Painting & decorating can be overwhelming. These days there are so many things to consider, which can often put people off. It doesn’t have to be difficult, however, as with some helpful top tips, you can complete the project with relative ease.
It’s all in the preparation
If you ask any professional decorator what their tip would be to a DIY’er who is undertaking a project, it would be to put time into the preparation. It can be tempting to begin painting as soon as possible to get the job done, but ultimately this almost always results in below-par results. Taking time to properly apply masking tape to edges, putting down dust sheets & ensuring the surface is ready to paint will pay dividends in the long run.
Trade paint
All major paint manufacturers produce both a retail & trade version of their paint emulsions. You will never see a professional decorator using retail paint. Why? Because trade paint is much higher quality, offers better coverage & has increased durability. While it can be slightly more expensive, it offers much better value for money in the long run, as it will not only save you time but it will last much longer than a paint straight out of a high-street DIY shop.
Paint mixing
It is well known in the decorating trade that almost all major paint brands have products that can be mixed in almost any color you want. This is a less well-known fact however amongst the public, who often buy designer paints because they have seen a paint shade they like from the brand. There is no need to pay designer prices for designer shades, simply find a paint mixing service and they will be able to mix that shade in almost any paint you want for a fraction of the cost. We suggest visiting an online paint retailer such as paintersworld.co.uk, which has hundreds of paints in their paint mixing range.
Avoid cheap paint
We know it can be tempting to use the cheap emulsion paints that are advertised as great value offers in DIY stores but don’t be fooled. These paints are often poor quality and are not worth the effort of using as you will have to repeat the project in a matter of years when the paint fails. We couldn’t stress enough how much better value a high-quality paint is then cheap, short-term solutions. The price of materials alone over a 10 year period would be much higher if you used a cheap paint multiple times, not to mention the time it would take to repeat the process.
Do not paint over the problem
For many of us, time is a luxury, and we don’t want to spend time doing something if we can’t see the results. That is why putting time into creating a problem is something many people aren’t willing to do. The issue is, if you do not resolve a problem, it will simply continue to occur until you do! If previous paint has failed, don’t paint straight back over the top of it as you need to investigate what caused it to happen so you can prevent it from happening again. Often the explanation is simple and just a quick Google search away.
You are only as good as your tools
You are only as good as your tools as the famous saying goes, and it certainly rings true when it comes to painting & decorating. Getting yourself a well-built, quality paint roller & paintbrush is a lifesaver! High-quality brushes & rollers are made of material that offers a smoother finish, can pick up more paint & ultimately do the job quicker & more effectively than cheap equipment. The difference between the two may be a matter of a couple of pounds. It simply isn’t trying to save money. A good piece of equipment will last you years!
Scrape your roller
Do you hate tidying up the painting equipment as much as we? There is nothing worse than spending what seems like hours trying to continually remove the paint from your brush & rollers, but we have a quick tip. A painter’s tool has a handy attachment that allows you to scrape almost all of the paint in your rollers back into the paint. Not only does this mean you have some spare paint to touch up any areas, but your roller will be clean with a quick wash under some water!
Prime!
Before you paint, make sure you find out whether you need to use a primer or not. If you are planning to paint a surface that has never been painted before, the chances are you will need to use one. Be sure to check the product you are planning to use as you don’t want to miss out on this step. Primers ensure that the paint can adhere to the material it is painting. If you fail to use a primer when required, the paint will simply scratch & peel off in a matter of time.
Be creative
Our next top tip is to be creative. Painting & decorating can seem like they can be difficult, but it doesn’t mean you can’t get creative and produce something brilliantly unique. One of the best paints to use in a range of ways is Zinsser Allcoat. Originally designed as a very durable exterior paint, it can be used not only exterior but interior on kitchen or bathroom tiles. Simply apply a primer beforehand and you can give the tiles a complete makeover. Zinsser Allcoat is available in paint mixing services, so you can get bold with a color of your choice!
Have fun
Our final tip is to have fun! We know it can be a chore sometimes especially when things go wrong, but with some of the tips we have given you, you can really throw yourself into any DIY project you have coming up. Take your time & good luck!
