Painting ourselves

ok, so DH and I decided we will be painting ourselves since we don't have enough $ to hire a painter. we have the bottom floor, master bedroom and hallways to paint

Can those who have painted themselves offer some tips and advice? We've done it before in our co-op with not great results. We always mess up on the tapping and the paint bleeds through.

Also, any recs for good tools to get- brands of primer, brushes, etc. We have valuted ceilings in our master bedroom so we'll need a reach roller.

Thks!

Re: Painting ourselves

we used BM paint. I used aura paint and it painted in one coat (2 for darker colors)

I use only purdy brushes

Re: Painting ourselves

I have no advice but good luck!! Dh and I started painting, but it was such a pain in the a**. Our realtor recommended his painting guy, so we called him and he is going to do the 3 bedrooms for 100 each and the living room and basement for 150 each. I would give you his name but we live in VA.

Re: Painting ourselves

We painted every room. We tried Pratt&Lambert, BM regal, and Sherwin Williams Duration paints. The best IMO was Sherwin Williams Duration. It went on great and is also environmentally friendlier than other paint. If you go on the SW website, become a preferred customer, and they will email you a 15% off coupon.
I bought a roller at HD that is a adjustable and it comes with a cover for the roller part. I liked it because the cover shields you from a lot of the paint splatter and the adjustable pole is nice.
The purdy brushes are good.

Paint the ceilings first and let the paint come down onto the walls a little bit - that way the entire celing is covered. Paint up the wall to about two or three inches below the ceiling and then use a small angled brush to paint the boundary between the ceiling and the wall - no taping needed, just a steady hand.

And whatever you do, DON'T use one of those plastic tarps, get a cloth one or put down that brown paper stuff. The paint just sits on the plastic ones and then when you move it the paint just slides off or you get it on your shoes and then track paint all over the house.

Message edited 9/24/2007 3:53:12 PM.

Re: Painting ourselves

great, thanks for the tips! we don't have to paint the ceilings thankfully. can we get the brown papers stuff at HD? Does it have some stickky stuff to keep the edges in place? that's the worst part when it starts to move all over the place.

Re: Painting ourselves

We used BM Regal. It works pretty good. We also used BM primer, doesn't have that much of a smell to it compared to other brands. You can use the primer if the walls are very dirty looking otherwise you don't have to prime if you don't want to. And everything that SweetTooth said is what we did. We have a catheral ceiling in the kitchen & dining room, we bought a 8 ft ladder for that. It worked pretty well. But it's not easy painting up that high. But a steady hand for the cutting of the ceiling/wall area is all that you really need. Otherwise, the blue painters tape works well. If you use the tape, they say to brush the paint on away from the tape. So if the tape is on your left, the brush strokes should go from left to right. They say that it won't bleed through. Also, make sure first that the tape in on very good to the wall. GL!

Re: Painting ourselves

- Visit your local paint store...you will get better advice (if you have difficult walls) there than at HD.

- Invest in good rollers & brushes. Purdy professional line is about as good as it gets.

- Put plastic on your floors and then cover with tarp or paper.

- Invest in good paint (my FIL is a retired painter...he swears by BM and also likes Sherwin Williams).

- Do not tape off areas (with the exception of knobs, fixtures)...the paint will inevitably bleed under it. Instead, practice patience and have a steady hand.

- Prep your walls - sand any bumps, fill in any holes, use primer.

- Test colors on different walls within the room to you can catch different light (unless you know 100% what color you want already). As an alternative, we primed a piece of sheetrock and painted 2' squares on there and placed it in different areas.

Message edited 9/24/2007 4:12:00 PM.

Re: Painting ourselves

we want to use restoration hardware paints because we love their colors. The description says it's a water-based subtle velvet finish. Is this any different from the typical oil or latex based paints?

Thks

Re: Painting ourselves

You can take the RH chips to a place like Aboff's and have them mix that color in a BM paint.

