Painting house for the first time..any tips?
Question:Hi
I have never painted before-any tips would be helpful
Also, do I have to paint the ceilings? Any ideas for the ceinling that are not too hard?
What materials do I need as well-besides rollers, brush?
Thanks!
Answers:
Generally, you'll use a roller for the main part of the wall and then trim close to the ceiling and floor and do the corners with a brush. Put down some plastic or drop cloths to protect your floor from drips. You can get wide tape to put on the ceiling, unless you are going to paint the ceiling the same color. Be careful around door handles and things like that. You can remove light switch covers and outlet covers with a screwdriver. You don't have to paint the ceilings unless they need it. I'm assuming they are already painted though. If not, then you'll want to paint them. There are ceiling paints you can get. Here's a link to a Lowe's page about painting. See if that helps. http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=ho...
if you are that far in the dark about painting ide hate to see the finished product
You should paint the ceilings if they need it. Paint ceilings first before the walls. Get a couple of rollers and a roller extention pole. That will make painting the ceilings much less tiring. Get some drop clothes or use some old sheets to cover the floor under where you are painting. You will also need a short ladder or step stool.
You'll need some roller trays to hold the paint too. They make some plastic (cheap) inserts for the trays now, and they make clean up a LOT easier. You just throw them away when you're done and you still have a clean paint tray.
If your wall color is dark and you are going to paint them a lighter color, you may want to prime first. If not, it should not matter.
Prep! prep! prep! (Most important aspect for paint to last.) That means sometimes necessary to wash or wipe, sandpaper for smoothing out, (then wiping off residue) also needed is tape for edgings, dropcloths (for paint droppings), and corner brush or small brush for those corners and small window sill edges. Cover those doorknobs with tape first.
As for ceilings? You bet, if dingy they need paint too. Will also brighten it all up; and ceilings are your biggest job.
Good Luck!
Painting ceilings would of coarse be by your choice depending on if you think they will match the areas you are painting usally ceilings do not need painting unless they have some kind of damaged areas water spots etc.
If you do paint them you will need depending on the texture of the surface short nap rollers for smooth surface or long nap rollers for coarse or textured areas.If the ceilings are drop in tiles it is cheaper to replace them or perhaps clean them with the vacuum cleaner.
Tape to mask off the trim,windows,doors,
(light switch covers are easier to just remove than mask around)etc.plastic to cover floors and furniture.
roller pans and possibly primer if you are trying to cover a dark color with a lighter one.
Good luck and enjoy the new look.
Do everything mentioned, but take it slow at first. I just painted my basement and then my living room upstairs. If I hadn't "retrained" myself by doing the semi-finished basement, I would certainly have done an even less professional looking job in the living room.
There are things to keep in mind like:
-How much does the roller/paintbrush actually drip?
-When you do drip, you can clean it up if you 409 if soon enough.
-Did I forget to tape this area?
-Is the paint underneath a different enough color that I have to do more coats and wait longer between them?
-How close to the ceiling can I come without taping the ceiling? Because ceilings are usually white, most colors will show up when you accidentally dot the ceiling.
masking tape on the borders and a ladder
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