On the Surface - Painting and Staining


INTERIOR
When trying to choose what wall or ceiling colors will work best for you and give you the feel you want, it is well to recall some basic rules of thumb about color.

Light colored ceilings give an impression of height while darker ceilings have the effect of bringing it closer to you. The tones like tan, red, yellow, etc. are considered warm or “advancing” colors. Those surfaces will add warmth to the atmosphere and will actually appear closer to you. The blues, greens, etc., are considered cool colors and add an air of serenity and peace while they are also considered “retreating” colors which make surfaces appear farther away.

People who take color coordination seriously study the “color wheel” which is a systematic method of choosing colors that go with each other. Most quality decorating manuals will introduce you to the fundamentals of the color wheel. Make sure you clearly specify colors to contractors and choose the sheen as well. Generally speaking flat paints provide a soft atmosphere and are used for most wall and ceiling surfaces. Bathrooms and kitchens often benefit from satin or semi gloss finish to facilitate cleaning. Trim will often be painted with semi gloss or gloss finishes.

HERE ARE A FEW TECHNIQUES, WHICH SHOULD HELP MAKE ANY PAINTING JOB GO EASIER AND FINISH BETTER:
  • Paint one room at a time. Start by gathering furnishings in the center and covering everything with a drop cloth.
  • Use the correct tools to work efficiently. Use drop cloths, the correct roller sleeve nap, and a quality paint.
  • Be logical. Do ceilings first, walls second, and trim and millwork last.
  • Start by “cutting in” those areas which won’t be accessible to coverage by the rollersleeve. Take a wall or ceiling at a time and prepare about 100 square feet of surface at a time. Use the angled sash tool and wet the edges of the surface so that you can roll the paint into the brushed area. If you are coloring the ceiling a different color from the walls, run your brush along the ceiling and avoid getting any paint on the walls. If the walls and ceiling will be the same color, you don’t have to worry about getting any overlapping paint onto the walls.
  • Cut in one side wall and 6 or 8 feet along the perpendicular wall joints and then start with the roller to apply paint in smooth even sections to paint a complete swatch from one wall to the other. Allow the paint on the roller to spread evenly and then as a final measure with each swatch roll the dry roller sleeve over the edge of the swatch to smooth the bead of paint that has built up there. Repeat the process until you cover the area you have cut in. Cut in some more and proceed along.
  • Cut in walls by cutting in the ceiling first and then side walls and then around windows, doors, switches and outlets, and the baseboard. Run the flat wall paint right up onto the side of the trim for windows and doors and over the sides completely.
  • Roll the walls up and down and feather the edge of each rolled swatch.
  • Brush out the trim from the top down, starting with the crown molding if there is some. Brush out windows and doors from the inside out. Start painting windows by applying paint next to the glass from the top on down. Do the same for doors. End up by “facing” the edge trim such that the trim parallel to the wall is enameled while that perpendicular to the wall is flat.
Staining of wood is really the practice of soaking colors into the wood. Warm stain will penetrate better and the more stain that is rubbed onto wood the darker it will get. If you wish to touch up stained wood in your new home, remove any wax or clear coating with varsol or sanding and lightly apply stain with a soft cloth. Feather the stain at the edges by lifting the cloth and applying as little stain there as possible. It takes just a little practice to become proficient. Staining can sometimes raise the grain of wood, in which case a light sanding will cut it down. The light sanding is followed by touch up staining, and once that
dries thoroughly, sealing with wax or clear coats can follow.

EXTERIOR
You may choose to paint your new home something other than its original colors. Please check with any existing architectural review committees prior to selecting new colors for the exterior. You will want to choose carefully so that you both beautify and protect your home. Painting or staining the outside of your home is a major undertaking and the information here may be most useful to make you a more informed shopper and consumer as you choose a painting contractor. However, in between major professional paint jobs you may wish to freshen your home’s appearance or achieve a “new look” by painting the trim. Simply review the tips in the preceding section. Follow directions on the paint products that you use and have fun while sprucing up your home. The very same tips that saved your surfaces will help you achieve a professional looking job on the outside of your home, too.

The prime difference between stains and paints is that stains tend to penetrate into thematerials they are applied to, while paints form a film over the surfaces. Latex paints are water based and are more permeable to moisture movement through them, while oil paints take longer to dry and are much less forgiving should there be a moisture migration problem.

Expect to caulk and paint the horizontal wood pieces of houses well on exterior more frequently than other areas. The weather has its way there because this is the outside of your home where rain can collect.

The secret to keeping the exterior of a house well preserved is to keep the various joints water tight. Home-owners should choose caulking wisely, apply it well, and paint over it where appropriate. The most common places where this is needed are window sills, the bases of door trim, under thresholds, and around corner boards.

HERE IS A BASIC LIST OF DO’S AND DON’TS WITH REGARD TO PAINTING:
  1. Do correct any problems prior to painting.
  2. Do choose and use quality materials.
  3. Follow the sun when painting. Allow it to dry and warm the surface and then paint in the shade.
  4. Never use old or previously frozen paint materials.
  5. Never paint when the temperature dips below 40° Fahrenheit.
  6. Never paint or stain over damp or dirty surfaces.
Stains and paints fade in the sun. When you touch up an area, expect to paint or stain all the way to an edge if you don’t want the fresh work to stand out. Get professional advice before you choose to paint over anything that has already been stained. Rough surfaces tend to do better with stains than paints.