View Full Version : Adventures in Painting
Bailey Guns
06-29-2015, 11:22
In preparation for moving the wife and I are doing some home improvements to help sell the house. We asked ourselves, "Let's just paint the interior ourselves. How hard can it be?" We decided to start in the upstairs loft bedroom.
So, here's a typical process for painting a room...at least how it's worked for me.
Make the mistake of allowing wife to choose colors. Wait one week while she contemplates differences in shades I can't even see.
Colors picked. Go to home improvement store to buy paint.
Spend 2 hours at home improvement store paint section reassessing color choice. Decide against previous choice. Go home, wait for wife to contemplate new colors.
Colors picked.
Return to home improvement store to pick up paint.
Buy colors originally picked because new colors, upon reflection, just aren't right.
Buy EVERYTHING else needed for this project on this first second trip because efficiency is important and time is critical. Spend LOTS of money.
Get everything home and setup to paint room.
Cuss...lots.
Go back to hardware store to buy things that were forgotten on the second trip.
Get back home. End of Day 1
Get up early to paint bedroom.
Don't start on painting project until 2pm because of other issues that come up.
Finish taping/masking at 7pm.
End of Day 2.
Begin Day 3 fairly early. Everything looks good and taping and prep is complete.
Start painting ceiling.
Realize ceiling painting is a lot tougher than previously thought due to skylights, light fixtures, etc.
Thankful that paint is "one coat" type paint.
Finally finish first coat.
Realize "one coat" paint, isn't.
End of Day 3.
Start putting 2nd coat of "one coat" paint on ceiling.
Finish 2nd coat late afternoon. Too late to start walls. End of Day 3.
Up early on Day 4 to start on walls and trim.
Start painting walls.
Stop painting walls.
Use up remainder of day removing old wallpaper residue that previous owners painted over because it's bubbling and pealing itself from freshly painted wall.
End of Day 4.
Start Day 5 by cleaning up all the wallpaper mess made previous day.
Re-start painting walls. Much easier than ceiling.
Finish walls...two coats again. Looks great in the dim evening light. End of Day 5.
Start Day 6 by saying "WTF?" because walls don't look nearly as good in actual daylight. Lots of thin spots that need another coat get painted.
Start painting trim.
Finish painting trim.
End of Day 6.
Begin Day 7 by saying "WTF?" again as more thin spots are noticed. Spend 10 mins touching up thin spots and double triple-checking walls for thin spots. None found.
Spend 1 hour cleaning up.
Go back to admire finished room.
Scream "F**K" loud enough to hurt own ears.
Get paint and brush out and touch up thin spot.
Spend another hour cleaning up again.
End of Day 7.
Start Day 8 by looking at extremely large open-concept living area with 16' ceilings that need to be painted.
Call painter and make appointment.
Drink beer two beers while sitting on deck contemplating never painting anything ever again.
So after struggling with 2 bedrooms and the foyer/sunroom, I called a friend of a friend to paint our large living/kitchen/dining room with 16' ceilings. Guy comes over at 5pm, looks at this room and says, "How about $300?". That was THE BEST money I've ever spent. He cancelled an outdoor job due to weather the next day, showed up at 0900, prepped and painted and was done at about 1900. Everything looked fantastic.
Now I'm contemplating how stupid I am for not calling this guy before.
Painting is one of those things that is viewed as a beginner DIY thing that anyone can do, and everyone should start with. I run into the same problem every time I/we paint. It always looks like garbage when I'm done. Paint is like makeup, it can really make a room look much better, but it shouldn't be "noticed." Just like make-up, if you are noticing paint, it's usually because it doesn't look good.
beast556
06-29-2015, 12:10
Painting sucks no matter what. Being in the maintenance feild I have spent many hours behind a roller and brush. Its all about prep.
glenncal1
06-29-2015, 12:10
I had the outside of my house painted a couple summers ago. Got a good referral, same thing. Called painter, got reasonable quote to do whole job, three days later wrote check and had painted house.
Paint in hair-zero
Paint on clothes-zero
Paint on dog-zero
Curse words used-zero
Beers consumed congratulating myself for making the smart choice-several
Cigars enjoyed with beers-two
Odds of me doing the interior in preperation of home sale-zero
clodhopper
06-29-2015, 12:25
I think there is a painting gene. Actually my wife says it. She always wants to start painting projects and tears into a room, gets started and it quickly goes the way of the OP story. About 10% of the way through, with paint all over her and everything she touches, she gets pissed and tells me I need to finish that blanket-blank project cause boop-beep-beepidy-beep. That is when I give a big sigh, and knock it out in an afternoon without getting paint on anything but the walls and ceiling. Which of course makes her even more angry cause it seems so easy for me to do. I cannot tell you what I do differently, I haven't had lots of training or professional experience. My dad (also a shade tree diy-er) gave me some tips on painting when I was young, which I have tried to pass on to my wife, but it doesn't seem to get through. I have just come to the realization that this painting arrangement will continue for the rest of my days with my wife, there is no use in changing it.
