How to paint

Table of Contents

Step by step to the perfect coating

The painting is done from top to bottom: ceiling, frieze, walls, doors, windows, skirting boards. In case of multi layer coatings advantageously make a first coat over all components. Afterwards the individual components get their final coats.

The surface has already a coat of paint

Existing coatings generally should be gone over with a paint of the same type.

  • Determine the type of the existing paint.

The surface has no coating

  • Determine the type of the substrate.
  • Choose the appropriate type of paint to the substrate.

The preparatory work is carried out

How to Prepare
How to Mask

  • Clear the working area.
  • During work stop the ventilation in the room, close the windows, close the door at least partially.
  • Provide brushes and rollers in an empty bucket.
  • A bent handle paintbrush of 1 - 2 inches width to paint the corners and borders.
  • A small paint roll of max. 1 inch diameter and 5 - 6 inches length to paint the border areas.
  • A large paint roll of 9 or 10 inches length to paint the large areas.
  • Push the rolls onto matching roller frames and hang the rollers into the empty bucket.

Water down the paint

  • Dilute and stir the paint according to the manufacturer's instructions using a stir stick or a paint mixer.

Most paint manufacturer suggest to apply the first layer with diluted paint, then work on with undiluted paint. For smaller projects or works with multiple colors, this approach is not very practical. It's more convenient to dilute the paint to just the right consistency to apply the paint in a comfortable and speedy way. If appropriate, apply a layer more than planned. The reference grade of the dilution is 10 percent.

Fill the paint into the work buckets

  • Use oval or rectangular working buckets.
  • For the work with the paint roller of 10 inches length choose a bucket of 3 to 5 gallons.
  • For the work on the ladder, with brush and the small roller choose a bucket of 2 gallons.
  • Hold a brush ready to swab the drops of paint from the rim of the paint bucket.
  • Fill the work buckets up to one-thirds with paint.
  • Put in the paint grids matching the width of the paint rollers.

Paint the borders with the brush

  • With the brush skim over the surface of the paint, so that only one side of the brush is covered with paint. Quickly apply the paint to the corner or edge.
  • Repeat this task until enough paint is applied to the working area.
  • With the empty brush elaborately spread the paint.

Paint the border areas with the small paint roller

  • To take paint move the roller over the paint grid and just slightly dip the roller into the paint. Make sure that the center of the roller and the roller frame aren't soaked with paint.
  • Quickly apply the paint over the working area.
  • Repeat this task until enough paint is applied to the working area.
  • With the empty roller elaborately spread the paint.

It is advantageous to perform the painting tasks on the border in sections one after the other. Do not advance the painting at the border too far in relation to the following task with the large roller.

Paint the area with the large paint roller

  • Mount the paint roller on a .
  • To take paint move the roller over the paint grid and just slightly dip the roller into the paint. Make sure that the center of the roller and the roller frame aren't soaked with paint.
  • Quickly apply the paint to the working area.
  • Repeat this task until enough paint is applied to the working area.
  • Work in vertical areas of about three feet width.
  • With the empty roller elaborately spread the paint.
  • Coat the following three areas in the same way.
  • Then, working backward with the empty roller go over the freshly applied paint once again.
  • Continue with these steps until the wall is coated from edge to edge.

Paint the ceiling

Execute the same procedures as above. But the work with the large paint roller is a bit different:

  • Adjust the length of the telescopic paint rod. The arm unbent it should reach from the hand to the ceiling.
  • Mentally divide the surface of the ceiling into smaller units. The power connection for the lighting can serve as a mark. This divides the ceiling into four sub-areas. These sub-areas can be quartered again to get well manageable work areas.
  • Mount the paint roller on a telescopic paint rod.
  • To take paint move the roller over the paint grid and just slightly dip the roller into the paint. Make sure that the center of the roller and the roller frame aren't soaked with paint.
  • Quickly apply the paint over the working area.
  • Repeat this task until enough paint is applied to the working area.
  • With the empty roller elaborately spread the paint in alternating directions.
  • Coat the following four or five areas in the same way.
  • Then, working backward with the empty roller go over the freshly applied paint once again. Continue with these steps until the ceiling is coated from edge to edge.

To work overhead can be arduous. The following tips will help to avoid this

  • Work with the arms downward. For this purpose set the length of the telescopic paint pole as described above.
  • Do not work vertically above the head, but in the area in front the head.
  • Wear a hat and goggles.

During breaks

  • Put the brush and rollers each in a plastic bag.
  • Pull the rollers from their frames. The plastic bag is used to protect the pulling hand.
  • Cover the paint buckets.
  • Ventilate the room.

Tools, products and applications

Bent handle paintbrush

Other designation: Bent radiator paintbrush.

A flat brush which clamp is offset to the handle in a certain angle. With a bent radiator brush borders are easier to paint due to the more favorable angle of attack. For precision work use a short-handled brush with fine and elastic bristles.

Paint roll

Criteria for the selection of the right paint roll.

The kind of paint
  • Latex paint, distemper, wall paint, ceiling paint = medium length or long fibers, 1/2 - 3/4 inch.
  • Resin paint, acrylic lacquer, varnish = short to medium length fibers, 1/8 - 1/2 inch.
The texture of the surface
  • Smooth surface = short to medium length fibers, 1/8 - 1/2 inch.
  • Textured surface = medium length or long fibers, 1/2 - 3/4 inch.
  • Coarse textured surface = cushioned paint roll, long fibers, 3/4 - 1 inch.
The kind of work
  • Large areas, walls, ceilings = 10 inches long paint roll.
  • Small areas, borders, doors, frames = up to 6 inches long paint roll.

Roller frame

The handle for the paint roll. The frame must be compatible with the chosen paint roll, the handle compatible with the telescopic paint rod.
In case of uncertain seat of the handle on the paint rod, fix the roller frame with masking tape.
Handles that stuck on the paint rod can be solved this way: hold the rod vertically downwards and slightly joggle it.

Paint roller

The set of a paint roll and roller frame.

Paint grid

A flat screen or grid which can be hung by side-mounted hooks into the paint bucket. There are metal or plastic paint grids available. A useful paint grid is stiff, unbreakable and compact. Metallic paint grids must be galvanized.
The paint grids should be slightly wider than the width of the paint rollers used with them.

Telescopic paint rod

The extension pole for roller frame. Telescopic rods are available in different sizes. A telescopic rod with a range from 45 to 80 inches is of universal use. In narrow spaces use a correspondingly shorter extension pole.

Author: Paul Zoller,

Date:

Emacs 28.2 (Org mode 9.5.5)