We look for a time of day when it is not too hot and we prepare to paint the face of the house or -at least- some of its surroundings. We don't hire a painter. We chose good, easy-to-apply materials to renovate, with a little effort and creativity, the look of a home.
The options are varied and range from painting a room in one colour or combining two or more on different walls to various decorative effects techniques (patina, sponging, mopping, etc.).
To obtain a professional finish it is important to review the keys that allow us to make a good choice of materials and painting practices:
1- Choose a good paint; buy quality brushes and rollers.
The quality and type of paint is as important as the color for a good result. It is always a good idea to choose quality paints, even if they are more expensive. They will have a greater covering power, which will allow us to save on paint coats -and with less time of application- and on the quantity of material. In addition, they will guarantee us a uniform colour and a greater durability over time.
Choosing good quality paint tools will ensure better coverage of the surface to be painted, so we will save on paint, in addition to achieving a better finish. It is an investment that pays for itself over time, since with the right choice you acquire items that you can use for several years.
2- Cover the place to avoid stains.
With an old sheet, cover the floor so that the dripping paint does not stain the floor. The edges and contours surrounding frames, windows and doors can be taped so that the brush can be passed through without risk of crossing the boundary.
3- Basic painting techniques.
To obtain a uniform color, mix and stir the entire contents of the cans in a single container. The paint should be spread evenly over the surface without dripping or dripping.
When painting with a brush or roller, follow 3 steps: apply the paint, distribute it evenly and carefully smooth it to obtain an even result.
4- Use the brush well.
Insert the brush up to one third of the length of the bristles into the bucket or tray.
To outline an edge, use the narrow side of the brush. It is important to make long and slow strokes.
To avoid marking the paint, paint from the dry area to the fresh paint.
To paint flat surfaces, use the wide part of the brush.
To paint large surfaces with a brush, apply the paint with 2 or 3 diagonal strokes. Then distribute evenly with horizontal strokes. Press down sufficiently and smooth vertically from top to bottom.
In short, you must first move diagonally, then horizontally and then vertically.
5- How to use the roller.
Surfaces must be painted in small sections. Work from dry surfaces to those with fresh paint to avoid marks.
Before starting to paint, slightly dampen the roller with water to remove any loose threads. This will also encourage free rotation, leaving even thicknesses
After this operation, insert it into the paint tray by rolling it from one end of the textured wall to the other to distribute the paint evenly over the roller.
With the roller loaded, use the application technique called "Z" or "N", because of the drawing made with the roller on the cloth to be painted. In this way, the paint is added and then moved to the rest of the surface, thus achieving greater coverage power and better levelling, with a minimum splash.
6- Cleaning and storage.
Once the task is finished, the brushes and rollers should be cleaned with the diluent used - solvent or water-based, as the case may be - and then rinsed repeatedly with neutral white soap. At the end of this operation wrap each of the tools used in newspaper to remove the remaining moisture.
Once dry, store them wrapped in sheets of newspaper.