Preparation work cuts painting time

Do-it-yourself painting isn’t as simple as it may seem. You must know what to tape, what to cover, which brushes to choose and how to apply the paint. Here are some tips that will help save time and energy when painting an interior room.

Prepare the space. The first step is to move objects that won’t be painted, says Aimee Desrosiers, director of marketing for Behr. These may include furniture, photos and artwork. Certainly anything attached to the walls should be removed if possible. In addition, painters will want to remove lighting fixtures (if possible), switch plates and outlet covers so that they don’t get painted accidentally.

Use drop cloths or plastic to cover the floors. “Newspapers and sheets aren’t recommended since they allow paint to soak through,” Desrosiers says. You can also use plastic sheeting or masking paper to cover window valances, ceiling fans and other items that cannot be removed but shouldn’t be painted.

Apply painters tape to items that cannot be removed. Any remaining door knobs, light switches, electrical plugs and hinges should be protected with painters tape before painting. The surest way to a sloppy paint job is to paint over these items. “To create a snug fit, use a putty knife to press the edge of the tape firmly against the surface,” Desrosiers says. Sean Morris with Valspar also recommends using tape when painting around baseboards and other trim as the tape will help eliminate paint spatter.

Helpful hint: When removing painters tape, be sure the tape isn’t lifting new paint from the wall. If it is, Desrosiers suggests scoring the edge with a utility knife and then trying again to remove the tape.

Choose the right instruments. Oil-based paints require natural bristle brushes, while acrylic and water-based paints need synthetic polyester or nylon brushes, Morris says. Desrosiers recommends using high-quality brushes over their less expensive counterparts.

“High-quality brushes do not shed bristles like their low-quality counterparts,” Desrosiers says. “They hold more paint and result in a smoother, brushmark free finish.” For larger rooms or surfaces, use high-end rollers since less expensive rollers can shed small fibers into a paint finish, she says.

Keep the brush or roller loaded. “The best tip for painting a whole room evenly is to keep the roller or brush generously saturated with paint at all times and to follow the recommended spread and coverage rate specified on the paint can label,” Morris says. Desrosiers recommends saturating the paint roller and then rolling it over the ridged slope of the paint tray several times to be sure it’s evenly coated, repeating three or four times until the roller is fully covered. “You should have a fully saturated roller,” she says.

“But it should not drip.”