Homeowners will take a crack at doing some house painting at some point and many will end up with more headaches than they need while doing it. North Shore Contractor Management encourages home owners to hire The Professionals but I have learned a few tricks from painting hundreds of rooms and I’m here to share my 20 years of experience with you to make your house painting experience not as painful but remember your an amateur doing a professionals job. It's not as easy as it looks and the amount of material you need to buy saves you 20 to 30% per 1000 dollars spent, but is your time worth that savings? You have been NSCM advised 😉 PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BELOW FOR A CLEARER PICTURE OF PAINTING FOR YOURSELF
Clear the Room.
It may seem easy to cut corners and paint around a bunch of stuff in a room but this is one of the easiest place to add unneeded hassle. Take the extra time and effort to move everything out a room before starting and you will likely be thankful for it later. Anyone who has painted a significant amount of rooms has probably learned the hard way that moving the furniture out would have been the best option. If there are pieces of furniture that are simply too large to move out, make sure to cover them properly and move them to the center of the room to prevent the chance of getting paint on them accidentally.
NORTH SHORE WILL NEGOTIATE THE PAINTERS TO MOVE FURNITURE SO YOU DON'T HAVE TOO. WE WILL NEGOTIATE WITH THE PAINTER THINGS YOU NEVER REALIZED YOU COULD GET.
- Spackle touch ups
- Removed and reinstalled curtains
- other rooms thrown in if the job is large enough
2. Protection is Key.
Preparation can make all the difference and covering all surfaces you want clear of paint won’t be time wasted, real painting contractors know that. Utilizing drop cloths on the floors and furniture will help keep errant paint from getting on these surfaces - kicked over paint cans on hard wood floors is a common amateur and give you peace of mind while you’re working. Make sure to cover all the little things that many people forget like doorknobs and hardware. Removing sockets and light switch covers will also help ensure all the details of your paint job come out right
Buckets Not Paint Trays.
Using a bucket instead of a paint tray is one of those pro tips that seem small but make a huge difference in the long run. A bucket allows you to mix more paint and ensure that you have a consistent color on the finished product. Using a bucket also make the paint more mobile so that you can move around the room effectively and not spill paint when moving. There is a tool called a painter’s screen that you can put in the bucket and keep your roller clear of extra paint. Remember what I said in the beginning all these accessories add up.
NORTH SHORE CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT CAN FIGURE ALL THESE COSTS AHEAD OF TIME JUST TO SHOW YOU THE DELTA IN SAVINGS. ONE PHONE CALL TO ALLOW NSCM TO FIGURE WHAT THE JOB SHOULD COST VS WHAT IT WILL COST VS WHAT DOING IT YOURSELF VS WHAT NORTH SHORE CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT WILL SAVE YOU IN TIME, MONEY AND AGGRAVATION
Paint Top to Bottom
Once the baseboards and ceiling (got a big enough ladder) is out of the way and you are ready to bust out your paint roller, remember to roll the paint top to bottom. This lets the roller pick up any drips as you move down the wall and keeps the paint looking clean and smooth as you go. - those drips are such eye sores always notorious when work is done by amateurs
Keep a Wet Edge While Rolling
A big part of proper rolling is keeping a wet edge as you move across the wall. What this does is help the paint dry at a similar speed and in turn give a more even finish. If some of the paint dries before the next roll, this can create lap marks and really stand out as a flaw when all is said and done.
Every homeowner should feel empowered to tackle projects in their home and painting is one where many can find success and build confidence. Using these tips and others will go a long way to helping you avoid rookie mistakes and get that perfect paint job the first time
BUT REMEMBER YOUR A ROOKIE! Also where are you storing all these accessories, how often are you going to repaint, developing relationships with contractors gets better pricing later on.
Call me and let's walk though, the money spent on NSCM is well worth it.
631-838-4362
Stu Siegel