Painting 101

A recent family effort to paint a hall inspired this post.

Some of these pointers are going to be obvious.  Some of these pointers are going to be new.  It depends on your experience and skill level.  But, we all have to start somewhere, and a refresher is usually a good idea.

1.  Two, three or even four thin--thin!--coats are better than one thick coat.

2.  Allow enough drying time between each coat--at least 30 minutes.

3.  Masking tape really does work--if you use it right.  Apply masking tape only to a clean, dry surface.  That means, free from oils, dust and any other gross bits.  When in doubt, wash the wall first!  You can spray a little Windex on a dry paper towel and lightly wipe the area with it, but be sure to let the wall dry.  Then, tear a strip of masking tape from the roll.  It's better to use several medium length strip than one huge strip--masking tape can become unwieldy.  Carefully press the strip down, smoothing it out with your finger as you go.  The secret, here, is really good adhesion.  After you apply the strip, run the dull edge of a butter knife along the edge, to really press it into place.  If you're using multiple strips, then make sure to overlap them by about half an inch.  This is where the butter knife trick really comes in handy.  When you're painting the edge, don't run your paintbrush along the edge of the masking tape--this is going to encourage paint, especially watery paint, to seep under it.  Instead, angle your brush so that your strokes are perpendicular to the edge.  You want to brush up to, and over, the edge.  Brush lightly!  Also, if at all possible, don't water down your paint.  It's much better to have a few light coats than one heavy coat.  If your first coat doesn't cover completely, then don't worry about it.

4.  Don't use turpentine with latex paint.  Turpentine is oil based, latex paint is water based.  Oil and water don't mix; over time, oil based solvents (like turpentine) eat into water based paints.  A good rule of thumb is, don't mix.  Either use all oil based products--primer, paint and solvent--or all water based products.

5.  Gesso and latex paint are permanent.  Yes, this includes craft paint.  If you spill some on yourself, then you need to wash it out immediately.  Use cold water (hot water sets stains) and don't rub.  Turpentine and other solvents do not remove them, so don't even try.  All you're going to get is an oily mess.

6.  If you put on a thick coat of paint, then you must remember, drying time is exponential--one thin coat might need 30 minutes to dry, but one thick coat might need two hours or more.  One mistake a family member made was to assume that, because the wall was dry to the touch, the paint was completely dry.  It wasn't.  When he pulled off the masking tape, stringy blobs of paint came with it.  "Dry to the touch" is not a good test, don't use it.  In fact, don't even touch the wall--or furniture or whatever else it is you're painting.  Do the dishes, polish the furniture, go grocery shopping or work on another project.  Do something to distract you from waiting, otherwise you're going to end up poking and prodding at the wall.

7.  Don't be afraid to ask for help.  Our brothers and sisters with desk jobs often forget that painting is a skilled trade.  It might not be rocket science, and it might not require graduate school, but it does require ability.  Being smart, or being good at something else, has nothing to do with it.