For the interior of your house to look great you need to properly prepare the painting surfaces. You also have to use the right paint. To help you out, here are tips recommended by interior house painters on how to properly paint the different areas of your house:
Painting the plaster
Before you apply the paint you should ensure that the plaster is dry and in good condition. You should start the painting by applying a primer-sealer and allow it to dry. You should then inspect it for uniformity after which you should apply your paint. If looking for a semi or high-gloss finish, apply one coat of paint but if interested in a flat finish, apply two coats. If you don’t like the monotony of smooth flat paint, go for textured wall paints that you can easily find in your local stores.
Painting wooden walls and trim
If you have wooden walls you should smoothen them using sandpaper and dust them before you apply your paint or varnish. To preserve the wood grains, painting contractors recommend that you rub the surface with wax, linseed oil, or varnish. Just like when painting plaster, you can give your wood different types of finishes. For an opaque finish, you should apply semi-gloss paint.
Painting the masonry
According to painting experts, you should paint your masonry the same way that you paint the plaster surfaces. Just like with plaster, you should give your masonry enough time to dry before you apply the paint. If the wall contains Portland cement you should take precaution to protect your primers from being damaged by alkali. This calls for you to use alkali-resistant primers such as rubber-based paints. When painting the basement walls, go for cement-water paints. According to the experts, these paints prevent damage to the walls due to condensation and water leakage.
Concrete floors
House painting contractors recommend two types of paints for your concrete floors: varnish and rubber-base paint. You should apply varnish paints on concrete floors above grade where you don’t expect moisture. Rubber-base paints dry to a hard semi-gloss finish and is ideal when the concrete floors are below grade. If you have a basement, you should avoid applying paint until the floor is at least once a year old. This is to ensure that the floor is fully dry thus increasing the chances of the paint lasting for a long time.
Painting Tips To Consider When Painting Your House
According to house painting contractors, how you paint your house greatly determines the results that you get. To help you out, here are painting tips that you should consider for you to give your house a great look:
Always go for high-quality paint
Many people make the mistake of buying cheap paint in the bid of saving money. While you will save some money when you do this, you end up having a cheap-looking finish. According to contractors, cheap paint looks good when wet but when it dries up it has a bad look. To give your house a great finish you should go for premium paint. While it will be expensive, it will retain its great looks for a long time.
Use the right painting brushes
Painting brushes are one of the most important painting tools that you should have. When buying the units, ensure that the brushes are flagged. They should be split and arranged in multiple lengths in order to form a slim tip. You should buy brushes with unfinished handles. This is to make it easy for you to grip the brush even when with sweaty hands. To avoid rusting, go for brushes with stainless steel or copper ferrules.
Different brushes are designed for different roles. When painting the trim, kitchen trim work contractors recommend that you use a 2 ¼ angled sash brush. To cut in walls and ceilings use a 3-inch brush. You should use synthetic brushes (especially those made from a mix of polyester and nylon) when painting with latex paints. When painting with oil-based paints, use natural brushes.
Make use of the painter’s tape
The painter’s tape comes in handy in preventing paint from reaching the areas that you don’t want. Professional painters also recommend that you use the tape as a guide for cutting in ceiling and walls. When painting, avoid crossing over the tape—you should only cut in up to the edges. Experts recommend that you paint within about 2 ¼ inches of the tape to avoid the risk of the paint wicking under the edges of the tape.
Hire a painting contractor
The painting work might seem like a simple task but this isn’t the case. In addition to taking a lot of time and energy, it also requires precision and care in order to achieve ideal results. As an amateur, you will paint your house but you won’t give the finish that a professional painter can. To be on the safe side you should research from your local painting contractors and find the best contractor to work with.
