Gadgets for decorating

Norman_Castle

Don't buy cheapo brushes. Some are unusable. Use the roller on a pole, much easier. Steam strippers save loads of work Most decorating gadgets are nonsense. Hand tools and patience work best.

Kiran

Stick to traditional methods to start with, people have been doing it that way for years and gettig good results. As for tools/gadgets buy them when you have a need for them not because you might need them.

Enjoy

ilikewatch

Personally I would avoid any "gadgets" especially anything that's been advertised on a TV shopping channel, in particular:

• Paint Pods
• Rollers that you fill with paint
• Novelty rollers for painting corners/cutting in

I would advise buying the best tools you can, and looking after them. Some things that I have found really help when decorating are:

• A paint kettle
• Continental filling knives (a rectangle of very thin spring steel)
• A steam wallpaper stripper
• Roller extension poles
• A good quality (all metal) caulking gun - cheap ones do break, and it's a right PITA when this happens at 9pm when all the shops are shut.

Also, keep your masking tape in an airtight bag or box, otherwise the edges dry out and paint will bleed behind it, it's almost worth buying some of the frighteningly expensive Frog tape just to get the storage box...

martinsurrey

Yet another vote for quality hand tools.

A quality set of brushes and rollers and you're off.

Looby_Lou

Have a look to see if you have a screwfix or a toolstation near you as they are much cheaper than the big DIY stores for brushes & rollers.

I use a plastic measuring jug to decant paint into for doing ceilings, it is light and I can hook the handle over the step ladder.

pimento

Raksha wrote: »

I like paint pads, especially for cutting in.

Yes, I'm a fan of the paint pad myself.

evoke

Agree with some of the previous posts: avoid any of the junk advertised on shopping channels! If those products were good then professional decorators would use them!

General decorating items that I would recommend based on my whole-house refurbishments project (some mentioned in previous posts too):

• Paint kettles
• Good set of brushes/rollers
• Masking tape
• Pencils - for marking
• A long straight edge
• A decent long spirit level
• A packet of disposable gloves and a baseball cap/hat to stop paint getting on you
• Overalls/old clothes to wear when decorating
• LOTS of old rags for cleaning up spilled paint
• Decorator's caulk for filling
• Sealant gun (a proper metal one and not the cheap plastic ones)
• A good, heavy Stanley knife with lots of blades
• Good quality 3m-6m tape measure that won't collapse when measuring up walls!
• Old carpet pieces to protect your floors
• Lots of white spirit
• An outside tap for cleaning up brushes and rollers
• A hammer and a selection of nails/pins
• Cordless drill with drill bits and screwdriver bits
• A decent collection of wood screws, masonry screws, wall plugs
• Pipe/wire locator - you really can't be too careful when drilling holes!
• Check your fusebox and work out which fuses will have to be disconnected if tackling anything electrical or going near anything electrical
• Make sure you know where all your stop-cocks are in case you need to switch something off in an emergency - basically gas, water and fusebox
• Some cling film or plastic bags to wrap around light switches and power sockets when you've loosened them to paint/paper walls
• A hacksaw and a wood saw
• Electrical tape/cable clips
• Good quality scissors
• Lots of buckets and bowls of different sizes

In short, stock up with stuff that professional decorators actually use!

Oh, and did I mention a small first aid kit for those grazed knuckles, minor cuts and bruises?

And, remember, preparation is 90% of any decorating job!

nickj_2

evoke wrote: »

Agree with some of the previous posts: avoid any of the junk advertised on shopping channels! If those products were good then professional decorators would use them!

General decorating items that I would recommend based on my whole-house refurbishments project (some mentioned in previous posts too):

• Paint kettles
• Good set of brushes/rollers
• Masking tape
• Pencils - for marking
• A long straight edge
• A decent long spirit level
• A packet of disposable gloves and a baseball cap/hat to stop paint getting on you
• Overalls/old clothes to wear when decorating
• LOTS of old rags for cleaning up spilled paint
• Decorator's caulk for filling
• Sealant gun (a proper metal one and not the cheap plastic ones)
• A good, heavy Stanley knife with lots of blades
• Good quality 3m-6m tape measure that won't collapse when measuring up walls!
• Old carpet pieces to protect your floors
• Lots of white spirit
• An outside tap for cleaning up brushes and rollers
• A hammer and a selection of nails/pins
• Cordless drill with drill bits and screwdriver bits
• A decent collection of wood screws, masonry screws, wall plugs
• Pipe/wire locator - you really can't be too careful when drilling holes!
• Check your fusebox and work out which fuses will have to be disconnected if tackling anything electrical or going near anything electrical
• Make sure you know where all your stop-cocks are in case you need to switch something off in an emergency - basically gas, water and fusebox
• Some cling film or plastic bags to wrap around light switches and power sockets when you've loosened them to paint/paper walls
• A hacksaw and a wood saw
• Electrical tape/cable clips
• Good quality scissors
• Lots of buckets and bowls of different sizes

In short, stock up with stuff that professional decorators actually use!

Oh, and did I mention a small first aid kit for those grazed knuckles, minor cuts and bruises?

And, remember, preparation is 90% of any decorating job!

to save reading thru the list , why not just go to Do it All and order 1 of everything

OldFartPlumber

Londongirl82 wrote: »

Hi all,

Long time lurker, relatively new poster here :0)

Just wanted to ask if anyone knew of any gadgets or tricks to make decorating any easier?

Me and my OH are currently in the process of buying our first house which needs a complete cosmetic overhaul and are finding the idea of it a bit daunting tbh, so basically looking for some shortcuts that don't mess the house up.

Any help would be much appreciated

Thanks

J

I wouldn`t recommend the steam stripper - Damned things can blow the plaster skim if you`re unlucky - I was , and I thought I knew a bit about decorating , having been taught by my old Dad who was a pro. ( son`s a plasterer so I got away with that one ) Better to get a Paper Tiger to scour the surface - then use Zinsser paper stripper , it soaks through and dissolves the paste . Zin also make a range of paint products for difficult areas Lightweight ready mixed fillers -eg. Red Devil - are good too . I actually rescued a whole wall from a rough condition with that stuff , just couldn`t face the hassle of another re skim even though The Boy is a good spread. That was our last house . He has skimmed all our Artex ceilings in this house . Best way to be a Moneysaver ? become a tradesperson and have trades offspring

Ms_Chocaholic

I'm sorry to disagree with Old Fart but I would recommend a wallpaper stripper - as long as you are careful and don't leave it on one area for too long, keep moving it as you scrape, even if that means going back over an area.

I would also say, paint all your walls the same colour, rather than doing a feature wall, it saves time as you only have to be careful/use masking tape for the ceiling and skirting rather than the edges too.

Oh and don't use too dark a paint ... nightmare to paint over when you come to redo it.