Re: Painting ourselves

Great tip about painting away from the tape.......I wish I knew that before I painted, it got all underneath! Grrrrrr!!

Re: Painting ourselves

is cutting when you make a line where the wall ends and ceiling begins- how do you suggest doing this? One of the rooms even has a curved wall to ceiling, so i'm guessing i'll eed to draw a line or something? did you use tape to cut?

Re: Painting ourselves

Yes, that's what cutting is. You should use a small (1-1.5"), stiff brush.

A curved wall to ceiling, depending on how high your ceilings are, you could bring the ceiling color down to the bottom of the curve and start the wall color just under that.

Re: Painting ourselves

Re: Painting ourselves

Use BM paint and Pratt brushes.

Make sure you stir the can well but not enough that there are bubbles.

If it is a dark color and you are going lighter use 1 coat of primer.

Always use 2 coats of paint.

Wear masks so you don't get high.


DH and I (mostly me) painted every room ourselves except for the cathedral ceilings.

Re: Painting ourselves

Message edited 9/25/2007 9:44:49 AM.

Re: Painting ourselves

We just painted the ENTIRE house ourselves ......

The BEST purchase we made was this little tool (sorry I don't know the name of it) but it is used for the edges....it has two little wheels so say you are doing a wall you would run the wheels along the ceiling and it mades a perfect line! My sister told us to get it and I thought it would be a waste but it was sooooooooo good (and I think it was only like $3).

Two coats for sure.

BM paint was great.

If you are not sure about a color get the little samples and try different shades...I changed my mind on a few that way.

Not sure which brushes we used, DH got all the stuff.

We used a paint on the ceilings (white) that went on purple and dried white which was VERY helpful in seeing what parts were already painted....not sure of the name, if you are interested FM me and I'll find out.

GOOD LUCK and try to have fun!!!!

Re: Painting ourselves

.Use BM Aura paint so you don't have to use primer. Incl the cost of primer, you're looking at an add'l $5-10 a gallon... but SOOOOOOO worth it IMO.

.Paint the ceiling first, trim second, walls last. This is pretty opposite of what you'll find most people do but it will both save time and look a million times better.

.Once the trim is painted, one of you do the rolling on the walls, the other do the detail work using a 1.5" angled brush. I don't ever use tape, I find it gives you a false sense of security (esp if you're not dealing with new construction). Just steady your hand and use the angle on the brush to meet the wall color to the trim.

Good luck!

Re: Painting ourselves

Message edited 1/30/2009 10:15:09 PM.

Re: Painting ourselves

We have painted the entire house ourselves, actually I have, it's not DH's thing.

First, I will tell you to paint barefoot, a little tip I got from my SIL. Inevitably you drop and will step in it, at least you will know when it happens.

I use only BM Regal or Sherwin Williams paint. Behr stinks and so does Glidden, etc. A great primer is Kilz Heavy Hide. There is also a great product from 3M,it's a little square "roller" that you can flip off the pad, it helps cutting in, it works great for me.

Before you start get some zip lock bags and write the names of the paint colors on them...then when you finish the first coats - put the roller/pads in the zip lock bag until the next time. I even put the paint brush in there too if it's a dark color and I won't be using it for another paint.

Paint the ceiling first and let dry before doing the walls.

That's all I can think of now!

Good luck!

Re: Painting ourselves

just want to say thanks to everyone for all their advice!

we painted the whole bottom floor over the past 3 days! it was alot of work and exhausting but it looks awesome. i will post pics when i can find my camera charger.

we also didn't realize the ceilings had to be painted until the walkthrough- they were like a cream yellow and would have clashed badly with our paint colors! we got the tinted ceiling paint but ceilings are the worst to paint!

we used purdy brushes and rollers and the RH paint- all great.
i can't believe how many hours it takes to cut in and paint around all the trim- but you were all right- just need a steady hand which took a half a wall to acquire but after that it came out really well.

thks again!