The right tools are very important when painting. Many people underestimate the effectiveness of a good paintbrush, and many people find it annoying if not ridiculous to paint with a brush. The problem most commonly found with paintbrushes is they are cheap. Although you may only be painting one room it is still a much smaller hassle is you have a good strong brush. A 2 ½" to 3" slant brush is very efficient because it can be used to paint trim, corners, and smaller sections while still holding a decent amount of paint. Rollers are another important tool when painting; they cover large areas very quickly. Many people find a common problem when using brushes and rollers. If you have to push very hard to apply the paint there is not enough paint on your applicator. Make sure to load up your applicator so that the paint flows easily and consistently onto the object being painted. Your applicator should have a lot of paint, but it should not drip. There are other nontraditional tools that can be used when painting, but rollers and paintbrushes are the most common and effective tools when painting.
Preparation will not only make your painting job quicker and your clean up easier, but it will make the finish product much more beautiful and professional looking. First remove all furniture and hardware that is in the area to be painted. Anything that can not be removed must be covered and taped. Plastic shopping bags are very useful when moving lights and similar electrical appliances. Masking tape works well for taping off edges, and tape specifically made for paint can be purchased. Drop cloths are important when painting. A few drops of paint can ruin an entire floor. Canvas drop-cloths are nice because they absorb paint; plastic drop-cloths are also usable, but they are slightly messy because they do not absorb drips. It is also valuable to keep a sponge on hand to clean up accidental drips and slips. Preparation is an important part of painting that should not be overlooked, but it can make the rest of the job so much easier.
Cleanup may seem like the most troublesome aspect of painting, but it does not have to be. When cleaning up always fold drop-cloths in on themselves in order to keep paint from getting on anything else. When removing tape make sure the paint is completely dry before removal. Pull the tape very slowly and gently. If the tape is ripped off too fast it may rip off the paint underneath it or leave an undesired edge. Cleaning your brushes and rollers is extremely important when painting. If you are using water based paint brushes and rollers can be cleaned easily under a running facet of warm water and dish detergent. When painting with latex paint clean brushes and rollers with white spirit or mineral spirits first. This can be done by swishing a dirty paint brush in a cup of spirit, or rolling a dirty roller in a paint tray filled with some spirit. After the applicators are cleaned with spirits they should be washed under a faucet and with soap. When brushes are cleaned and excess water is dry they would be wrapped in wax paper and a rubber band; this procedure will help the brushes maintain their shape and strength. Clean up is important to protect your surroundings from unwanted paint, and to guarantee the quality of your work.
Painting can seem like a menacing task to many people, but it does not need to. Painting any project, big or small, can be fun, exciting, and uplifting. If you have the right tools and procedures you can feel free to enjoy your next painting job and express your creative side!
