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House Painting Tips

If you are looking for tips on choosing paint brushes, reducing drips, streaks and general painting tips, you have come to the right place. The following article will provide this information.

The average person can paint the walls and ceiling of their home. Start by choosing the proper paint brush and paint; this can save paint from dripping off the brush and running down the wall. Load the brush properly to make the paint flow and spread evenly. The following painting tips will assist in your painting project.

Choosing a Paint Brush
Don't buy a cheap brush; they shed bristles and are hard to control
when trying to cut a clean line. They won't hold the paint as well and
have a tendency to drip paint between the paint can and the work area.

Stroke the brush against the back of your hand, and feel
for a softness which will indicate a supple, extensively
flagged tips (split ends) which help smooth brush marks.
and hold the paint better.

Check that the hair or filament are packed solid so they will hold the
paint and dispense the paint to the flagged tips as you paint.

The more paint the brush can safely hold, will mean less trips to the paint can.

Some better brushes have care instructions on the back of the brush.

Before using a new paint brush, wash it in water as this
will remove any loose bristles.

Once a brush falters, keep it for using as a duster

After painting a room and before replacing light receptacle plates, mark on the back,
of the plates, the date, paint color and brand of paint. This will be handy information
when buying paint at a later date, to repaint the room.

Loading A Brush
Dip the paint brush to 1/3 of the bristle length for water based paint and 1/4 bristle length for solvent based paint. Lightly scrape off all sides onto the rim of the paint can. Having the correct amount of paint on the brush helps prevent drips and runs.

Preventing Roller And Brush Marks
To prevent roller and brush marks, finish off with the unloaded paint brush or roller. Finish up using very light pressure stokes with the paint roller and use only the tip of the brush.

Painting In Sunlight
When painting in sunlight don't use ordinary masking tape. Use special masking tape used to paint cars; it will stand up better and be easier to remove.

PaintViscosity
To check paint viscosity, dip a mixing stick into the paint, lift it out, and let most of the paint run off. The remaining paint should drip off at 1 drip per second. This is the right viscosity for best handling.

Paint Can Tips
Before storing partly used paint, mark the level of the paint on the outside of the can with a felt marker pen so you will know for next time, how much paint you have.
When you remove the lid from a metal paint can, take a screw driver and hammer and make three or four holes in the rim of the paint can, lid-groove. Now any paint gathering on the rim of the can will drain back into the paint can. These holes will be sealed when you apply the lid.
Before hammering down the lid on the paint can, place the lid in place, cover with a rag and tap the lid into place. This will prevent spatters.

Hair, Nylon and Polyester
Animal-hair brushes is used for oil-based paints
Nylon and polyester brushes are used for either oil based or water based bases.
Do not use the same brush for both oil and water based paints. The remnant solvents
left in the brush from the latex paint will react with the oil based paint leaving a
gummy mess.
Mark the handles to distinguish them; paint the handles red for oil and blue for latex.

How To Revive a Hardened Paint Brush
To revive a paint brush with dried oil base paint, place it in a pot of white vinegar and simmer for ten to fifteen minutes. Rinse the bristles in water and hang to dry.

How To Unstiff a Paint Brush
To unstiffen paint brushes, place in a solution of one pint of water to one tablespoon of hair conditioner and soak for a few minutes and work it in, then rinse in clean water and hang to dry.
TSP all purpose heavy duty cleaner mixed in warm water will give good results. Leave the brushes to soak and check from time to time.

Save On Clean-Up
To save on the cleanup, turn a plastic bag inside out and place over paint trays; simply discard plastic bag when you are finished rolling.
Wrap paint brushes in a plastic bag and place in a freezer, simply remove the next day and continue painting.
If you are distracted in the middle of a paint project, wrap your paint brush in a damp rag, this will keep the paint from hardening.

How To Position a Ladder
To place a ladder at the correct angle, stand with your toes touching the base of the ladder. While standing straight, you should be able to grasp a ladder rung at shoulder height.
You can also use the formula, one quarter the height of the ladder will be the distance from the wall to the base of the ladder.
Never stand a ladder on a drop cloth as it could slide out from under you while you are standing on it.
If you are working outside, drive in stacks at the base of the latter or tie off the lower ladder rungs to something solid.
When working on a ladder use your arms to reach, not your body.
Always collapse an extension ladder before moving it.
Never climb a closed stepladder.
Never climb higher than two feet from the top of a stepladder.
Never Sit on top of a stepladder no matter how appealing it may seem.
When doing a lot of ladder work use square heeled shoes with a durable
synthetic rubber soles.

Hanging A paint Can On A Ladder
To hang a paint can on a ladder rung, make a S shaped hook from some very stiff wire, such as heavy duty clothes hanger wire.

How To Use a Paint Brush
Dip the brush into the paint to one-third the length of the bristles. Scrap both sides of the brush against the paint can before removing. By applying this practice you can prevent paint mess and wastage.
There are two types of brushes, natural-bristle and synthetic. Use the natural bristle brush for any oil based paint and the synthetic brush for any Water-thinned paint. If you use the natural bristle brush with water thinned paint, the bristles will blob together like a mop and result in a streaked finish.

Estimating Paint Quantity
Multiply the length of each wall by the height of the wall. Ignore doors and windows measurements. Then add ten percent to the figure. You will have the needed information for the paint people. They will tell you how much paint you will need.

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House painting tips and paint brush buying and using information.