By 
When it comes to DIY home decoration jobs, one of the first projects people hop on is painting. While painting is one of the easiest jobs you can do yourself, too many people jump in without being prepared and end up committing some crucial mistakes. This is why it’s important that you know everything there is to know about painting a house or a room before you start. Here are a few of the most common mistakes people make when painting, and how to avoid them.
Table of Contents
Not Choosing the Right Colors
One of the worst mistakes you can make when painting your house is choosing colors based on the color chips. The problem is that these colors could look completely different at home, or end up clashing with the rest of your decor without you knowing. The best thing you can do is ask the store to mix some small samples for you. This way, you’ll be able to compare them at home and see which ones actually work.
Not Protecting Your Surfaces Properly
Another major mistake that could end up costing you a lot of money is not protecting your surfaces properly. If you want to get professional results, then you have to use the tools that the professionals use.
That means no old cardboard boxes or generic “painters’ tape”. Invest in something like the rollable X-Board and X-board seam tape from Trimaco. X-Board can be rolled out and installed in minutes, and can be reused too. Since you’ll be laying down long strips, you’ll have to use less material and reduce the chances of leaks.
Trimaco’s X-board seam tape is some of the most durable and flexible on the market and was made specifically for X-board, though you can use it with other boards as well. It’s also very easy to use, so this is definitely something you should invest in if you want to avoid splashes either from paint or people moving in and out of the area.
Painting Cabinets Themselves
Painting cabinets can seem simple at first glance, but it’s actually not something most people should DIY. For one, cabinets are exposed to a very different environment and have to deal with things like heat, splashes and grease all the time. So, these will need to be treated and thoroughly cleaned using powerful cleaning agents and solvents before you can start working on them.
But another thing is that you can’t expect to get professional results with a roller. Most cabinets are painted using a painting gun, and it takes a lot of time to get familiar with these. So, unless you know what you’re doing, we strongly suggest that you stay away from cabinets and let the pros do it.
Over Brushing
Another common mistake that first time painters make is over brushing. The right way to do it is to use a sizable amount of paint and paint areas in large strokes. You want it to take the least strokes possible, or else you’ll get unsightly ridges and brush marks everywhere. You shouldn’t brush an area more than 3 times. If you go over that, you’re overdoing it.
Painting your home yourself can be tempting, and a way to save on labor. However, make sure that you do your homework first and invest in the proper equipment and supplies before you get started.
Comments