6 Ways to Paint More Effectively

November 28th, 2008 — Aesthetics, Create, Handy Man, House Paint, Project 

paintIf you’ve ever tackled a painting project before, you know that it appears to be deceptively easy. However, when you get right down to it, painting can be pretty time consuming. There are some tricks of the trade that will help any painting project go a lot faster. Here are a just a few of the best ones.

1. Use painter’s tape religiously.

No matter how good at edging you think you are, chances are there will be some paint that ends up where it shouldn’t be. This means that you’ll have to go back over the area and clean it up and in some cases, you may end up ruining woodwork. It’s just easier to use painter’s tape the first time to avoid any accidents. The finished product will also look a lot better. Keep in mind that masking tape and other inferior taping products may end up with paint bleeding through, so make sure that you pick painter tape instead.

2. Do appropriate color tests ahead of time.

This sounds pretty simple, but many people end up putting a large amount of color on a wall only to end up hating it. Pick a spot that cannot be easily seen and test a couple of colors. Let them dry completely and take a look at it the next day. You’ll be able to get a better idea of what looks right on your wall.

3. Have all of your tools ready to go.

There’s nothing worse than having to stop in mid-flow and go grab something you need. Make a checklist of all of your tools and make sure that they are all within easy reach. The most common things you’ll need include a roller with at least two replacement sponges, paint brushes, painter’s tape, paint trays, edge guides and a mask if paint fumes tend to bother you.

4. Wear proper protection.

If you need to wear a mask, wear one - it’s a lot easier than trying to fight the fumes. If you’ll be painting a ceiling or high up on a wall, wear goggles. Paint in the eye is not much fun and it can permanently damage your sight. Make sure that you are painting in a room that is properly ventilated. If you’re having trouble, turn on a fan and take a break outside of the room to give your brain and lungs some time to recover.

5. Use dropcloths no matter how small the project is.

It only takes one tipped can or one splatter to ruin a floor. Don’t take chances, especially if you’re working on carpet. It’s simply too difficult to get paint out of carpet or rugs. If you’ve got hardwood floors, you’ll have an even worse time trying to remove it.

6. Always pick the right kind of paint for the job.

Oil based paint is very different from latex and will require different techniques. Not all latex paints are alike. Make sure that you are using a paint that is rated for your type of wall and how you plan to use it.

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How to Revitalize Your Woodwork

May 21st, 2008 — Handy Man, House Damage, Repair, Wood Floors, Woodwork 

woodworkFew people know that proper care of woodwork requires much more than an occasional dusting. Your woodwork was once made up of a living thing, and without the proper care, it’s going to look quite dead. However, it is possible to revitalize your wood and keep it strong and healthy without much effort. If you’ve got an older home with a lot of woodwork, you may need to spend some extra time on it, but generally, these techniques should only take a few minutes.

Let’s start with revitalizing wood floors.

If you’re floor is already dried, cracked and the shine is completely gone, you’re going to need to do a major overhaul to bring it back. This means stripping the floor of any remaining varnish and re-staining it. This may take several coats depending on the color you would like. Once you’re done staining, you’ll need to revarnish the floor. In most cases, and especially with high traffic areas, this requires several coats and plenty of drying time in between. You need to keep the area as dust free as possible during this process so that the varnish stays smooth.

If you’re floor has seen better days but it’s not quite down for the count, you’ll need to add some oil to it to get it back. We recommend Murphy’s Wood Soap followed by Olde English Wood Oil. This comes in a few scents, but the lemon oil is probably the best for your floors. Completely wash the floor with Murphy’s and then add the oil to it once it is completely dry. You’ll really need to work that it and then give it plenty of time to dry since it will be a little slippery. Wood floors should have this done at least once a year to keep them looking fresh.

Moving on, let’s talk about the woodwork in your home, such as door frames, window sills and any built-ins you may have.

If the varnish is still in pretty good shape, but they’re looking a bit dull, you can try Murphy’s and Olde English to bring them back to life. Another great trick involves some olive oil on a soft rag. Gently work the oil into the wood until it has been completely absorbed. If the area is near curtains, take them down before you start to avoid staining them with oil.

If the woodwork is already dry and or damaged, you’ll need to strip it completely down and start over. For doors, it’s best to take them down to this so you don’t end up with drips in your stain or varnish. Otherwise, you’ll need to be careful and avoid overloading your brush with stain or varnish. This will help decrease the amount of drips. If you catch some while you’re still working, quickly brush them into the finish to disguise them.

The key to keeping your woodwork looking great is constant care and the right kind of cleaning products. Never use any cleaner on your wood that was not specifically made for wood. This will only strip the wood even further and make it harder to maintain.

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