Painting a wall or even a house is an art that many people do overlook. However, a good number of people are now opting to decorate their own homes.
They find it fun, relaxing and helps them save on a lot of costs. This has been encouraged by the availability of information about painting from professionals. Easy accessibility of painting materials such as paints, brushes, and rollers at an affordable price has also inspired people to paint themselves. Even though people are painting by themselves, they are still making basic but avoidable mistakes. In this article, we have mentioned a list of twelve common mistakes people make when they are painting their houses.
We have further described them and even provided solutions on how you can solve the problems. Here they are.
1. Using poor quality paints, rollers, and brushes.
To get the best results as a painter, you need to use high-quality paint, paintbrushes or rollers and even high-quality spray paints. All this comes at a cost but investing in them is worth it. Poor quality paints are not long-lasting and tend to peel off quicker. The end result of painting with poor quality tools is not desirable either.
Poor quality brushes do peel off their bristles after being used severely. Rollers that are of poor quality do make work harder for a painter too.
Using good quality tools makes work easier and faster when you paint. A lot of costs are also saved in the long run. When buying painting equipment ensure that you buy from a trusted retailer. Ensure that you choose paint brushes that have long bristles that are tough but elastic at the same time.
2. Poor preparation before painting.
Painting is a messy and tough job. You need to be prepared physically and mentally before you start painting. Most people do start painting without setting up their working environment. This can easily lead to messing up other things using the paint. Lack of preparedness, in the end, can become expensive.
All factors such as what to move or cover, which paint to use and even what to wear should be put into consideration before you start painting. You should also ensure that the wall you will be painting is clean and smooth so that your outcome is desirable. Everything should be ready before you start painting to make work easier for you.
3. Painting with the wrong paint.
There are a lot of different types of paints. It is easy to get confused when buying paint. No matter how good your painting skills are when you buy the wrong paint everything will be spoilt. Not all paints can mix together, you need to use compatible paints. Some paints are suitable for the outdoors while others are only to be used indoors. Using the wrong paint is expensive and time-consuming. Always do your own research for you to know the paint that would suit your desired needs. You can also seek advice from a professional painter. With enough information, it becomes easier to choose the right paint to use.
4. Painting over wallpaper.
Wallpapers popularity has risen over the years. They are more stylish, faster to pin and are less expensive.
However, many people usually find themselves in a dilemma on whether to paint over old wallpaper or not. Most professionals do discourage painting over old wallpapers. If you paint over old wallpaper, the glue that holds it to the wall may loosen, and the wallpaper may start to peel. This may be expensive and a lot of time may be wasted in the long run. It is advisable to peel off the wallpaper before painting the wall. However, you can paint over wallpaper if it is still in good condition. You would need to use several coatings so that the paint can last a long time.
5. Not buying enough paint.
Being unprepared is one of the main reasons why people do not buy enough paint. Before you start painting you need to get your maths straight first. You need to be aware of the amount of paint that is enough for the job. Not buying enough paint is disastrous. The likely hood of you purchasing the wrong paint is high, and this may spoil your project entirely. Apart from that, the paint may dry up unevenly. As much as you may be a skilled painter, the result of your work may not be pleasing. This does waste your time and money in the long run. Always make sure that you take stock of your painting inventory before you start working.
6. Getting paint on the ceiling.
Not everybody is a skilled painter. However, even skilled painters do often make simple mistakes such as getting paint on the ceiling. As much as it may sound like a simple mistake, getting paint on the ceiling is one of the mistakes you cannot easily cover-up. However, there are several ways you can do to avoid this. One simple way is by using an angled paintbrush to paint on the edges of the wall and the ceiling. You would need to be extra careful in order to avoid getting paint on the ceiling. The other simpler way is using a ceiling line tool. This tool has two small wheels that allow it to slowly glide on the ceiling as you paint a straight line without putting paint on the ceiling.
7. Using poor lighting when comparing samples or painting indoors.
Light is very important when painting or even when selecting the right paint for your wall. When painting in a dim room it is difficult to see the imperfections. Always work in the natural light or brighten the light in the room you are working in. Light allows you to see the colour and imperfection in your work clearly. This allows you to correct them before the paint dries up. You can use natural sunlight or even a lamp when painting to brighten the room. Also, ensure that you do not compare paint samples under artificial light such as the fluorescent lights.
8. Not cleaning up well after painting.
A paint stain is one of the toughest stains to clean. Ensure that you clean your bristle brushes and rollers before the paint dries on them. If you used solvent-based paints clean using a solvent in order to make work easier.
9. Starting to paint without using a primer.
Painting is a step by step process. Skipping a process can affect the entire paint job. Most people do overlook the importance of painting a primer before applying another paint. A primer allows proper adhesion of the paint to the previous layer. It makes the paint stick on the wall easily; hence it lasts longer. This prevents cracking of the paint over time. Using a primer also brings out more clearly the colour of the paint for a long time. A primer makes your painting become more consistent and your work looking good for a long time.
10. Not putting the weather into consideration.
The weather can affect the outcome of your paint job easily. Avoid painting under direct sunlight. Intensive heat from the sun speeds up the drying process of the paint. This can cause dry paint to wrinkle or even form bubbles under the paint. Wind also speeds up the drying unevenly. Apart from that wind carries foreign objects such as dust to the wet paint. This affects the outcome of your paint job. Also, avoid painting on walls that have been rained on. The wet walls trap moisture which is a favourable condition for the growth of fungus. Try painting especially the exterior of your house when the weather is good.
11. Painting the second coat before the first dries up.
Painting over the first coat has a lot of advantages. Apart from allowing the paint to last longer than one layer and making a paint job look neat, applying the second coat also helps you completely change the colour of a wall. Painting over a wet first can completely ruin how the paint looks. Always allow the first coat to dry for 24 hrs before applying the second and the last coat. The second coat is very delicate, and as a result, you need to be cautious when applying it. Ensure that you use the right paint and a paint conditioner to make the second coat look neater.
12. Keeping extra paint under poor conditions.
It is normal for there to be extra paint after painting. How you store or dispose of the paint matters more. If it is in small amounts, you can paint other things such as your fence or even donate it. If you don’t want to dispose of the paint and you want to keep it for future use, you need to ensure that it is stored in an air proof container. Store the container in a cool and dry area. Disposing the paint into the pipes is discouraged since they can destroy the pipes. Throwing liquid paint in the rubbish bin is also discouraged. In Conclusion painting houses in Sydney can be a difficult task or anywhere for that matter. To ensure that you get the best results it is always better to hire a professional to do the job for you.
For more helpful hints and tips from your resident Sydney Painters, please check out our blog.
