Project Difficulty:
Easy Estimated
Project Time: Varies with size of room
Tools and Materials:
Stepladder
Screwdriver
Drop cloths
Painter's masking tape
Safety goggles
Angled sash brush
Wide paintbrush or paint roller and tray
Extension pole for paint roller
Paint
Cleanup rags
You can give a room a whole new look by applying a fresh coat of paint. Painting walls is relatively easy--after you prepare the surface. Poor surface preparation is the number-one cause of paint failures, and it is also the least pleasant part of a painting project because it is tedious and time-consuming. Preparation may involve cleaning the surface, patching holes and cracks, scraping off old paint or removing wallpaper, sanding raised imperfections, and applying primer if needed. Once all that is accomplished, you're ready for the fun to begin.
1.
Cover It Up
As paint can splatter, especially when using a roller, cover furniture and floors, remove hardware such as doorknobs and curtain rods, remove coverplates for receptacles and switches, and protect ceiling fixtures. Mask trim that you do not plan to repaint.
2.
Edges First
Use an angled sash brush to cut in a 2- to 3-inch-wide strip of paint around all trim and in areas you can't easily reach with a roller. (Fig. 1)
3.
The Rest of the Wall
You can use a wide paintbrush to cover large areas of walls or ceilings, but it's faster to use a paint roller. To reach higher areas, attach an extension pole to the roller.
Pour paint into the paint tray, and then dunk the paint roller at the deep end of the tray. Roll it over the ribs at the shallow end to distribute the paint evenly. (Fig. 2)
One basic and economical approach to painting is the load-on method. Start by applying thick layers in vertical stripes. (Fig. 3)
Roll left and right on the diagonals across the thick stripes. This spreads the paint evenly on the wall. (Fig. 4)
When the original stripes have been spread over a section of wall, roll straight up and down to create a uniform stipple finish. (Fig. 5)
