Painting Techniques

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It is really good to be systematic when painting. So it is best to start with the ceiling. Any paint that splatters on walls or drips onto woodwork can be washed off later. Then move to the walls, starting with the wall that has the most open space and the least trim. Paint the wall from top to bottom, beginning at one end. Start by  ‘cutting in’ along the juncture of the wall and ceiling. If you choose to use a trim brush, load a controlled amount of paint. Dip no more than a third of the tip in the paint and tap off any excess. Hold the brush at an angle (above) and work away from the edge using long, deliberate strokes. Then apply just enough pressure to  bend the bristles as you draw the brush away because this will force a bead of paint into the angle and make an even edge. Cut in an area approximately 3 feet long and and 6 inches deep. Move the ladder often to avoid stretching. Then before the cut-in strip dries to create lap marks, use a roller to lay paint on the expanses of wall beneath.

Roller Technique

Paint in zigzags to ensure that you’re rolling out an even coat. Work one 3-foot section at a time. On the ceiling make the first diagonals in a W pattern. Fill the spaces with uniform crosswise horizontal and vertical strokes that produce even coverage throughout. Follow the same principles on walls, using an inverted W and filling in between. Reload the roller with paint whenever it begins to paint unevenly. When you reach the door trim, window trim and baseboard trim, use your brush or doughnut roller to cut in again. Then resume work with the full-sized roller. Save the most difficult wall, the one with the most doors and windows, until last. However, if you know you won’t be able to finish in one session, work on walls that you can finish. You don’t want to stop midway on a wall since there’s a strong chance the interruption will show permanently. An extension pole for a pint roller is one of the best labor-saving painting tools you can buy. The pole makes it easy to reach high areas, especially ceilings without a ladder – which has to be moved every few feet. Extensions screw into the threaded handle of most rollers. Make sure that the connection is tight and secure before beginning to apply paint.