Decorating advice please

sancho

As stated in a previous thread I am in the process of decorating. We have decided to skim a few walls in the rooms we will tackle in the summer, but over the Easter holidays I am planning on doing my daughter's room.

We have stripped the wallpaper, and the surface isn't bad, bits of leftover paint here and there, but generally sound. There are two little cracks from the ceiling to the door frame and the ceiling to the window lintel.

What's the best way to fill the cracks? Do they need filling?

Should I sand the walls before starting? Or clean with sugar soap?

Planning on using a neutral magnolia type colour and then an apple green on one wall. Would I be best doing a coat of cheap white emulsion first? or thin a coat down?

Should I do anything between coats? sand?

Magnolia all walls and then the colour on one afterwards?

Am planning on doing a decent job, what should I look for with a roller and brush - Sizes etc.?

Should I do the woodwork first or last?

Apologies for all of the newbish questions. Have painted rooms before but want to do it properly this time and there's a large wealth of knowledge on here

Thanks in advance

ormus

yes the cracks need filling.
yes the walls need a bit of a sanding down. shouldnt need that much.
are the walls bare? if so then a thin first coat is useful. white or magnolia. or 50/50 mix.

paint the ceilings first, walls second and the wood last.

a normal size roller and a 2inch brush (for cutting in) should be ok. with more skill you can use a bigger brush.

sancho

Thanks mate, much appreciate it.

The walls are bare but have bits of old paint on. I might take a picture as I'm a bit worried about what it will be like

misgrace

You need to wash the walls with Sugar soap to get rid of any paste residue from the existing paper, if you dont, then any paste left on the walls will react to the new paint and can cause crazing on the new paint, which you will see through the paint finish.

Cut out the cracks, dont fill cracks in one go, fill, sand when dry, then fill again till it feels flush with the wall.
Before rolling, dab the filled areas by brush with your colour (slighty thin the paint, as you dont want thick brushlines) a couple of times before rolling.

If you have lots of filled areas and you roll straight over without dabbing like I suggested the roller can lift the filler, it makes a right mess of your roller and you will have bits of filler all over your wall.