Painting projects can be time consuming – especially if you encounter some problems along the way. By putting in some convenient tips and tricks, you can help mitigate some of those issues and create a smooth transition throughout all of the steps of your project. There are ways to implement efficiency in pretty much every stage of your painting project. Even the most trusted Denver painting company uses their experience to their advantage, adding best practices to ensure efficiency while completing the project professionally.
From preparation to cleanup, it’s important to understand the scope and timetable for your project. By getting a jump on some of these processes, your project can go smoothly, efficiently, and wrap up in a timely manner. These will also make the overall process easier, taking out some of the worry and stress along the way. An efficient project is a happy project, and reducing the overall stress will make things much easier.
Be Prepared with Proper Supplies
Getting off to the right start is imperative to keeping the whole project efficient. This starts with getting the proper supplies for your particular project. That includes everything from paint, brushes, and rollers, to other items that can really help streamline the process. Getting the proper brushes and rollers will depend on the size and scope of the project, so make sure you have all of the proper sizes. Getting the right paint is also important. Make sure to get a high enough quality paint so you’re not wasting money buying excess paint because you need more layers than you bargained for.
Painter’s tape and drop cloths can also help set your project up for success. Applying painter’s tape along the edges and trim will promote clean, straight lines throughout the area. Proper application is crucial, so make sure you press the tape down firmly to prevent paint from seeping underneath. Drop cloths or items like plastic sheeting should be used to cover floors and any furniture or other items that can’t be moved from the room that is to be painted. This easy step will help tremendously with clean up once the project is finished, and will protect your important items in the room.
Get the Area Ready for Work
Along with protecting the area with painter’s tape and protective drop cloths, it’s important to make sure the area is ready for the work that’s about to be done there. If possible, move some of the furniture out of the room – or at least away from the area that is going to be worked on. Clean the walls and surfaces that are going to be painted. This will remove dust and dirt that may have built up, and will create a more consistent surface for the paint. A clean surface also allows the paint to adhere better, allowing each coat to dry more smoothly.
Don’t forget about the other things on those walls. Remove things like outlet covers, light switch plates, and any other hardware that might get in the way. We’ve all seen painted over outlets in apartments or older homes, so don’t neglect those items. If they can’t be removed, be sure to use painter’s tape to project them. The tape will also help make sure the lines around these areas will be straight and professional. Make sure the walkways or places where ladders may be placed are free of debris and have open traffic lanes so that those doing the painting won’t be encumbered and can apply the paint properly.
Section Your Work
Don’t try to tackle an entire wall at once. Working on small sections at a time can help break down the area and allow you to control the consistency of the paint application. By focusing on smaller sections, this will ensure that the paint blends well and dries evenly. It also allows for better attention to detail, leading to a higher-quality finish. Breaking it up into sections will also give you improved control over your painting technique. If all the sections are roughly the same size, the consistency in application will come because each section will be painted with the same method and pressure.
Paint trays are a great help for getting paint the right areas, and allowing you to get the right amount of paint on your brush or roller. However, you can also use paint grid. This is a tool that is typically placed in a paint bucket that allows you to evenly load a paint roller by rolling it against the grid. This removes excess paint and allows for even coating on the roller. This can save you time, effort, and paint – and typically helps reduces spills. That means faster, more even application, and less time worrying about annoying messes to clean up later.
Use Proper Rolling Techniques
Using a roller can greatly help the time and efficiency of any paint project. However, because of the size and width of most standard rollers, they can get a little clunky to work with sometimes – and that can lead to some inconsistent looking results. By incorporating brushes with your roller work, you can create that consistent spread of paint you’re looking for. You can “cut in” some areas with a brush to make the process easier. This means using a brush on the edges of the walls and ceiling, which helps blend into the rolled sections.
When using a roller, it’s also much more convenient and simpler to work in a ‘W’ or ‘M’ pattern. Applying the paint through this technique has a number of benefits. It will ensure that the paint gets distributed evenly, and the coats will have the same consistency. This will also help reduce or eliminate gaps in the coverage, but any gaps should be able to be filled with subsequent horizontal strokes. Along with giving you great coverage of the area, this method will also help you cover more area in less time than just simply sweeping vertically or horizontally with the roller.
Make Your Tools More Efficient
Your painting tools are there to help, but there are a few hacks that can make them work even harder for you. For large areas or surfaces that contain a lot of texture, consider using a paint sprayer. When properly used, this tool can save time, apply a smooth finish, and keep you from applying excess paint to certain areas. It’s not for every room, but a paint spray can really cut down the time of application if utilized properly. There are different types of paint sprayers, so be sure to use one that is appropriate for your space.
For rooms with high areas, don’t get a taller ladder. Instead, use an extension pole with your roller to allow you to get to those hard-to-reach areas. This can increase the safety of the project, as it can reduce falls or slips from ladders – or take the ladder completely out of the equation. These extensions may even allow you to reach those high areas from standing on the ground position, which is generally more comfortable – and safer – than balancing on a ladder. When you need to take a break, make sure to wrap your brushes and rollers in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This will keep them from drying out, maintaining the consistency of the paint when you return to the project.
Finishing Touches
Once you have the room painted, there are a few quick things you can do to wrap up the project more quickly – and with fewer headaches. Remove the painter’s tape before the paint dries. This will help you avoid peeling off some paint when the tape is removed. If you notice any drips or runs on the surface, smooth them out with a brush or roller before they dry. It’s important inspect the surface while the paint is still wet to take care minor issues, because they can turn into unsightly distractions when dry.
Make sure to keep your leftover paint for any touchups in the future. Be sure to seal it tightly, and if you store it upside down it can prevent the paint from drying out. You can also place plastic wrap over the opening of the paint can to ensure the seal is air tight. Once finished, be sure to thoroughly clean your brushes and rollers so they’re ready for the next project. You can remove paint from brushes more effectively by cleaning them with a solution of vinegar and water. For dried paint on windows or glass, you can scrape it off with a razor blade.
There are a number of different ways to make your painting project move along smoother and faster. An efficient project is always more enjoyable, and there are different things that can be appropriate for separate projects. For more information on how to make a more efficient painting project, reach out to the experts at Colorado Painting today.
The post Painting Hacks: Tricks to Make Your Project Easier & Faster appeared first on Colorado Commercial & Residential Painting.