5 Key Questions:
1) What are you painting?
2) What condition is the surface in?
3) What results or type of finish would you like?
4) How
large an area are you painting?
5) What other painting tools will you need?
Check List:
Paint Brushes
Edging Brushes Masking Tape
Roller
Covers Roller
Frames Drop
Cloths
Paint Trays Paint
Tray Liners Spackle
Ladders Extension
Pole Sand Paper
Paint
Thinner
Putty Knife
Goof Off
Primer TSP
Surface Preparation:
The surface should be clean (TSP), dry & dull (de-gloss - sandpaper/TSP)
Priming:
Primers seal the
surface & promote adhesion of the top coat.
You should always prime bare sheetrock, water stains, when you are making a significant
color change to a room, and following repair work / wall patching.
Types of Primers
Regular Primer - used for majority of wall
board painting projects.
Undercoater - for wood or shiney surfaces. Paint will lay down nicer. It's
betterunder wall paper and offers better adhesion.
Stain Blocker - For water stains use an oil based stain block primer. Latex
primers
are OK for everything else.
Wood & Primers
Redwood & Cedar have tannins that can bleed through. You should use an
oil based primer on these types of woods. For Fur, Pine, Plywood and other softwoods it's OK to use a latex primer.
Paint
Sheens
Flat
Sheen Level - No Sheen
Advantages - Best hiding power. Most forgiving
finish for surface
imperfections
Disadvantages - Not scubable. Hard to clean
Where Used - Bedrooms
& Living rooms
Eggshell
Sheen Level - Low Scheen
Advantages - Flat look,
allows for light scrubing & cleanup
Disadvantages - Not recommended for high maintenance areas
Where Used - Bedrooms & Living rooms
Satin
Sheen Level - Low to Moderate
Advantages - Soft pleasant sheen, allows for better scrubing & cleanup
Disadvantages - Not recommended
for high maintenance areas
Where Used - Bedrooms, Livingrooms, Hallways, Windows & Trim
Semi-Gloss
Sheen Level - Medium Sheen
Advantages - Workhouse sheen, Great for scrubing & cleaning. For high
maintenance
areas
Disadvantages - Harder to get one coat coverage. Shows moderate
surface imperfections
Where Used - Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows & Trim, Cabinets & Doors
Gloss
Sheen Level - High Sheen
Advantages - Most durable finish. Highest light reflection (bright rooms will
appear
even brighter). For use in high maintenance areas.
Disadvantages - Hardest finish to get one
coat coverage. Shows all
surface imperfections. Exaggerates brush marks or roller
marks
Where Used - Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows & Trim, Cabinets & Doors
Ceiling Paint
Formulated to produce a low reflective finish while offering pigmentation to
provide extremely white colors.
Additives in the paint also provide good
splatter resistance for easier overhead application.