Subscribe to our RSS Feed
Probably the best kept secret to any good painting job lies in the word “preparation”. If you want your painting handiwork to look as good – if not better – than the professional look, you need to be well organised and prepare effectively. If you are not too sure about proceeding with the job yourself, you can find a decorator right here on Mr-Skill. Then, just sit back and let the experts do in one day, what may take you far longer.
Begin with the protection factor – preferably remove the furniture from the room you are redecorating. If this is not possible, then cover everything with old sheets to prevent paint spills and keep out the dust. Don’t forget the carpets, and remove pictures too. If this is starting to sound too hard, perhaps you should consider a decorating quote? 
Attend to any cracks or holes in the surfaces you are about to paint and sand them down when dry. Now, mix a mild solution of sugar soap in warm water, and use this for removing marks, oil, grease and general dirt. Mask off anything necessary, including straight edges where ceilings and walls meet, so that you can concentrate on the task at hand, namely painting!
We’re assuming you have all the materials you require for the job, such as:
- The appropriate quality paint, brushes, rollers and trays
- Interior plaster-filler
- Suitable ladder
- Cleaning cloths
- Covers (for the furniture and carpets)
Always begin at the top with the ceiling, since paint does drip from your brush, and rollers do tend to flick paint everywhere too. Use rollers for ceilings and walls, and brushes for the detail work in corners, on skirting boards and around cornices. Rollers are designed to spread paint effectively, so avoid saturating them when you refill.
Depending on the colour you select, you may need to apply two coats of paint to get the desired finish. Remember to let the paint dry properly between applications.
One of our London decorators says that the biggest test of a job well done is the clean up after you have finished. He’s assuming of course that you have completed the job as expertly as he would!