House Painting Techniques – Learn To Paint Your Own Home

 A good way to save money and at the same time beautify and protect your home is to paint it yourself. For the cost of some paint, plus some cleaning, patching and sanding you can have your home looking like new. A fresh paint job has the power to totally transform the look of your house in less time and less money than any other remodeling project.                                    Basic tools required                                                                                                                                                                     The basic tool for painting is a paint brush. A good quality brush will make it easier to paint with and will last for years if you look after it. I use nylon brushes for acrylic and oil or shellac finishes. For walls and ceilings I will use a 3 inch wide brush and for windows and frames i will use a 2 inch angular trim brush.After each use,brushes should be cleaned with water (if used with latex paint) until no paint can be seen in the water runoff then put back in the packet it came in.A good quality brush will cost between $10 and $20.                                                                                                                                                             Preperation is very important                                                                                                                                                For a great paint job, you have to prepare the surface before applying the paint. It doesn’t matter if it’s interior or exterior,walls,ceilings,cabinets or windows,the surface to be painted must be clean,smooth andfree of any loose or flacky paint. Use a spray cleaner to get rid of dust and mildew. If you are going to paint the outside of the house, power wash everything to clean up dirt flaky paint and mould. Scrape off any loose paint and sand as necessary. Any house that was built before the mid-1970’s probably has lead -based paint.                                                                                                                 Safety is the most important thing                                                                                                                                             Please be careful when painting or any diy for that matter. Generally speaking, painting is one of the easiest diy projects. But is not without risk. When painting you may be working with toxic chemicals, old paint that may contain lead, walls or ceilings which might be asbestos,power tools and ladders-all of which increase the possibility of injury.                                     Lead based paint                                                                                                                                                                   Any house that was built before 1978 is likely to have coats of lead- based paint. Lead is toxic and especially dangerous for children and pregnant women.                                                                                                                                                         According to the EPA, ”Common renovation, repair and painting activities that disturb lead-based paint (like sanding, cuttimg, replacing windows and more) can create hazardous dust and chips which can be harmful to adults and children. home repairs that create even a small amount of lead dust are enough to put your family at risk”.                                              You can buy a lead testing kit at home improvement centers. For lead removal the EPA recomends that you contact local lead-safe certified renovation contractors. found through the EPA’s website.                                                                                Airless spray equipment                                                                                                                                                           If you ever use a airless spray equipment beware of injection of spray material. Injection can be caused by high pressure fluid passing througha small opening,such as the spray tip or hose leak. This creates a high speed stream of atomized fluid which is powerfull enough to pierce your skin and enter your body.I have spoken to someone who put the spray tip against his finger thinking it was like a air sprayer. He said the pain was incredable and that he nearly lost his finger,  so don’t try that folks. Fire or explosion can occur if the sprayer is spraying or flushing flammable liquid in an area  where circulation is poor and an open fiame or sparks are present. Always use a respirator when using a paint sprayer.                                                   Use ladders properly                                                                                                                                                               Ladders are essential tools for home projects where you need to extend your height or reach. Unfortunately, however they are also the source of many home accidents and injuries.Use the right ladder for the job normally a stepladder for inside and a extension ladder for outside. Keep your stepladder on a flat surface and don’t stand on the top two steps of the ladder, including the paint shelf. Don’t reach out to far if you can’t reach get a taller ladder.  When using an extension ladder the angle at which the ladder is placed is critical to safety. If it’sbase is too close to the wall, the ladder will be unstable and fall backward when you climb it. If it’s too far away, the ladder may bend or slide out from under you. Be sure that the ladder rests on a firm surface-never on snow mud or ice. To extend the ladder higher , pull the rope to slide the upper section to the height you want. Then gently let it slide downwards a few inches to lock the rung hooks in place on the rung. Be sure both hooks are locked. Do not lean out to either side, keep your hips between the rails, and never stand on the top two rungs. When you are finished for the day put your ladders away so children don’t climb on them.                                                   . Use protective gear                                                                                                                                                            When sanding or scraping, wear work gloves , a dust mask, and safety goggles. If you are using any solutions containing chemicals, such as strippers or cleaners, wear safety goggles, rubber gloves, and an approved respirator.                              Don’t breathe chemicals                                                                                                                                                           Some paints and painting products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and some do not. Wherever possible, opt for those that don’t because there fumes are much safer to breathe. When painting indoors, ventilate the area to be painted,opening all doors and windows. Do not let a freshly painted room be occupied , particularly by older people or children, and pets.                                                                                                                                                                           Beware of chemicals and poisons                                                                                                                                               Clean up carefully when you are done for the day. Don’t leave materials , tools, ladders, or rags in work areas that are accessible tochildren or pets.                                                                                                                                                         Avoid fire hazards                                                                                                                                                                          Do not paint or store solvent-based paint, thinners,or strippers near any heat source. Never smoke while painting.               If rags have alkyd paint or thinner on them, leave them to dry outside on a non combustible surface to avoid any chance of spontaineous combustion. Choose an areainaccessible to children and pets, a nd when they are dry,take them to a toxic-waste dump site.                                                                                                                                                                             Use tools safely                                                                                                                                                                              Preperation and painting calls for sharp tools and power tools. Be sure to follow all manufacturers recommendations-and your own common sence-when using these. Don’t put tools on top of a ladder. And keep them out of the reach of children.     Some of the above may seem pretty obvious to you,but it pays to review these points before you launch into a project. This will help ensure that you have a successful result without upsets or injuries.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Enjoy your painting                                                                                                                                                                     
 Painting your own home can be enjoyable and you can save money and end up with the finish you desire. Just take your time and do it safely and properly.