3 Essential Tips for First Time DIY Painters

Painting is one of the first DIY projects people undertake. While it may sound easy at first glance, painting your own house can end up getting tricky and you might not get the result you intended. However, if you’re thoroughly prepared, you can get great results and save a few bucks in the process. Here are three essential tips every DIY painter should follow.

Use Sanding Paper to Erase Flaws

If you want to have a good end result, you have to learn how to use sandpaper. To get the best results, you need a perfectly leveled and smooth surface. Sandpaper removes excess plasters, smooths the surface perfectly and is perfect for leveling out a joint-compound patch or spackle. It also takes care of imperfections in your trim and burrs.

The best method is to sand baseboard to ceiling delicately using a sanding pole and fine grit paper. It’s very important to apply minimal pressure when doing so if you don’t want to prevent the head from flipping over. Start sanding vertically, then switch to horizontal.

Make Sure the Primer You’re Using is Tinted

Pro painters will usually use compound to seal imperfections. But the issue with primer is that it has a tendency of ripping the paint out of its moisture, resulting in a dull finish. Spots that have been treated with compound will usually have a very different look than other spots.

This is where the use of primer comes in. Primer is used to mask the previous coat and enhance the finish. However, using plain primer is not the best choice. It’s always better to use tinted primer that complements the color you're going to be using. Tinted primer masks the original color of the wall more efficiently, which will result in a more vibrant finish.

Use Your Putty Knife to Press Tape

By now, you’ve probably invested in heavy duty surface protection and tape. But the best tape won’t do if it is not pressed perfectly. Nothing is more frustrating than finding out that paint has made its way through the tape and onto the woodwork after you take the tape off. This is where your putty knife will come in handy. All you have to do is apply the tape on the wood, then press firmly using your putty knife. This will prevent any paint from bleeding and will leave a perfect finish.

And speaking of tape, you should refrain from using regular masking tape and go for real painter’s tape instead. One, masking tape has a tendency of leaving sticky and hard to remove residue when you try to take it off. It can also bubble up because of the paint which will allow paint to get under. Invest in top quality materials if you want the best end result.

As you can see, it is perfectly possible to get a nice job done on your own as long as you know how to go about it. Just remember the tips outlined in this article and you will be able to get a pro level result.