Any tips on painting walls and ceilings

mariauk

theGrinch wrote:

best advice is take your time and use some masking tape....failing that maybe a stiff drink..it wont look so bad after...

Also take the masking tape off while the paint is still sticky. I done a short interior design course and the tutor said she never buys homebrand(B&Q etc) paints as it has so much plastic in the Vinyl silk that it scraps off easily (ahh thats why my walls look that where the kids put the bikes!) She also recommends Dulux or the others mention as although its more expensive, it will lasts longer. She also recommended buying white and colouring it yourself(making sure you mix enough) as it works out cheaper. Good luck with the painting, if I ever get off of MSN, I will start my poor forgotten decorating

Murphy_The_Cat

in the past i have used a straight line paint pad ( a small paint pad with rollers ) from a diy store and had very good results with it - they also so a very similar product for painting up to skirting boards, i think they coat about £2.00 ish


As for mixing your own paint colours my wife claims that i cannot make a good cup of tea twice in a row so you can imagine what self mixed paint would look like in our house ! I leave that one to the computer mixer at the Dulux centre.

MTC

Poppy9

For doors and skirting boards use a gloss roller. Much more even result and soooooooo quick.

JayS_3

For radiators, try the spray cans specifically for radiators (ie can take the heat).

You need to mask with newspaper and masking tape for about l metre all around the rad but the results are brilliant, definantly no brush marks and they look like new ones!!!!

Tip: if you try this, do several very thin coats, allowing the rad to dry between, rather than be tempted to get the job done with one thick coat (paint will run).

Good Luck, whichever method you choose.

JayS

CrunchyNutKat

I repaint my radiators once a year,Ive got the old type cast iron ones (like you had at school that were scorching hot or freezing cold)!

I buy large cheap car spray paint from 1.00 shop, mask with news paper
behind them,give them a very quick sand over.

Then spray them lightly (not too close) they come up really great-been doing this for about 5 years and they always look great!!

Peter-Pan_5

Can I say a second hand shop,but to be serious try and use a worn brush about 2ins use the shortest edge hold the brush like a pencil try and be in control of what you are doing a wee bit at a time just concentrate,if you try and get as close to the ceiling as possible rig up a wee scaffold of two chairs and a plank,you can buy good quality dust sheets from screwfix about £8 and you can wash them better that polythene.

Dulux paint quality is not the same quality from the DIY shops it yellows quicker,leyland do a water based gloss Acrylux and is very impressive non yellowing.from screwfix

Johnstons,Leyland,Macphersons all as good as dulux,crown,as the man says you get what you pay for.

You only use primer on bare wood/metal so to use pr/unc/gloss is normal,when using emulsion two coats of good quality paint gives you a better job than 3/4 of coats. "own brand"

Meeten

Have just done a whole house with new paint and used Dulux. Most of the house is done in ivory, (off white), and have to say that I am pleased with it.

I took the time to put making tape around the edges, so if it did do too close to he ceiling, there was no coverage there, and there is a sense of saticfaction when you take the tape off and see the sharp edge.

ALDI had a 3 pack of tape a couple of weeks ago, so it was good value there - think that it is overpriced in B&Q, unless you get the value stuff which is a lot more tacky (as in sticky) and can peel paint off if left on for too long.

As for rads, I did what previous posters mentioned and lightly sanded, and then covered with white eggshell. It makes such a difference, and as it is so easy, reckon I will be doing it every year - my contribution to the SPRING CLEAN!!!

One thing to be aware of - don't paint the rads when at dusk - well I had the timer on and soon found that the rad was turning hot as I was painting, and it did cause some concern as therewas wet paint being heated up ..... hmmm!!!!

Also, I unscrewed the electricity sockets so that I can get the color behind them, and give it a proper finish. BUT if you are goign down that route please make sure that you can screw them back in! I have one that I cannot put the cover in come love nor (lots of) money! Better to unscrew partially, and paint behid, or alternatively just cover with masking tape (which is what I eventually ended up doing!)

Good luck!

Paul_Varjak

Would putting up a picture rail help? You then paint the ceiling and the wall (down to the picture rail) in the same colour!

Ticklemouse

Having spent years trying to paint the edges of walls/ceilings well, I took my dad's advice last time and got a 4 inch brush. Holds loads more paint so you're not up and down all the time and if you grasp it with your fingers down the bristles and the handle sticking out between your thi=umb and forefinger, you can get a good firm grip and it's easier to control. I agree with the earlier poster, get up a ladder so that it's at eye level.

Talked to a decorator recently and he said Crown/Dulux is far better paint esp gloss, but he preferred Dulux as it didn't yellow as fast. When I emulsioned my hall/stairs/landing, I mixed my own, but in order to achieve the colour I wanted, I ended up with 20 litres to spare.:o That's no bad thin in itself as it doesn't wash well and with small children, I just give the main bits a quick lick every so often and it's as good as new.

Peter-Pan_5

Or you could slaister the paint on nilly willy and then put up those cheapo cornices from Homebase etc 95p a metre?to cover your cutting in.