by Louise Schutte

Created on: August 11, 2009

What wakes up a dreary room after a long gloomy winter more than a freshly painted room? Though is seems like a daunting task to many, the finished product is quite rewarding. So where do you get started?

Preparation:

Properly preparing the surface can mean the difference between a good paint job and one that is mediocre at best. To properly wash the walls, a task absolutely necessary for a good paint job, use T.S.P. (trisodium phosphate) available in the paint section of any home improvement store.

After washing, and rinsing the walls, fill in any nail holes or cracks in the wall with Spackle. Wait for the filler to dry, and then lightly sand the patched areas using a pole- or hand-sander. Remove any dust with a tack cloth and prime the patched areas to ensure an even paint finish.

Choosing Latex or Alkyd:

If you are unaware what type of paint is currently on your walls, you can do a simple test by wiping a swab of acetone on the painted surface. If paint comes off the surface easily, the paint is latex (water-based.) Otherwise, it is alkyd (oil-based.) You can apply latex paint over latex paint. You can also apply latex over alkyd, but you must prepare the surface properly or the new coat of paint will peel off. Sanding is a vital step when painting latex over alkyd. A latex primer needs to be used prior to applying the first coat of latex paint to cover the alkyd. Latex is easy to wash off hands and paint tools, is more environmental, and contrary to what many believe, is durable and washable.

Choosing a Finish:

Your selection process is not finished yet; you need to decide on the type of finish. Flat paint has more "hide," meaning it doesn't show tiny flaws in the surface as readily as other sheens. The downfall of flat paint is that it may need to be wiped clean more often due to children's inevitable hand prints on your walls. High Gloss has a very polished look, is very easy to wipe clean, but has less "hide." Low Gloss and Semi-Gloss are the two finishes that fall between Flat and High Gloss. Each brand of paint may use its own terminology including eggshell or velvet finish.

Paint Tools:

You need good quality, no-lint paint roller sleeves and a good polyester/nylon sash brush for trim. A tool I highly recommend is the Shur Line 2-wheel trim edger for easily cutting in edges around ceilings, other walls, and window and door frames. It saves a lot of time and mess. Plastic roller trays are easy to clean and don't rust. You'll also need

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