One thing though, I don't mind the actual painting. It is all the prep (taping and pulling elect plates, moving furn, etc) and then putting it all back that I hate to do. And since I am a guy, the fact that the drywall actually has paint on it is plenty good, who cares about the color?
ruthabagah
06-29-2015, 13:06
Your "Day 1" activities looks exactly like mine.... Wife will get HUNDREDS of samples, ask my opinion but ignore it, and finally choose the most basic color which was her first choice anyway.
I hate painting.
I was prepared to spend 5k on interior paint. The company never gave me a quote after multiple calls we gave up. We did the yard instead, guess my job wasn't big enough for them...
I was a Commercial and Residential Painter for 8 years, yea painting blows. The only paint I could truly do one thick coat (brush and roll) was Benjamin Moore, it really is the best paint you can buy.
clodhopper
06-29-2015, 14:09
Spend your money on the best grade of paint. It really isn't that much more. Otherwise you will be paying to double coat, ie spending more than you would otherwise. Quality paint will save money and headache in the long run.
And don't try to stretch it by rolling it too far. Keep the roller loaded, roll slower, work a small area at one time, maintain your wet edge. Be nice to your wrist, buy an extra extension rod and cut it in half to roll the walls.
Grant H.
06-29-2015, 14:12
Quality paint is a must.
Proper prep is a must.
Proper gear is a must.
When we bought our house, we ripped all the floors out, spent a week taping and masking things, and then blasted through the house in 2 days with my brothers pro-grade paint sprayer. Very little needed anything after.
Then I spent an eternity laying hardwood and tile, but paid for the carpet install.
Bailey Guns
06-29-2015, 16:47
Spend your money on the best grade of paint. It really isn't that much more. Otherwise you will be paying to double coat, ie spending more than you would otherwise. Quality paint will save money and headache in the long run.
And don't try to stretch it by rolling it too far. Keep the roller loaded, roll slower, work a small area at one time, maintain your wet edge. Be nice to your wrist, buy an extra extension rod and cut it in half to roll the walls.
Yeah...that's what I thought. The $50 per gallon stuff didn't work any better than the $30 per gallon stuff. And maybe not even as good. Of course, it could've been the brand.
clodhopper
06-29-2015, 16:53
Yeah...that's what I thought. The $50 per gallon stuff didn't work any better than the $30 per gallon stuff. And maybe not even as good. Of course, it could've been the brand.
Probably had more to do with application methods. You were rolling it out too far, resulting in the thin spots described. Classic problem my wife makes, trying to stretch the paint too far thinking she will save a gallon somewhere.
You are likely making assumptions on the cheaper paint. If you had done one room in the expensive stuff and one in the cheap stuff, the story would have been different.
clodhopper
06-29-2015, 16:55
But, hey, I wasn't there. I am just interpreting your story. I have been wrong before.
And let me put a happy little tree right there.
Bailey Guns
06-29-2015, 17:00
No doubt it could've been my technique. I'm not an experienced painter. But I actually did use the expensive stuff in the foyer/sunroom and it didn't seem to work or cover any better than the other stuff. I asked the pro who painted the large room and he said it normally doesn't make much difference in coverage. Durability is what you're paying for according to this guy. He needed two coats, too, so I didn't feel too bad. He was juat a LOT faster and more proficient.
Just got done de-popcorning the ceiling in our living room (17 ft vaulted) and repainting while we had the carpet torn out waiting for the hardwood to go in. If I EVER meet the guy that decided that popcorn texture was a good idea for home interiors, I will wear out the toe of my steel toed boots kicking him repeatedly in the junk. I literally worked on that mess from 1830 until 0200 4 nights in a row, after full days at work. I feel your pain, Carl.
Repaint, and thin no more.
Tinelement
06-29-2015, 17:49
My wife loves painting. And she's good at it! I just stay out of her way. She cuts a ceiling line like no other! I personally can't stand it. She's a heavy roller. She'll blow through a gallon of paint in 1 coat in a 12'x12' room. Never any light spots, or runs.
