Certain areas of the UK have seen a surge in paint sales during this period of lockdown – though with many paint suppliers being forced to close their shops, customers have been opting for home deliveries instead. Painters Llandudno understand that perfect interior painting isn’t for time-poor people, this is particularly true for inexperienced DIYers.
The general rules of painting remain the same; read the small print on the paint can, go slowly, and don’t overload your brush with paint or it could splash, drip or splatter unexpectedly. With the extra time many of us have on our hands at the moment, we have the spare hours in the day to take the time to set up a good music playlist, take plenty of tea breaks and stop when the natural daylight fades. There is a very good reason why many professional painters start early in the day and finish at around 4pm.
Painting Protocols: Three Steps
- Preparing the Room
Cover everything, this includes you! It might look ridiculous, but if you have a shower cap, pop it on your head to avoid getting paint stuck in annoying to clean places. If you are able, pull the carpet away from the walls slightly – if woodwork surfaces are flaking, lightly sand them with some sandpaper. Use a filler to fill in any holes and level them off. Edge the woodwork carefully with masking tape – then take a well-earned break to let everything dry out.
- How to Paint Woodwork
Apply your primer and undercoat with a medium angled brush for a clean edge – you may require two coats for maximum even coverage. During any breaks you take, make sure to wrap your brushes in cling film to prevent them from drying out. Once the primer and undercoat are completely dry, lightly sand and wipe away any dust. Then apply the top coat – leave to dry and thoroughly wash the brushes that you’ve used. Remove the masking tape used before the paint completely dries.
- How to Paint your Walls
Decant some of your chosen paint into a smaller container and use this to ‘cut in’ your colour – not too thickly, with an angled one or two-inch brush along ceiling corners and skirting. Before it is completely dry, use a roller to fill in the rest. Having too much paint on your roller will lead it to drip and splash, so lightly roll the head until saturated but not dripping. Let everything dry overnight; seal the roller and any brushes in an airtight plastic bag or simply wash them ready for reuse. Finally, apply an extra coat, or coats to the walls and touch up the woodwork if necessary.