Here are a few important things to consider if you decide to tackle the job of painting your own house.  I cannot stress enough the importance of resisting the temptation of using the cheapest paint and the cheapest painting supplies.

Your job will turn out soooo much better if you spend a little more money and time doing the job right.  It is important to understand that you have to be patient when you are prepping for your paint job and this is where a lot of people fail.

It is boring and a real pain to tape off windows and other areas of a room and to protect the floors and furniture and then do the cut-ins and use the proper techniques when rolling out the room and on and on…

Here is a short article by a contributing writer on how to achieve professional results without hiring a professional.  Which, in hindsight, I would have hired a pro to do the job and saved myself a ton of frustration so you may want to consider it.

DIY Interior Paint Jobs – How to Achieve Professional Results
By Valerie Bokar

Part 1: The Importance of Having the Right Tools, Priming 101

While most large paint jobs require the help of a professional, you can probably tackle smaller jobs on your own. This will save money and provide you the satisfaction of a job well-done. Obtaining a high level of satisfaction is mostly a matter of preparation. First, you must have the right painting tools; second, you should adequately prepare the surface prior to painting.

Here, in Part One of this two-part series, we’ve provided a checklist of necessary painting supplies. Part Two outlines proper preparation steps to help you achieve professional-looking results.

Interior Painting Supply List:

1. Paint scraper: Scraping paint is an important first step in the preparation process. Use a paint scraper to remove loose paint, as well as other old materials. Investing a few extra dollars in a quality paint scraper is worth it, as you want to work quickly and comfortably (particularly if you have a lot of old paint to remove).
2. Sandpaper or steel wool: A smooth surface is necessary to achieve a great paint job. Even if you’ve scraped off the old paint, your surface is likely to be uneven. Use sandpaper with a minimum 400-grit or very fine steel wool then wipe off any residual powder with a tack cloth. Also, by “roughing-up” the surface with sandpaper or steel wool, you’ll help primer “stick” better than it will to a glossy surface.
3. Drop cloths: Use old blankets, sheets, or disposable plastic drop cloths to protect the floor and any heavy furniture that must remain in the room while you paint.
4. Masking tape: Protect window and door frames, floor and crown molding, and any other narrow surfaces on which you don’t want paint. Most DIY and paint supply stores offer colored painters tape in various widths; colored tape enables you to spot uncovered gaps better than manila-colored tape.
5. Extension ladder and step ladder: Unless you’re extremely tall or painting a low-ceilinged room, these are essential. Even if you are not vertically challenged, using a step ladder in an average size room reduces arm fatigue and lessons the strain on back and neck muscles.
6. Professional paint brushes: Always purchase high-quality brushes. Most jobs require a 4″ brush for “cutting in”; a 2″ brush for baseboards and trim; and a 1 1/2″ to 2″ angled sash brush for windows and smaller trim. Quality varies; however, resist the temptation to grab the least expensive. Cheap painting tools will barely last the job. Good brushes result in better application, are more comfortable to use, and can last a long time afterwards if properly cleaned.
7. Paint roller cages: A roller “cage” or frame is another part of a paint roller system. They are offered in different sizes, ranging from 3 to 16″. A professional roller frame will save you many hours of hard work and produce better results.
8. Paint roller extension poles: Paint roller cages are made with an opening at the bottom of the handle into which you can screw an extension pole. Poles come various lengths; some even “telescope” to give you several lengths in one pole. Extension poles give you easy access to hard- to-reach areas and also reduce arm fatigue.
9. Paint roller covers: Many professional painters agree that inexpensive paint roller covers are more trouble than they’re worth. Choose lambskin covers over polyester as lambskin holds more paint and is less likely to leave roller-track marks. Cover thicknesses span from 1/4″ for fine enamel work all the way up to 1 3/4″ thick for very rough surfaces. Typically, a 9″-wide cover is suitable for most projects; however, you can also select from 2″ wide for smaller jobs all the way up to 18″ wide for very large projects.
10. Paint roller trays: Paint roller trays come in a variety of sizes, depending on the size of your job, and are made of either plastic or metal. Accompanying paint tray liners which are disposable, keep trays clean so that you can reuse them and also reduce your clean up time.
11. Miscellaneous: Basic hand tools, like a screwdriver for removing switch plate covers and a hammer for removing nails, are a must. You’ll also need the screwdriver and hammer to remove, if necessary, the pins in the door hinges to take doors off. Here’s a small tip: Use a small plastic baggie to store the switch plate covers, screws and door pins. That way when you are ready to reassemble the room you have all the hardware/accessories in one place!

Depending on how much repair work needs to be done before you begin painting, you may also need a putty knife and putty or spackling compound to fill small holes; and / or a caulking gun and paintable caulk to fill large holes. Disposable coveralls and specialty paint pads are nice to have, but not necessary. A wet rag is also good for “oops” that need to be addressed immediately.

Choosing Primer

While specific primer formulations vary, they fall into 3 basic categories: “alkyd” (oil-based); “latex” (water-based); and “odorless stain blockers” — oil based formulations with less odor. Each offers specific advantages.

• Oil-Based Primer: Benefits include superior adhesion; ability to work on a variety of surfaces; and exceptional stain and odor blocking power. A primary drawback of oil-based products is that they contain high-levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These can reduce indoor air quality and even pose health risks to young children and people with certain respiratory disorders. An additional drawback is these products need to be cleaned up with solvents like mineral spirits.
• Water-Based Primer: Prized for their speed-dry formula and easy clean-up, water-based products are significantly better for indoor air quality, as they contain very few or no VOCs. Water based primers have ease of clean up because they can be cleaned up easily with just soap and water. Disadvantages include poor adhesion and inadequate stain and odor blocking capabilities. There is a new water-based primer based on Hydro Pliolite® resin that claims to be able to block water soluble stains. Look for the Hydro Pliolite® logo on the can.
• Odorless Stain Blocking Primers: In response to world-wide demand for strong, but environmentally-friendly finishes, a new product category has emerged: odorless stain blocking primer. These primers are oil based and low in VOC. They are extremely effective in blocking tough stains and odors, and can be used on a variety of substrates, both indoors and out. Most importantly, they require less air turn over than traditional oil based primers.

Estimating How Much Paint You Need:

Today, estimating the amount of paint needed for a job is easier than ever. Many free online tools are available which simply require the room measurements to automatically calculate number of gallons. Check out the free primer and paint estimation tool at http://stainblockingprimers.com/.

Now that you have all the necessary tools, it’s time for the most important and time consuming part of a paint project: preparation. See Part 2 of DIY Interior Paint Jobs: How to Achieve Professional Results.

Valerie Bokar is Communications Manager for Eliokem, which manufactures dry and latex acrylic resins for the coatings industry. The company, which is headquartered in Villejust, France, also has locations in Ningbo, China, Valia in India and Akron, Ohio. For more information, please visit http://www.StainBlockingPrimers.com

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