right fundamentals is akin to learning how to throw and catch before playing a game of baseball. Once you get these down, painting becomes simpler and more fun. Contact us to learn more fundamentals that will take your painting skills to the next level.

Subscribe to our newsletter and receive up to date do it yourself tips and advice.

Jaworski Painting
Jaworski Cabinet Painting & Refinishing

Don’t Like Painting?  Lucky for you we do.  Contact us today for a free quote.

Jaworski Painting