Painting - tips and tricks

Cactus_Flowers

Having recently bought my first house and sorted some of the issues, I was about to start painting and realised the last time I was able to choose my own wall colour was 20 years ago when I was a teenager at my parents' house (having been in rented shared flats since, so not allowed to redecorate). I have quite a few questions about the best way to paint, but when I google it mostly seems to take me to sites that are trying to sell me whatever they recommend. Could you please advise and give your opinions on these?:

• Do I need to put primer/undercoat on the walls before painting? If so, does it need to be a specific primer or just a general emulsion? I have just had some cable chases filled in so I assume they need a first layer of something, but the rest of the walls are mostly just dingy with a lot of patched up small holes.
• 1 section of bedroom wall has condensation marks along it, which I am mostly certain is from the previous owners never opening the windows and just having a lot of stuff against those walls. I've heard of anti-condensation paint, is it something that's worth putting on that wall?
• Some of the colours I've chosen are quite dark, is it worth putting up wallpaper before painting so that when they're next painted it'll be easy to remove? If so, any ideas on if it's easy to learn to wallpaper? I will be doing all decorating myself.
  
• Are there any paint brands which are better or worse than others? I do have a couple of Farrow&Ball tester colours which I really like, but have heard (somewhere on this forum, I think) that it's not especially good paint quality for the price.
• Any recommendations on types of rollers? I've only ever painted with a brush before, but assume that rollers will be easier and quicker but I've no idea which roller material is best to use.
• I'll need to re-do the skirting board and doors as well as they've yellowed and don't seem to have been done well in the first place. I know I need to sand them before repainting, but I'm not sure to what level - just until they're rough? Or sand right back to wood beneath the paint?

I'd also appreciate any other things you wish you knew before starting, or that you've learnt as being useful to know! If I get these wrong it'll just be an expensive lesson, rather than a disaster, but I'd still like to be as prepared as possible

NSG666

You'll get some advice on here but you might be better looking at Painting and Decorating (some pro's in Bolton) on their youtube channel. Loads of videos on many of the topics you ask about. The only downside is the amount of adverts but don't cost you anything.

benson1980

I've learnt that it's better painting all walls white, and then adding colour via other means. White walls are timeless, easy to touch up, and so much easier to paint everything the same colour including the ceilings. In our first two houses we went for all sorts of elaborate colour schemes and feature walls but tended to end up regretting it as it looked a bit busy, and thinking it would have just looked better white. Of course it depends on personal taste but I guess my point is don't write off painting everything white. 

If it's just a bit of filler covering up some holes/channels for chasing etc I wouldn't worry too much and just go with 2 or 3 coats of whatever emulsion you are using.

Rollers- I like the Hamilton perfection ones that screwfix stock.

Skirting- no. Just key the surface. No need to take them back to the wood. Then you can just do a couple of coats of top coat, probably.

Not sure I understand what you are getting at with the wallpaper query.

Cactus_Flowers

Thank you both!

@benson1980 , my thinking with the wallpaper was so if I redecorate/when I sell my house it'll be easier to get rid of the dark colours by just peeling off the wallpaper, rather than needing to paint over with white. Although, I'm now remembering how much of a hassle it's been to take off wallpaper so I should just forget it and commit to buying galleons of white paint as needed.

benson1980

Cactus_Flowers said:

Thank you both!

@benson1980 , my thinking with the wallpaper was so if I redecorate/when I sell my house it'll be easier to get rid of the dark colours by just peeling off the wallpaper, rather than needing to paint over with white. Although, I'm now remembering how much of a hassle it's been to take off wallpaper so I should just forget it and commit to buying galleons of white paint as needed.

Oh right- yes definitely don't go down the painted wallpaper route.

So why not just paint it white then if you are concerned with resale value and avant garde colour choices? 

Cactus_Flowers

To be honest, after living so long with the same boring beige that all rented flats seem to be, I might be going too far in the other direction! Most walls will be a neutral colour, as you advise, but I've been looking forward to experimenting with bold colours in a couple of rooms - if it all ends up looking terrible, at least I'll be the only one that has to look at it

Alanp

You could just have a feature wall in one colour, maybe a dark colour, or you could wallpaper one wall as a feature, then have the rest of the walls in a neutral colour, or white

Wes121708

Cactus_Flowers said:

To be honest, after living so long with the same boring beige that all rented flats seem to be, I might be going too far in the other direction! Most walls will be a neutral colour, as you advise, but I've been looking forward to experimenting with bold colours in a couple of rooms - if it all ends up looking terrible, at least I'll be the only one that has to look at it

Same here! We were really nervous trying to choose the right colour if paint after so long living with magnolia!
We went dark in both reception rooms so far. Remember you don't have to live with it forever it's yours to paint whatever colour you like! Enjoy! 

MaryNB

Get an angled paint brush for cutting in. I found it far more effective than using frogtape for doing corners where two colours meet. 

Definitely get rollers, you'll save yourself so much time. Get an extension pole if you're doing ceilings. I picked up rollers from screwfix, they did the job. The only thing I regretted getting were some cheap paint brushes from b&q, they were awful. I'm not saying you need to get pricy ones but some are definitely better than others.

I use zinsser permawhite mould resistant paint for areas at high risk of mould. I also used valspar kitchen and bathroom paint for the bathroom walls.

If you end up doing a lot of DIY you should get an electric sander. I got one for about £30. I regretted not getting one sooner. 

I painted over dark colours in my house. I'd definitely prefer putting few extra coats of white than having to remove wallpaper. It's a messy job. Never mind putting it up the first time. 

Most of my house is white with splashes of colour here and there. I used Dulux Trade Vinyl Matt for the white walls. I wanted a good quality paint especially since many of those walls were at risk of scuffing.
Painting white over what was previously almond made a big difference because my house is quite dark. Looks so much better now.

Because my house is dark picking colours was a bit tricky for me and the colours looked quite different on my walls to colour cards I could see in store. Stick colours cards on the wall in a shaded area and a well lit area. If you're not sure about a colour let it sit with you for a few days. Sometimes I liked to throw in a wild card. Got some ideas from places like Pinterest as well.

My house is Victorian and a bit crooked. At first I tried so hard to get clean lines in awkward areas but I accepted defeat and after a while didn't notice it. When I see messy edges in friends houses and makes me feel a bit better 

If you get a wall plastered use a mist coat or a bare plaster paint first.

Also if you're female and don't have old clothes for painting I'd recommend overalls from Aardvark. I struggled to find overalls that would even come close to fitting but they've been great for painting. 

getmore4less

Good paint jobs benefit from good preparation that's what takes the time the painting part is relatively quick.

If planning fancy lighting poorly prepared walls will show.

We trailed the sheds regularly with a shopping list of colours aiming for off whites to pick up discounted stock saved loads.

Found a load of Craig & Rose 1829 vintage which was great to work with but expensive full price.

Trade/main brand PWB for ceilings.

Also went Matt for woodwork Dulux diamond (trade or the domestic).