Keywords: painting tips, painting pointers, 5-in-1, extension pole, Swiffer, Simple Green Surface Prep, detailed preparation
If you have been looking into hiring a professional painting contractor this time of year, you’ve probably noticed that it is getting increasingly difficult to find someone that can perform the job in your desired timeframe. The combination of full schedules, bigger projects that are being finished before the end of the year, or labor shortages could be squeezing you out. Even though our schedule is full here at MTS, we don’t want to leave you without any help for the painting projects you need completed. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced do-it-yourselfer, allow me to offer you some painting pointers from my years of experience.
What are some painting tools that will help people the most with their projects?
The most important step in painting is the first one. Prep your work area properly. Cover areas you don’t want to get paint on. A hand-masker is a great time saver. Also, invest in a few drop cloths or buy disposable plastic sheeting to cover your floors and furniture.
Painter Multi-tool. This is the Purdy 10-in-1. It is a multi-purpose tool that you use to scrape, score, open and close the paint can and open a bottle of beer when it’s time for a refreshment. This is a real review from a satisfied Amazon customer:
Best. Tool. Ever. It was the first thing I bought when I purchased my first ever home last month and I’ve used it more than any other single thing I own or have bought. I keep finding new uses for it, too! Highly recommend this baby – it’s a no brainer
A roller extension pole – this can cut your painting time in half and can save your back from the pain of bending over or climbing up and down a step ladder.
What’s the best way to clean an interior wall before painting?
For dust, use a dry and wet Swiffer mop.
For dirt, oil, and grime, use Simple Green Surface Prep Cleaner. It is an environmentally friendly substitute for TSP, and it doesn’t leave residue. Products that leave residue inhibit the paint from adhering properly to the wall, cabinets, doors, and trim. It’s terrific for prepping kitchens and bathrooms. It is available from Sherwin Williams Stores. Pay attention to the label. This is not the Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner, a product that you can buy at many stores. That Simple Green will leave residue.
Would you share some tips or tricks for people to use for a quality paint job?
- Detailed prep makes for a perfect finish. Painters will argue about the exact percentage. But prep and clean up done properly will take as long as the actual time painting. That’s because proper preparation saves painting time. And it definitely saves on clean up time.
- Never buy cheap tools or cheap paint. Quality tools and paint will help you finish the job faster and good paint will cover better, give a better finished look and the paint will last longer.
- Thin the paint with a little water so it flows out better, especially in the hot Arizona summers.
- Use painter’s tape with edge locking technology for cleaner lines. It stinks when paint leaks under the tape edge. Recently, the 3M Company sales rep conducted a tape training class for our MTS crew. Because we are professional painters, we use many different types of tape and adhesive combinations at the jobsite. You don’t need to know everything our guys know. Nevertheless, it may be worth asking the paint expert at your local store to recommend the best tape for your projects.
- Wrap your new paint roller with tape before you use it. The adhesive from the tape will remove the loose fibers from the roller that might transfer to your wall.
What is your best advice to avoid getting overwhelmed by a big painting project?
- Plan your work. We call this sequencing. Follow each step. Do the first thing first, the second thing second, and so on. Take your time and try to have fun. Put on some music.
- Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Section off the house and do one section at a time.
- Complete one wall at a time. Multiple small goals are easier to achieve than one giant goal.
- Don’t underestimate the time your project will take. If I say it will take two hours, my wife plans on it taking four hours. This keeps her from getting frustrated with me.
- Stay calm and picture the end results. In the end it will be worth the effort.
- A final thought for you . . . if this is way more than you want to take on, call us. We will get your project in our schedule as soon as possible and do the work for you.
Check out our recent blog posts and keep an eye out for new ones to get the best help possible for your upcoming paint jobs. MTS Painting is here to help however we can!
