Are you in need of a new colour against the wall, but do you not feel like handling the paint brush? With the right material and a good preparation, a paint job is done in no time. That is why paint specialist Histor will reveal a few magic tricks which contribute to a successful result. Get off to a flying start!
Get going
Before you start, remember to cover the floor and furniture with a canvas or old sheets. Remove wall outlets and switches and tape off windows and doors with special tape. If you are working on an entire room, you should start with the ceiling and paint the walls afterwards. If all preparations are finished, you can start with the real work. Distribute a coat of paint with the roller first in vertical direction from top to bottom, in a number of strokes. Roll over it again in horizontal direction. Give it a final touch from the bottom and … the first section is finished. Continue according to the same method until the entire surface has acquired a new colour. Make sure that the different sections overlap somewhat.
How much paint?
A first obstacle for many is defining the right quantity of paint. The quantity depends both on the type of substrate and the type of paint: the rougher the surface, the more paint. Colour is also a defining factor for the amount of paint. If you select a dark colour on a white substrate, you will have to apply more coats. An average guideline per coat is 1 litre for 14 m² for lacquer, for wall paint 1 litre per 8 m² and for structure paint 1 litre per 3 m².
What to choose?
Obstacle number two is the choice of paint. Will you use acrylic or alkyd paint? Both types are durable, scratch-resistant and wear-resistant paints, but alkyd paint takes longer to dry. Then, will you choose matt or gloss paint? Matt, silky gloss and high-gloss all have the same quality, but have a different effect. Matt paints are the least smooth and better hide imperfections. Silky gloss gives your walls a beautiful, light glow and is easy to wash. Disadvantage: unevennesses become more visible. High gloss guarantees a wonderful play of light and ensures optimal washability. Because the surface is very smooth, dirt is less likely to stick. On the other hand, high gloss also implies higher visibility of irregularities in the substrate. A last choice: roll or brush? Rolls are ideal for large surfaces, while you need a brush for delicate edges and small corners.
Source: Jet (21/10/09)