Painting Tips
This last post is a compilation
of helpful ideas that I have
found by trial and error
or from internet research
that are worth sharing.
found by trial and error
or from internet research
that are worth sharing.
Some are super clever ideas --
wish I had thought of them!
Keeping track of paint colors you've used
One blogger shares the idea that you
can use a link of popsicle sticks
dipped with the paint color used in each room in your house
with the pertinent information written on the back.
Another blogger
suggests that you write the paint color
information on the back of the light switch
plate cover in each room for safe keeping
and easy access to information.
Such a great idea!
Brushstrokes bothering you?
If so, you need to know about Floetrol.
This is a great product if you want
to give your latex paint the feel of oil-based paint
without the clean up hassles.
It's a paint conditioner -- not a thinner.
It allows the paint a little longer drying time and it
enables the paint to fill in between the grooves left
between the hairs in the brush strokes
(or the nap of a roller)
creating a smoother finish.
I use this product when I paint
furniture in a high gloss paint. Works great.
Paintbrushes
I often buy a cheap brush to use
so I can throw it away after I am done painting.
Lazy!
I'm usually so exhausted after a paint project
that rather than washing out a good brush,
I just pitch the inexpensive one I grabbed
when I bought the paint.
NOT a good idea.
If you are going to buy a good bucket of paint,
you should invest in a good brush.
Cheap brushes will lose their bristles in your paint job
and there is nothing worse than finding
random hairs in your paint finish.
Spend the money on a good brush --
when taken care of properly they can
last for years.
Did you know that oil-based paints
require natural bristle brushes
while water based paints work better
with acrylic brushes?
Natural bristle brushes
(made of hog or badger hair)
are not made to be used with water-based
paint because the bristles soak up the water
making the brush too limp to spread the paint.
Acrylic or synthetic brushes
(made of nylon and/or polyester)
are specifically made for water-based paint.
There are synthetic brushes that can be
used on both oil and water-based paints
but check the label on the brush to be sure.
Brush Prep Work Tip
Before you start your paint job,
wet your brush before dipping it into the paint.
If using a water based paint, wet the brush with water
before beginning your project.
If using an oil-based paint, wet the brush
with paint thinner. Preparing the brush in this manner
keeps the ferrule from drying the bristles
and making them brittle.
Clean Up
Never soak your brushes in water or paint thinner.
Wash immediately when done using them
and then wrap in a paper towel to remove excess water.
Allow to dry by hanging or by laying the brush out flat.
Store flat or with the bristle side up.
Paint Fumes Bothering You?
Did you know you can add
one teaspoon of vanilla extract
to a gallon of paint and it will reduce
and sometimes even eliminate
the fumes of the paint?
It's true!
(One more reason to love vanilla.)
:)
Have any paint tricks or tips to share?
Feel free to add them here in a comment.
We would all love to hear about it!
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Feel free to read the first and second parts
to this series of picking paints for your home.
Hope you find it helpful.
~ Alison
wish I had thought of them!
Keeping track of paint colors you've used
One blogger shares the idea that you
can use a link of popsicle sticks
dipped with the paint color used in each room in your house
with the pertinent information written on the back.
Another blogger
suggests that you write the paint color
information on the back of the light switch
plate cover in each room for safe keeping
and easy access to information.
Such a great idea!
Brushstrokes bothering you?
If so, you need to know about Floetrol.
This is a great product if you want
to give your latex paint the feel of oil-based paint
without the clean up hassles.
It's a paint conditioner -- not a thinner.
It allows the paint a little longer drying time and it
enables the paint to fill in between the grooves left
between the hairs in the brush strokes
(or the nap of a roller)
creating a smoother finish.
I use this product when I paint
furniture in a high gloss paint. Works great.
Paintbrushes
I often buy a cheap brush to use
so I can throw it away after I am done painting.
Lazy!
I'm usually so exhausted after a paint project
that rather than washing out a good brush,
I just pitch the inexpensive one I grabbed
when I bought the paint.
NOT a good idea.
If you are going to buy a good bucket of paint,
you should invest in a good brush.
Cheap brushes will lose their bristles in your paint job
and there is nothing worse than finding
random hairs in your paint finish.
Spend the money on a good brush --
when taken care of properly they can
last for years.
Did you know that oil-based paints
require natural bristle brushes
while water based paints work better
with acrylic brushes?
Natural bristle brushes
(made of hog or badger hair)
are not made to be used with water-based
paint because the bristles soak up the water
making the brush too limp to spread the paint.
Acrylic or synthetic brushes
(made of nylon and/or polyester)
are specifically made for water-based paint.
There are synthetic brushes that can be
used on both oil and water-based paints
but check the label on the brush to be sure.
Brush Prep Work Tip
Before you start your paint job,
wet your brush before dipping it into the paint.
If using a water based paint, wet the brush with water
before beginning your project.
If using an oil-based paint, wet the brush
with paint thinner. Preparing the brush in this manner
keeps the ferrule from drying the bristles
and making them brittle.
Clean Up
Never soak your brushes in water or paint thinner.
Wash immediately when done using them
and then wrap in a paper towel to remove excess water.
Allow to dry by hanging or by laying the brush out flat.
Store flat or with the bristle side up.
Paint Fumes Bothering You?
Did you know you can add
one teaspoon of vanilla extract
to a gallon of paint and it will reduce
and sometimes even eliminate
the fumes of the paint?
It's true!
(One more reason to love vanilla.)
:)
Have any paint tricks or tips to share?
Feel free to add them here in a comment.
We would all love to hear about it!
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Feel free to read the first and second parts
to this series of picking paints for your home.
Hope you find it helpful.
~ Alison
5 comments:
Great tips. I am knee deep in painting right now, so this is so timely.
These are great tips Alison! Thank you so much!
Alison,
This is valuable information. I had no idea about wetting the brush in advance, not to mention the benefits of vanilla in the paint.
We have a list of painting assignments for this spring/summer, it will work great to make the task easier.
xo,
Karen
i learned so much here, thank you! timely for me too, just arrived in memphis for amy howard painting lessons
debra
My husband and his brothers painted their way through college so I knew most of those tips but not the vanilla trick!! I am going to try that one!
Post a Comment