Remodelling a home can be expensive. One way of doing this with
out digging too deep into your pocket is to repaint it. It can
make a world of difference. For those who are building a new
house, this is a wonderful chance to play around with colours
that one really likes. Here are some tips for painting the interior
of your house that will save you time and money.
Talk to your local paint supplier about latest colours and
techniques. With the amazing array of colours available in
the market, you have to be sure that you use the right paint
for the right room.
Next, know your paint. There are two basic types of paint
used in the home - latex and oil-based, also called alkyd.
Latex is easy to work with, has a long lasting finish, applies
quickly and dries fast. This apart, it is easy to clean the
tools with water. Generally, if you are planning to paint
your house yourself, Latex would be the safer choice because
you can apply it over properly primed drywall, wood or masonry.
Oil-based paints are harder to work with, but some people
think they're more durable, more stain resistant, and offer
better adhesion. But there is one draw back; oil-based paint
tools need to be cleaned with solvents.
For painting woodwork, you can use either latex or oil-based
paint, but be sure to always prime bare wood.
Easy-to-clean semi-gloss finishes are recommended. But
if there are kids around the house, the walls are going to
take a lot of wear and tear and it is wiser to go in for a
flat paint, which would be easier for touch-ups.
For ceilings, use a specially made ceiling paint. It has
a flat finish to hide lap marks and irregularities, and it
rolls on with little splatter and never yellows over time.
The kitchen and bath both need a moisture-resistant paint,
and both latex and oil-based will do just fine.
Now, to the amount of paint to be bought. First, determine
your room's square footage by measuring the distance around
the room - the perimeter. Multiply that by the height of the
room. The ceiling area is length times width of the room.
If you use a different paint for doors and trim, you need
to subtract the area of the doors and the windows from the
total area. For doors, it would be approximately 21 sq.ft.
and window frames are usually 15 sq.ft. The paint can label
will tell you approximately the area that one gallon of the
paint will cover. Divide your wall area by that figure, and
the result will be the number of gallons required for one
coat.
If you're going to be doing the painting yourself, remember
that you paint the ceilings first, the walls - second, the
woodwork and the trim - third and the floors, if they're going
to be painted, will be the last thing.
Be sure to save some of the leftover paint for touchups
later on.
When you get ready to put the paint away, you want to get
a tight seal, so no air gets inside there. So take some Saran
wrap, put it over the top and then put your lid on. It not
only gives you a real good seal but also makes its easier
to reopen the can later.
|  |
|
|
|
4:39:03 AM 