Just got done de-popcorning the ceiling in our living room (17 ft vaulted) and repainting while we had the carpet torn out waiting for the hardwood to go in. If I EVER meet the guy that decided that popcorn texture was a good idea for home interiors, I will wear out the toe of my steel toed boots kicking him repeatedly in the junk. I literally worked on that mess from 1830 until 0200 4 nights in a row, after full days at work. I feel your pain, Carl.
I have a lot of popcorn that has to go in the next few years. How did you do it? Been researching it. Not looking like fun.
Fentonite
06-29-2015, 17:54
My wife put these color samples on the wall at least 4-5 years ago. I don't like any of them, and honestly can't tell most of them apart. I'm still waiting for her decision.
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz339/fentonite/3E587FB8-AA0F-4A96-8274-C5DEC4FEB338.jpg
Tinelement
06-29-2015, 18:03
My wife put these color samples on the wall at least 4-5 years ago. I don't like any of them, and honestly can't tell most of them apart. I'm still waiting for her decision.
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz339/fentonite/3E587FB8-AA0F-4A96-8274-C5DEC4FEB338.jpg
Not as long. But these have been here for a year and 3 months! Haha!
http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa351/tinelement/ECD4C9AE-774A-4B5D-A57C-C7B26F5725EC.jpg (http://s1193.photobucket.com/user/tinelement/media/ECD4C9AE-774A-4B5D-A57C-C7B26F5725EC.jpg.html)
Those samples are probably sun faded by now and could look different than fresh samples.
Bailey Guns
06-29-2015, 18:34
Those samples are probably sun faded by now and could look different than fresh samples.
Yeah...better send her out for more samples!
Fentonite
06-29-2015, 19:10
[Bang]
Repaint, and thin no more.
[Shock]
....I saw what you did there.
Heeheeeheeee....I love puns. That was a good one.
Wow. So I'll be painting my kitchen. Can I ask advice in this thread, or should I start a new one? (No chance of paying someone else to do it, and besides, my kitchen is small.)
I just repainted the bathroom and added a wains coating per the boss' request. Changed out the glued on mirror too. Small room but took a ton of time due to the mirror and trim.
Sime advice
Buy the good paint and make sure the Lowes monkeys don't sell you tint base for white ceiling paint.
Blue tape is your friend, as is drop cloth, and masking paper, and a cotton wipe rag. Buy a paint brush that is meant for the paint type you are using, the Purdy brushes work well and last forever . Use tray liner plastic for roller tray and get a brush cup for your brush. Vent the room you are working in, the low voc paint fumes stil causes headaches. Wear a headlamp when painting in dark rooms or at night, you will have much fewer missed spots. Paint that covers 100 square feet usually only covers 80. Get an extension stick for roller, buy the lightes one you can find.
Before you start wash the walls with some TSP, this takes time but eemoves loose dirt and geease that cause a lot of coverage isses.
Have some bear on hand, it's the only way to survive.
Screw roller trays and liners. Just drop a screen into the bucket. Much much faster.
Dont spray if you ever want to be able to touch up.
Caulking is part of prep.
Next person to suggest toothpaste as spackling gets a kick in the nuts.
Grout sponges trump rags for prep and clean up.
Cut before you roll.
The "wrapper" on a good brush is actually the case it should be stored in. That's why its built to be reusable.
Screw roller trays and liners. Just drop a screen into the bucket. Much much faster.
Dont spray if you ever want to be able to touch up.
Caulking is part of prep.
Next person to suggest toothpaste as spackling gets a kick in the nuts.
Grout sponges trump rags for prep and clean up.
Cut before you roll.
The "wrapper" on a good brush is actually the case it should be stored in. That's why its built to be reusable.
Grout sponges- got it.
What's a good brand of paint? Behr? Sherwin Williams?
Here's my winning questions of the night: My kitchen is gross. There's no backsplash, so there's grease from the previous owners as well as what I've added. TSP will remove the grease splatters? Is it safe to use in a pet environment? Do I rinse the walls after I use it? My intent is to get high-gloss paint, so it's easy to clean. Do you know if high-gloss paint requires any special preparation?
Sorry for the dumb questions! I know nothing of painting walls, and I don't mind looking ignorant around you guys because I know you'll give me good advice and set me straight.
Bailey Guns
06-30-2015, 03:02
Next person to suggest toothpaste as spackling gets a kick in the nuts.
So I bought some spackling compound for a few places around a skylight opening that needed filling where the drywall mud cracked and fell off. Also bought some wood putty to clean up a few scratches and gouges in a window sill.
"Make sure you fill in those holes in the skylight opening with spackling compound", I tell the wife. "It's the white stuff...really light container."
