| The time to figure out what you need for a | | | | those cases where you may need to protect a |
| do-it-yourself painting project is before you open | | | | textured surface (such as etched or sand-swirled |
| the can of paint or make your first brush stroke. | | | | ceilings) from unwanted paint, a putty knife should |
| Once you have begun the project, interruptions | | | | be used in addition to (or instead of) the tape. |
| and restarts can cause conspicuous lines and | | | | Putty Knife: A wide blade putty knife (4" to 6") is |
| "seams" to appear on your wall, as well as color | | | | an important tool to have on hand. Again, there |
| changes from uneven mixtures that dry under | | | | are varying qualities available. Using one with a |
| different conditions. You don't want your painting | | | | beveled edge will give you precise control over |
| project to turn out looking like a patchwork job, | | | | defining a clean line, whereas a thick edge tends |
| so take a few moments to prepare in advance. | | | | to create paint streaks. You will need to |
| Before beginning your project, gather the | | | | continually ensure that the edge of the knife is |
| following tools and supplies together in sufficient | | | | clean before placing it on the surface. |
| quantities so you have a few extras when you | | | | Drop Cloths: Here, again, there will be several |
| are done. With the exception of custom mixed | | | | choices available from plastic sheets to absorbent |
| paint, any unused extras can usually be returned | | | | material. There are advantages and disadvantages |
| to the store for a full refund. It is best to have | | | | to each. Paint will not soak through plastic, but will |
| more than you need and not have to stop the | | | | easily splatter and run across it, or pool up to a |
| job mid-stream to resupply yourself. | | | | potentially messy, slippy hazard. On the other |
| Roller and Paint Brush Tools: | | | | hand, absorbent drop cloths minimize splatter, but |
| Roller Handle: There are many options in choosing | | | | if a roller tray of paint falls onto it, the puddle of |
| a hand paint roller. Some are flimsy and disposable | | | | paint can saturate through to the surface below. |
| while others are more sturdy. This tool is one | | | | Paint can be almost impossible to clean out of |
| where you want to spend the extra money to | | | | seams between boards on older hardwood |
| get a sturdy one. When you are applying pressure | | | | flooring, or out of the nap of tightly woven |
| to the wall with a paint roller, the heavier duty | | | | carpet. Getting absorbent drop cloths with |
| tool will apply the pressure more evenly across | | | | non-permeable backing can be excessively |
| the length of the roller nap. Some of the better | | | | expensive for an occasional remodeling project. |
| roller tools have "telescoping" handles that allow | | | | To find the happy medium, consider plastic |
| you to extend your reach without needing to | | | | sheeting around the perimeter of the room with |
| stretch on a stool or ladder. | | | | padded moving blankets on top for absorbency. |
| Mini-Roller Handle: A smaller version of the larger | | | | This will keep the costs down while achieving the |
| hand roller, the palm-sized version allows for easy | | | | same protection as more expensive, professional |
| detail work around corners, above windows, and | | | | grade drop cloths. |
| over doorways. Disposable versions are fine for | | | | Roller Tray: Plastic or metal? It doesn't much |
| this tool because the length of the roller, itself, is | | | | matter what type you choose as long as it is |
| typically only four or five inches. The roller sleeves | | | | durable. Some of the disposable trays are so |
| that slide onto the roller handle are commonly | | | | flimsy that you risk dumping the entire load of |
| either nap or foam rubber. | | | | paint when you pick them up. The roller tray, like |
| Roller sleeves: The roller sleeves are the washable | | | | the paint roller handle, should be good quality. |
| or disposable pieces that slide onto the hand roller | | | | Lint Free Rags: Finally, ensure that you have |
| tool. The nap of the roller for the hand roller or | | | | some lint-free rags available. Using a low-lint or |
| the mini-roller will vary depending on the texture | | | | lint-free rag is important when it comes to |
| and saturation you want for your painting project. | | | | cleaning up around corners, wiping up, or dabbing a |
| Be consistent with the nap you use. If you have | | | | spot to remove foreign material. Using a fuzzy |
| the choice of using a foam rubber mini-roller | | | | rag from a bag of rags can spell disaster. Clean |
| sleeve or a nap mini-roller sleeve, go with the nap | | | | terry cloth is a good choice, instead. |
| version as it will be more consistent in delivering | | | | The type of paint you use, flat or semi-gloss, is |
| the paint. | | | | up to your personal preference. Semi-gloss is best |
| Brushes: A high quality 3" brush and a high quality | | | | for a durable, high quality finish that can be |
| 1/2" brush are essential tools of the trade. You will | | | | cleaned with a sponge once dry. Flat paint is fine |
| have several choices at your local home | | | | for a low sheen, low glare finish, but is much |
| improvement store, ranging from brushes in the | | | | more vulnerable to marks. Just ensure that you |
| $2 to $4 range, up to $14 to $18 brushes. | | | | have enough paint for the job, and enough for a |
| Although price isn't the only determining factor of | | | | second coat if needed. Depending on how clean |
| quality, it is a good indicator. Whether you clean | | | | the surface is, you may need to prepare the |
| and keep the brushes or throw them away after | | | | walls for painting by using a primer or cover |
| your project is completed, make sure you buy | | | | coating of some kind. For clean up, you'll want to |
| brushes on the upper end of the quality scale. The | | | | have some paint thinner available and a good |
| better brushes will have a clean taper that keeps | | | | place to bundle up the trash, rollers, cans, etc. |
| its shape while carrying the paint, and will not | | | | without making a mess. |
| leave strands of the brush on your wall as you | | | | Once you commit to doing the job, be sure to |
| paint. Working with poor quality brushes will result | | | | finish a wall at a time. Doing the trim work for the |
| in "brush hair" all over your wall in the latter | | | | entire room first is fine, but once you begin |
| phases of your project as they begin to fall apart | | | | painting the main section of a wall, do not stop |
| from flexing brush strokes on the wall. | | | | until the wall is done. If you do run short on paint |
| Border Rollers: Typically a flat 3" x 4" napped pad | | | | and need to get more before finishing the entire |
| mounted on a plastic handle with small guide | | | | room, it is less noticeable if the dividing point |
| wheels on the edge, a border roller makes life | | | | between the old paint and the new paint is at a |
| easier when painting a consistent, even line where | | | | corner than if it is in the middle of a wall, where |
| the wall meets the ceiling. It is amazing how much | | | | the different batches may be obvious. |
| paint a good border roller will hold. You must be | | | | One last detail that is often overlooked, a fan can |
| careful not to get paint on the guide wheels, or | | | | help in the drying process. When using a fan to |
| you may leave an unwanted trace of paint along | | | | help speed the drying process, place the fan in |
| the ceiling. This problem can be avoided by using | | | | the doorway, blowing out of the room. Do not |
| masking tape along the ceiling. | | | | point the fan into the room, and especially do not |
| Masking Tape: Get a roll or two of painter's | | | | point it directly on the freshly painted wall to dry |
| masking tape. The tape's texture is important, so | | | | it. Any foreign object, dust, dirt, bugs, etc. will |
| a painting grade of tape needs to be used. The | | | | stick to the paint if blown into the room. Pointing |
| surface of less expensive masking tape can make | | | | the fan out of the room will still create air |
| your project vulnerable to paint seeping or | | | | circulation in the room, but you will have less of a |
| bleeding underneath the painted edge. Masking | | | | risk of ruining your quality paint job. Happy |
| tape only works well on smooth surfaces such as | | | | painting! |
| window sills and door trim for the same reason. In | | | | |