CONSULTING

Most of us can do an okay job of painting a room. But a seasoned professional does a great job. Obviously, pros have more experience than the average homeowner, but they also know techniques and tricks that make them better painters. We asked six pro painters to share those secrets. They probably kept a few tips to themselves, but they provided us with more than enough to help you work more efficiently and get better results.

Clear the Decks

To begin, move everything out of the room. Every painter we spoke with had a horror story about the time he didn’t follow Rule No. 1. Bigger pieces of furniture can sometimes be left covered in the center of larger rooms, but if you are repairing drywall, “Take everything out. Drywall dust goes everywhere.” Remove doors, light fixtures and hardware, and label everything with masking tape. Also, invest in drop cloths. “It’s surprising how well a few drops of paint can cover a floor”.

PREPARING THE SURFACES

Find, then fix, cracks and dents. Smooth any repairs, bumps, and nibs with a drywall pole sander. For smoother walls and better adhesion, some of our pros sand all previously painted walls regardless of the shape they’re in.

PAINTING TIPS

Load it right

Ideally, you want as much paint on the brush as you can control without making drips or blobs. To do this, dip the brush about 4 cm into the paint, then taps (not wipes) each side of the brush against the side of the can.

Work top down

After painting the ceiling, work from the top down: Start with the crown molding, then do the walls and then paint the casement molding around the windows and doors.

Focus on windows

The best time to tackle windows is in the beginning of the day, when you’re fresh

Do doors right

Most painters have no problem painting doors in place, but they recommend you lay the door on sawhorses and work horizontally. If you have a paneled door, start with the panels and work from the outside edges in toward the center

Expect touch-ups

Accidents happen. Keep a cheap sponge brush on hand to blend a patch with the rest of the wall or woodwork. To mimic the look of a roller, simply dab on the paint.