QwikBids Investigates
It’s time to paint the inside of the home. Rolling on new paint improves the look and value of any home dramatically. We’ll be quick to point out that preparation should include patience and careful planning, such as type of paint, color of paint, and amount of paint. We’ll move right along and start with the type of paints available, and how to choose them accordingly. QwikBids always suggests a professional, so we’ll lay out what you can expect when the painters come to ease your anxiety.
Basically, there are two types of paints. Water based (or latex) is the most widely used. It is easy to work with and cleans up simply with soap and water. It dries rather quickly (about 4-6 hours) and is somewhat cheaper. Oil based (or alkyd) is longer lasting and more durable. It takes much longer to dry but is far more resistant to traffic. The cleanup is a little more challenging; solvents or turpentine will be needed (glad you hired a painter yet?). Making a choice of these two types of paints is really quite easy. Oil based paints are generally used in the kitchen and bathroom, and water based paints are usually used in the other rooms. A good rule of thumb is that glossy paints are almost always more durable and hold up better than flat paints.
Once you and the painters have agreed on the type of paint, and you have decided on the color, the painter will figure out how much paint will be needed. One gallon of paint has coverage of about 400 square feet (with an 8 foot ceiling). So, for an 8X12 foot room (320 square feet of wall space to paint), there would be a little left over (always good to have for touch-ups later). With the proper type, color and amount of paint needed, it’s time to get rolling!
If possible, remove all furniture from the room. If you cannot, center it all in the middle of the room and cover completely with drop cloths. The floor is going to need covering with drop cloths as well, and the best are heavy enough to stay where you put them, with no slippery surface. Your painter will surely do his or her best to protect your floor and furniture. The painter will tape over (or remove completely) all fixtures, switch and outlet plates.
Whoa there, not so fast! They aren’t ready to paint just yet! Next the painters will need to look for holes or cracks that need to be filled. They’ll use a putty knife and proper drywall filler to remedy, then sand to a smooth surface. Then, they’ll use tri sodium phosphate and water (some painters have different methods or preferences) to wipe the entire wall to remove anything loose, such as dust from the freshly sanded areas that were patched. It’s finished by wiping a second time with plain water. If you are planning on painting the ceiling, it’s normally done first. The painters then move on to the darker colors of the walls.
Any good painter will leave no mess behind, and some are even willing to help put things back in order. I’ve got just the place to find such a professional without the hassle of verifying credentials or references. Simply log in to QwikBids, and we’ll do the rest!