Do-it-Yourself Guide

Interior Paint Guide

How Much Paint to Buy

As a general rule, a single gallon of paint covers 400 square feet. (length of room x width of
room= square footage)

Tools Needed:

Painter's Tape Drop Cloths Paint Roller Paint Tray Brush

Latex Primer Interior Latex Paint Spackle Putty Knife De-glosser or Sandpaper

Preparing the Room to Paint

1. Before you begin to paint, move away any objects that are not to be painted, including: furniture, pictures, lighting fixtures, wall hangings, switch plates and outlet covers. Be sure to cover your floors with a drop cloth, or plastic sheeting. Newspapers and sheets are not recommended as they allow the paint to soak through them.

2. Remove any loose or peeling paint from the surface. Sand the edges of peeled areas to smooth the ridge between the peeled and surrounding areas, otherwise the ridge will be noticeable under the new coat of paint.

Removing or disturbing old paint from interior or exterior surfaces by sanding, scraping, abrading or other means may produce dust, debris or fumes that contain lead. Exposure to lead dust, debris or fumes may cause brain damage or other adverse health effects, especially in children and pregnant women. Structures built before 1978 should be tested by a licensed inspector prior to removing or disturbing old paint. For more information, call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD.

3. Spackle any holes or cracks. When the spackle is dry, lightly sand to a smooth finish.

4. Roughen glossy surfaces by scuff sanding them or washing them with TSP. This will ensure the paint adheres to the surface correctly.  If sanding, a sanding block will help to make the job go faster and easier.

5. Next, scrub all surfaces with a cleaner. Do not use abrasive or oily cleaners because they will leave a residue     that will lead to peeling paint later. It's very important to thoroughly clean the surface areas that take a lot of "abuse" such as doors, door frames, around light switches, window frames, the surfaces around the kitchen stove and sink, and any other areas that show dirt, marks, and/or stains.

6. Use painter's tape to keep paint off the trim and windows. This is important, and will save you time in the long run.

Note: Peal off all painters tape before the paint is dry. If the paint has started to dry before you have a chance to remove the tape, run a razor blade lightly along the painters tape to insure a clean edge when the tape is removed.

Wallpaper:
Painting over wallpaper is not recommended because it can be difficult to keep the texture from showing through the paint, and some wallpaper inks may bleed through paint. Also if the wallpaper peels off the wall it will take the paint off with it. Therefore it is a good practice to remove old wallpaper from the wall surface before painting. We carry all of your wallpaper removal supplies. Once the wallpaper is removed, be sure to sand the walls completely. If you must paint over wallpaper, be sure to prime first with a stain blocking primer sealer.

Painting Tips:
1. When painting a room, it's best to paint the ceiling first, followed by the walls, with the trim, cabinets, and
    doors painted last. Work from the top down. In order to keep a wet edge, only cut in one wall at a time
    before you begin painting with rollers.
2. Always be sure to stir the paint thoroughly before using and do not thin the paint.
3. If you are using more than one gallon of the same color, mix them together in order to insure color consistency. 4. Paint when the room and surface temperature is 50ƒF or above.
5. Be sure to maintain proper ventilation in the area during painting and while paint is drying by opening doors and/or windows.
6. Avoid touching, wiping, or wetting a freshly painted surface for 30 days to allow the paint to completely cure.
    After 30 days, the painted surface can be cleaned with a mild, non-abrasive cleaner and water.
7. Do not place or hang objects on the surface until the paint is thoroughly dry.
8. When painting drywall, be sure joint compounds are cured and sanded smooth. Plaster should be allowed to    cure for 30 days before painting and priming, and masonry for 45 days.

The "N" Technique:
When painting, always work from the dry area into the adjoining wet paint area. Use the "N" technique when using a roller. Load the roller completely. Apply the paint in the form of an "N" in a 2' x 2' area. Fill in the center of the "N" with horizontal strokes from side to side. Lightly smooth the painted area with vertical strokes from top to bottom. Continue to use the "N" pattern with a freshly loaded roller directly below the first "N", working until you reach the bottom of the wall.

Tip: High quality applicators will provide the best painting results. Cheap or low quality applicators can make the best quality paint look and perform poorly. Cheap roller covers do not spread the paint evenly on the surface, and often leave fuzz from the roller on the wall. Inexpensive brushes are harder to use because they do not spread the paint evenly and leave unsightly brush marks. High quality applicators can be cleaned and used again.

Timesaving Tip: If you take a short break from painting, you can wrap your applicators tightly in a plastic bag or aluminum foil instead of washing them!

Remember: It's important to follow the directions on the back of the paint label. It contains the most important information you need for your painting project.

Types of Finishes:
Flat paints have no shine to them, and are excellent at hiding surface imperfections. However, they are not recommended for surfaces that are exposed to continual washing or scrubbing, because higher gloss paints perform better under these conditions.

Satin paint has slightly more gloss than a flat, and tends to make a room feel softer. It is an appropriate gloss to use on many surfaces in your home, and stands up well under washing.

Semi-gloss paints are shiny, and have a very durable surface. They stand up well to scrubbing, and are therefore the recommended finish for kitchens and bathrooms.

Gloss paint has the highest shine to it, as well as the strongest durability. However, it does not hide surface imperfections well, such as cracks and uneven surfaces, and is therefore recommended for smaller, high traffic areas like doors and trim.

Stop in today to get all of your painting supplies.

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