Can anyone guide me through painting a room?

Question

What do I do for preperation?
Do I do the edges first or the wall then the edges?
How do I not get paint all over the ceiling and skirting boards?
Can I get away with one coat?
Roller v paintbrush, which is better?

Answer 1

Gather everything you need, plus contingency materials (clean rags, paint solvent). Put newspaper over the floor by the walls to catch paint drips. Tape a strip of duct tape on the ceiling alongside the wall. You should use two coats, with a drying period for the first coat in between. I use a roller usually. A brush would take forever. I don't think it matters which you get done first, but you need to be extra careful at the edges, so do them when you are not tired.

Answer 2

First, clear as much furniture as possible out of the room. Then take everything off the walls. Remove all the nails and whatever was hanging decorations etc. If you are going to put things back in the same place, leave the holes and any wall anchors in place.
If you are changing what was on the walls you will want to patch the holes. Get a quick setting wall patching compound and a putty knife. Use the knife to apply the patch over the holes and spread it smooth. The package directions will tell you how long to wait before sanding or painting. If the walls have any cracks, take a utility knife and widen the crack, then fill with the wall patch. After the patches are dry, sand them smooth. You may have to do a second coat on larger holes.
I use 3M painters tape. It is blue. I prefer 2 inch wide tape. Tape off any trim boards etc. Remove all the light switch and outlet covers. If this is your first paint job, carefully put a strip of tape over the outlets and switches. If you aren't going to paint the ceiling, tape along the edges, on the ceiling.
I use a 2 inch angled brush first, to paint all the corners, edges, around the trim, outlets and switches. Paint the full width of the brush.
Then switch to a roller to paint the walls. I start in near a corner about halfway up the wall. Start spreading the paint working into the corner where you already brushed. You'll get the best results if you work from ceiling to floor in one section before you move on. Watch for any drips or excess paint. Continue on until the whole room is done.
A roller is the easiest way to get a good finish on a large area, like a wall. But they don't get into corners. For smooth walls I use a 3/8 inch nap roller.
The only time I recommend one coat of paint is if you are repainting in the same color, on walls that are in good condition. I almost always use 2 coats.
Home Depot has an excellent paint department and very good paint. It is easy to work with, and doesn't spatter all over the place when you roll it on the walls and ceilings like some paints do. They also offer free painting classes.
Good Luck

Answer 3

Clear all debris from walls, loose paper etc. Line walls where the surface is too uneven.

Thoroughly clean the ceiling and walls, using sugar soap. Rinse and allow to dry. I always lightly sand my walls, before painting.

Paint the ceiling first, ensuring all lower areas are covered and protected. You can do the edges and corners with a small paintbrush, such as purchased at Wilkinsons for £1.25. Fill in the remaining space by painting with a roller, or rollerbrush. I prefer the rollers due to simplicity of roll and then paint action, no complications.

For the walls, a similar start with the edges and then infilling with a brush, done 1 wall at a time.

Finish by painting your formerly sanded down woodwork, with 2 coats. You would normally expect to do 2 coats on the walls and ceiling too.

Ensure ventilation at all times for the room, as you could be adversely affected by paint fumes.

Good luck! Rob

Answer 4

Sand down the walls, fill in holes, sand down the filled in holes, then go over them again with smooth sandpaper. Brushes for the edges, rollers for the walls. Use masking tape to stop painting the skirting boards and ceiling or get one of those new paintrollers with a guard on it to do the edges. One top coat is unusual unless you have undercoated the whole room with white to block out any other colours already on the walls. You could use a lining paper if the walls are in bad shape but will probably still need 2 coats to get a good finish. If you have to strip of wallpaper before painting this could be a long job. Good luck

Answer 5

The answer is a big fat It Depends.

First, make sure the walls are clean. Wipe them down with a slightly damp cloth to remove all dust. Then tape off everything you don't want painted - window trim, etc. You can purchase painting tape at any hardware store. It looks like colored masking tape and is designed specifically for painting. You should also put down a dropcloth, because it's very hard not to spill.

As far as one coat or two, that will depend on the paint you are using. Be sure to check if the color you choose will need a primer as well. I've had to go as much as 3 coats before.

Paintbrushes are good for working around ceilings and floorboards, but I prefer a roller for the rest of the wall, as it goes on much more quickly.

Answer 6

Preparation...
Wash walls and paintwork with Sugar Soap
Fill in any cracks and holes with polyfilla, sand off to smooth
Sand with fine paper...woodwork, then use wire wool to sand mouldings
Paint the Ceiling first, i always use 3 coats, use a roller for the bulk, do the edges and round the ceiling rose first with a 3 inch brush.At this time, do not worry about the walls.
Then, 2 undercoats, 2 topcoats with a light rub between coats on all your woodwork... use a normal paintbrush, dont worry about paint on the walls.
Next, the walls,Again, 3 coats, roller for the bulk, brush for the edges. gently, cut the walls to the ceiling with a brush. try this exercise..... paint on brush, imaginary line on wall, gently press the brush to make the brisles spread, move brush across wall, you find that by pressing the brush closer, the brisles spread more...you can control. As to the wall paint -skirting etc, you can even wipe with a wet cloth....

When you are using emulsion, and you are going to leave to let dry, cover your roller tray/brush with a wet cloth. For cleaning brushes, I always use Paint Brush Restorer... breaks the paint to soap & water washable great to get a clean dry brush for the next coat....

Answer 7

make sure walls are smooth ie no nails that don't need to be there brush walls to get rid of dust same for ceiling paint ceiling first then the walls leave 2 to3 inch gap along skirting's door frames ceiling then fill in with brush then gloss door frames skirting's job done 2 coats for better finish roller and brush needed

Answer 8

Firstly, move all your furniture away from the walls to the center of the room and cover with plastic drop cloths.
Next, put drop cloths on the floor area to be painted (peferably a canvas one)
all these are available at your local hardware store. ie.. Home Depot, Ace hardware,Lowes etc.
Now that you are ready to paint, open your paint and put one fourth of it into an empty paint can.
As you start to paint along the ceiling, carefully follow a straight line across the line of your ceiling. After you have completely outlined your room, you can start to roll out your walls.
any more info can be easily obtained at the paint counter. Painting is not rocket science!
* the home depot also offers free classes on anything from painting to hot water heater repair.(check your local store for class availability and schedules)
Have fun and remember most paints are water based, and clean up with soapy water.