Painting 101: 8 Simple Steps

Well, the robins have been back for several weeks now, and the bullfrogs are once again providing us with daily music from the backyard pond, so spring must truly be here to stay.  It's time for many of us to fling open our windows and let the fresh air in.
For many of us, that means it's also time to put a fresh coat of paint on some of our winter weary rooms, so let's take this opportunity to brush up on our Painting 101.

Painting a room is a relatively easy do-it-yourself project, but it's important to know and follow some basic guidelines in order to ensure good results.  We can fairly easily summarize these guidelines into eight steps.

Step #1: Know what you're getting into.  Although painting itself isn't difficult, you need to take into consideration the size and configuration of your room, the condition of its walls, the associated disruption of the room's arrangement and function, and the time that you have available to do the job.
Also, understand that 50% of your work is going to come before you ever open your can of paint, and another 10% comes after you close it.  For most people, the fun part is that middle 40%.  If what follows doesn't seem fun to you, stop right now and consider hiring a professional.

Step #2: Select the right materials.  This step includes color selection, primer and paint type (brand name, quality level and sheen level).  Keep in mind that not all paint products are created equal, and that you really do get what you pay for.  Understand as well, that sometimes you're paying for the advice and expertise of the person who is recommending and mixing your paint, and that can be money well spent.

Step #3: Select the appropriate equipment. At a minimum, you'll need a paint pan and liner, good quality brushes and rollers (appropriate to your wall's texture), a drop cloth, and painter's tape.  If it's a very large job, you may also need power equipment and scaffolding.

Step #4: Properly prepare your walls.  This is the biggest part, and the one that most people try to cut corners on.  Begin by protecting the surrounding area.  If they're not brand new, clean your walls thoroughly with TSP, and rinse.  Be sure to read all instruction on any of the products you're using, and pay heed to recommendations for proper safety precautions.
Here's the part that I personally dread.  Next, mask off anything attached to your wall that you don't want painted (woodwork, light fixtures, etc.) The pros can do an amazing job of 'cutting in' around these adjacent surfaces to your walls without taping them off, but I don't recommend trying that yourself, unless you have plenty of experience, patience, and steadiness of hand.

Step #4.5: If your walls are new, stained, or have had a dark color on them, you'll need a primer.  And if they're damaged, you need to repair problems before priming.  Do not skip these things, or you'll regret it later.  If your new paint is a bold color, ask your paint retailer to mix a tinted primer for you.

Step #5: Now, you finally get to paint! If you're a novice, start in an inconspicuous corner until you get the hang of loading your brush or roller just the right amount.  You want to have enough paint to cover well, but avoid dripping and splattering.  Use your roller for the wall's large, open areas, and a brush or pad for cutting into the corners and other tight spots.

Step #6: Paint again.  Once your first coat is thoroughly dry, look carefully to see how well it covered.  For new walls or bold colors, a second coat is almost always needed, and most often will improve the look on even lighter or neutral walls.  Follow directions on the can with regard to your product's drying and recoating times.

Step #7: Clean up.  This step isn't my favorite, either.  I love all the disposable brushes and roller covers that are available and can make clean-up a breeze, but unfortunately they're not very good quality, so this step alone is a good enough reason for me to hire the job done. 

Step #8: Touch up.  Conduct a final inspection of the room when all the paint is completely dry, and touch up any areas that got missed, or where your color went where it shouldn't have.  It's a good idea to store at least a small amount of your new paint somewhere handy, so that future nicks can be touched up easily and quickly.

Now, enjoy your new look and the freshness that paint brings to a room!