"I know what spackling compound is." She sounds irritated.
30 mins later I go back into the room to check progress and find wood putty ALL OVER the skylight opening and walls.
Good lord, someone save me. Wife promised my daughter "we" would paint her room last year, and we haven't yet. Now I've been told we have a room #2 that needs to be painted.
Someone please recommend me a painter in SE metro. This thread is giving me flashbacks to the last time we painted, and it wasn't pretty.
My wife put these color samples on the wall at least 4-5 years ago. I don't like any of them, and honestly can't tell most of them apart. I'm still waiting for her decision.
http://i841.photobucket.com/albums/zz339/fentonite/3E587FB8-AA0F-4A96-8274-C5DEC4FEB338.jpg
Come on, you can't lie to us. You were trying to figure out which color you'd need to paint your walls to match Magpul FDE. Don't blame it on the wife if you want your room to be tacticool... :)
I have a lot of popcorn that has to go in the next few years. How did you do it? Been researching it. Not looking like fun.
We got a special tool for it at Home Despot that is specifically designed for the job. I has a frame for attaching a trash bag to catch (some of) the debris, and can screw on to a roller extension handle, which is a huge help. There are a couple of methods you can use. My wife didn't want a smooth ceiling, so we went with the dry method. Wear a mask, put down drop cloths, close all the doors to the rest of the house, and plan on dusting and vacuuming the rest of the house anyway. This yields a "knockdown" texture that sucks up paint like a sponge, but actually looks nice when you're done. Apparently, if you wet the crap down thoroughly, you end up with essentially bare drywall, which needs to be textured to hide the seams anyway, but the removal process is much easier.
@TheGrey
TSP will have directions on the box. For most walls one wash followed by a rinse wash is usually good enough. That said the light switch location in my bathroom was extra greasy from the kids and it caused the paint to peel up right by the door jamb when I pulled the tape. So extra greasy spots, start with a kitchen cleaner until it's clean and then TSP.
The better the prep the less fuss for painting.
As far as brands of paint its the chevy ford dodge argument. Get the highest quality they sell of you want it to look good in fewer coats. Email youself a picture of the label for touch ups.
If you're going over with the same color you can get lower grades. Eg rentals that get painted repeatedly
Degrease with zep orange degreaser then hit with tsp.
No special prep for higher gloss.
If you're going to stop a color at a wall line caulk to your tape (part of prep)
Thanks for your advice, guys! This will save me a lot of grief. :)
Tinelement
06-30-2015, 13:57
We got a special tool for it at Home Despot that is specifically designed for the job. I has a frame for attaching a trash bag to catch (some of) the debris, and can screw on to a roller extension handle, which is a huge help. There are a couple of methods you can use. My wife didn't want a smooth ceiling, so we went with the dry method. Wear a mask, put down drop cloths, close all the doors to the rest of the house, and plan on dusting and vacuuming the rest of the house anyway. This yields a "knockdown" texture that sucks up paint like a sponge, but actually looks nice when you're done. Apparently, if you wet the crap down thoroughly, you end up with essentially bare drywall, which needs to be textured to hide the seams anyway, but the removal process is much easier.
Thanks. I was looking into the wet method and then having someone come in and texture. I'll look into this method.
Thanks. I was looking into the wet method and then having someone come in and texture. I'll look into this method.
FYI, trying to wet down any significant area with a spray bottle will give you carpal tunnel long before you get any real progress(my wife tried that in the hallway, for about 2 square feet). I'm guessing one of those backpack weed sprayer tanks is the right answer.
Pump sprayer. Ad an ounze of regular tide detergent per gallon to help it soak in.
Be sure your popcorn ceiling does not have asbestos! Some houses built in the 70s may still have asbestos in the texture.
Be sure your popcorn ceiling does not have asbestos! Some houses built in the 70s may still have asbestos in the texture.
Ours was built in 85, apparently asbestos free. It was also built without benefit of a tape measure, level, or straight edge.
Asbestos can be found in building materials even now in stuff like dry wall mud from China. For the most part, after the 1970's did is more likely to be asbestos free, but just because a house is much newer is no guarantee that asbestos wouldn't be found in a test. Actually, one asbestos expert that gave a presentation at our company said that if you live at the end of the street, in front of a stop sign, the dust in your house can test hot for asbestos just from brake dust.
My days of hiring painters and barbers are over, I can easily do both myself.
fossilfuel
06-30-2015, 21:15
I write the paint brand, name of the color and the number of the color on the back of the light switch of the room.
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