Interior Painting Tips

1.  Surface Preparation

• Fill holes with joint compound.  Use Fiber mesh tape and then joint compound over cracks.
• Sand excess joint compound or rough areas.  Dust off surfaces and remove dust and dirt to keep it out of fresh paint.
• Cover all surfaces not to be painted with tape, paper, plastic or drop cloths.

2.  Application of Paint

• Trim - Should be painted first normally with a semi-gloss enamel (latex or oil).  If painting over stained/varnished trip, first apply an oil-based stain-killing primer to insure adhesion.  Apply tape & paper over finished trim and then caulk gaps between trim and wall.
  - Apply a tiny bead of paintable siliconized acrylic latex caulking to the edge of the tape and drag off any excess with your finger pushing hard.  this will stop any paint seepage and leave a clean straight edge when the tape is pulled at the job's end.
• Ceilings & Walls - Both may be painted using brush, roller, or sprayer.  Rolling lightly with a 3/4" roller cover immediately after spraying will distribute paint evenly, cover better, and leave a slight stipple on the surface which will hide imperfections. Acoustic or popcorn textured ceilings should only be sprayed.  First, spray one direction and after the 1st light coat dries, then a second heavier overlapping coat is applied in the opposite direction.   Aim the gun perpendicular to the surface and very little over spray will occur.*

* Using a higher quality paint results in better coverage, less over spray or fogging and less paint dust.

Recommended Paints

• Ceilings - Flat Latex
• Walls - Eggshell sheen latex to prevent scuffing and make touchup possible.
  - Kitchens & Baths may use Semi-gloss latex if more sheen is desired.
• Smoking, food stains, crayon marks, etc. - Oil based stain Killing primer like Kilz or Coverstain .

Note: Recommended spray tips sizes are:

• Trim - Baseboards & door jambs - 211, Cabinets - 311
• Walls - 413, 515

Note: We don't generally recommend oil-based paints as finishes because of long dry time, solvent smell and a yellowing in color with time.  Oil is a hard finish, but it still chips if hit.

Please Contact Us With Any Other Interior Painting Related Questions at 1-918-258-1717.

Exterior Painting Tips

1.  Surface Preparation

• Pressure Wash to remove dirt, chalky paint residue, loose or peeling paint.
• Scrape any remaining loose paint and smooth or feather the edges for a smoother finish.
• Prime all bare wood or metal by brush, roller or airless paint sprayer.
  - Oil based primer is used on on cedar or redwood to seal in tannic acid stains and on metals to prevent rust.
  - Water based primer or PeelStop primer is used on most other unpainted surfaces.
• Re-glaze all old windows as necessary with DAP 33 Glazing compound - Hairline cracks may be caulked.
• Protection of surfaces not to be painted.
  - Using a hand masker, tape and paper off any light fixtures, factory finished storm doors, door fixtures, doorbells, storm windows, newer gutters and down spouts, concrete edges around and below garage doors or where they touch painted areas.  Duct tape adheres the best when taping directly to concrete, brick or stone.
  - Use Drop Cloths or light weight plastic to cover larger areas or plants.
  - Wood Frame window edges should be cleaned up with fresh razor blades. 3M Spray Mask window protector/wood primer may be applied if fast and clean window clean-up at the job's end is desired.  Cut the edges with an extendable razor knife and peel off the film in one sheet removing all over spray and leaving windows clean.

2.  Application of Finish

• Airless paint sprayers using various tip sizes ranging from a 4" spray pattern to 10" are the quickest tools to apply a smooth even finish to most surfaces.  Use even overlapping patterns for the best results.
  
  Tip size recommendations:
  Trim - 211, 311 or 313
  Walls - 413, 415 or 515
  
  Us top-grade acrylic latex with at least a satin sheen for larger coating lifespan.  Oil-based exterior finishes should generally be avoided because oil tends to oxidize or chalk much more quickly than latex.
• Brushing using natural boar bristle with oils or a nylon/polyester blend for water-based paints works well on areas to small to spray.  Rougher surfaces such as rough sawn Cedar may be sprayed and then back brushed to work the paint into he rougher grain for full protection.
• Rolling surfaces using the appropriate size & thickness of non-shedding roller cover is also an option.  Normally covers come in 3", 4" and 9" widths to match up to different surfaces.  Desired surface texture or penetration is achieved using nap thickness as follows:  
  
  3/8" - Very Smooth
  1/2" - Semi Smooth
  3/4" - Semi Rough to Rough
  1" to 1 1/2" - for very deep or rough surfaces.
  
  

Please Contact Us With Any Other Exterior Painting Related Questions at 1-918-258-1717.