The ideal interior painting season for O’Fallon, Shiloh, Edwardsville and surrounding areas is wintertime. Do you know why? The dry air helps paint dry faster and more evenly.
The way interior paint dries is actually one of several reasons why painting in the winter gets homeowners better results. But hey, maybe you already knew that. Maybe you’ve even tried your hand at painting a few rooms in your own house.
Best pro painting tips
I saw an article the other day about “painting secrets the pros won’t tell you.” I found the idea alone pretty interesting. Yes, my team and I can apply a coat of paint and use techniques you haven’t even heard of. We can take the weight off your shoulders. You can simply KNOW it’s going to be done perfectly.
But, at the same time, I’m all about communication and education for our neighbors around Belleville and nearby. So, this week, I’m going to share three of my favorite painting tips that THIS pro will gladly tell you.
1. Cheap brushes or paint will ruin your project
Cheap brushes are a fake economy if I’ve ever seen one. If you buy one, it will trap you with tougher application and a frustrating lack of consistency as paint goes up. Buy yourself something better than the $3 plastic brush on the bottom of the shelf.
Pro tip: We like 2 1/2 –inch angled brushes. They’re more versatile and the bristles last longer.
2. Covering furniture vs. moving it
Generally, it’s best to move furniture out of the room before painting. But some of those bigger pieces aren’t going anywhere, there’s just no way without breaking them down.
It’s OK if you have to leave some furniture in the room. Just be sure to cover it and wrap it in plastic sheets that are taped securely at the bottom.
3. Apply painter’s tape right
There’s nothing more frustrating than when you finally finish painting, then peel the tape off the edges of the trim and find that your woodwork has a bunch of paint that bled through.
The good news is that you can avoid this pain-in-the-neck experience (and obligation to scrape the excess away later) by adhering painter’s tape like a pro. Here’s how it’s done:
- Apply tape over the wood of the trim you’re protecting
- Run a putty knife over the top to press the tape perfectly flat
- Run your finger over it to check it has a good seal
Then you can say, “take that, paint bleeds!”
Pro tip: Remember, don’t use masking tape as a substitute for painter’s tape. It will leave behind a nasty reside and can get especially wavy when applied (letting paint in underneath it).
Is painting a room starting to look like more work than you bargained for? Don’t worry, you can schedule a job with us right here on the website. It’s OK, it’s what we’re here for. Take that paint project, hand it off to us, and consider it perfectly and professionally “done.”
