Archive for the ‘Painting’ Category

Get it Done Faster: Spray Painting Interior Walls

Monday, May 5th, 2008

There are tons of jobs the average homeowner would really prefer to hand over to the professionals.  That is unless he or she likes dealing with frustration and costly mistakes.  Since you have more sense than that, when you made the decision to repaint the interior of your home’s rooms, you were a bit surprised when the painter recommended spray painting interior walls.  Try to get the visions of graffiti out of your mind, with today’s high tech paint sprayers you’ll never know your walls weren’t done with the traditional rollers and brushes.  Here are a few of the advantages to allowing your painter to use this piece of equipment in your home.

Just like with the other methods for painting interior walls, your painter will have to use drop clothes to protect your carpet or hard wood floors.  He or she will also use painter’s tape to cover any molding or trim work that isn’t going to be painted.  After that, the technique changes a bit.  The ceiling of the room should be painted first.  It’s simply the best way to ensure that any drips or drops can be fixed when the walls are painted.  Even if low toxicity paint is being used, it’s also a good idea to open the windows for good ventilation.

Spray Painting Interior Walls

As the person bankrolling this operation, you will be pleased to know that spray painting interior walls is less expensive in terms of labor costs.  It doesn’t take nearly as long to complete the job with a paint sprayer as it does to use the regular old brush and rollers.  Many people also feel that less paint is needed to complete the job as well.  Since the sprayer is distributing an even layer of paint on the walls, additional coats needed are kept to a minimum. 

As odd as it might sound, spray painting interior walls is a good way to get the job done and save money on the project at the same time.  Streaking, inadequate paint coverage and high labor costs aren’t big problems with this more modern painting technique. 

For more information on spray painting interior walls

Budget Kitchen Projects that Work for Your Wallet

Monday, April 7th, 2008

Not all home improvers have the padded budgets that will enable them to do all of the fancy projects shown on TV and in design magazines.  Sure, we’d all like to add those beautiful granite countertops and hardwood floors that we admire, but those projects are incredibly expensive and that is not always a practical idea.  This is especially true for the weekend home remodeler who doesn’t have a lot of experience or tools.  So below are some budget kitchen projects that are good replacements for pricier projects.

Paint is your friend.  Sure, it may seem boring, but when it comes to budget kitchen projects, it’s hard to beat the price and versatility of a new kitchen paint job.  Think about it: what color are your kitchen walls now?  What kind of décor do you have in your kitchen?  Most appliances will go with almost any paint color, and most cabinets will work with any color, too.  One of the best budget kitchen projects is simply updating the look of your kitchen with a bright, colorful paint job or an interesting paint technique.

Budget Kitchen Projects

Budget kitchen projects can also involve other types of wall treatments like wainscoting.  Wainscoting adds not only a classic look to a kitchen; it also adds excitement and texture to the walls.  Combine wainscoting with a new paint job and you have one of the most effective budget kitchen projects money can buy!

If your cabinets are the problem in your kitchen, they can often be solved by a quick paint job as well.  Cheap and effective, if you’re pretty confident in your do-it-yourselfer skills, you can repaint kitchen cabinets to bring a fresh look into your eating space.

You can also try some new artwork in your kitchen.  This is a great way to change the look of your kitchen and is usually inexpensive enough to combine with a wall treatment.  Look for posters or prints of artwork, buy an attractive but inexpensive frame, and you have one of the smallest budget kitchen projects.  This is something that can even be done in an apartment for those who want to change things up a little bit but can’t add paint or other wall treatments. 

For more information on budget kitchen projects

Common Ways to Texture Drywall

Tuesday, February 19th, 2008

People have had textured ceilings almost since ceilings were invented.  It makes sense that at some point someone was going to have the bright idea to come up with ways to texture drywall too.  It may come as a surprise to learn that mastering these techniques isn’t much different than learning how to apply wall paint in creative ways to get the look you want.  The first thing you need to know is what you need to get started and a couple of ideas for your technique.

Let’s start with the materials and tools you will need to master the ways to texture drywall.  Go the home improvement store and be prepared to pick up drop cloths, a paint roller pan, and ribbon mixer.  Add to that list the following items, paint roller handle, an extension and cover would be helpful, as well as 5 gallons of drywall compound.  You will also need ribbon mixer and an electric drill if you don’t already have one.  Some people like to add a mud pan, taping knife, and crow’s foot stomp brush to the list, but that depends on how in depth you are planning to go.

Ways to Texture Drywall

In order to implement the ways to texture drywall, you have to get your drywall compound to the correct consistency.  Thin out the mud with water until it is the consistency of a milkshake.  This is where the ribbon mixer comes in on your electric drill.  Your next step will be to prepare the room you are changing with drop cloths.

Your next step is to pour some of your thinned mud mixture into a roller pan.  With your roller, apply the mixture to the wall.  The faster you move, the mud will leave small, closely spaced peaks in the finish.  The slower the movement of your arm, the higher those peaks will be.  Go ahead and play with it a bit to determine the look you like more.

Experimentation is the key element to successfully using the ways to texture drywall.  It’s up to you to try different tools in your quest for perfection on your walls.

Popular Faux Finish Painting Ideas

Monday, February 11th, 2008

The one thing every person wants to do is make their home an extension of who they are, their personal tastes, and unique from everyone else’s homes.  One of the most inexpensive and easiest ways to personalize the inside of your home is with faux finish painting ideas.  People have become seriously creative when it comes to using unique materials to apply paint for a more interesting look.  Gone are the days of simply painting your walls a solid color.  With the sheer number of shades and tones of colors and the modern techniques for applying the paint, you have tons of choices and options.

Let’s take a look at some of the newer painting ideas to hit the home interior scene in recent history.  For those who prefer an interesting look, color blocking has a lot going for it.  Using several complimentary paint colors, levels, and straight edges you can paint sections of a wall different colors.  Many people like this look in the baby’s room or an open air sunroom or indoor patio.

Faux Finish Painting Ideas 

Another unique look you can create with paint alone is shadow striping.  We have all seen the elegant wallpaper found in fine restaurants and nice hotels with stripes of varying shades of the same color.  Often this wallpaper is made from silk or other pricey material. You can alternate hues on your walls in the dining room or bedroom to give your home the look and feel of a high price hotel or lovely European home.

Silk wallpaper isn’t the only home adornment that many of us can’t afford.  If you like the natural look of terracotta tiles and have priced them to discover that they are way out of your price range, the good news is you can use paint to replicate the look.  You will need some stencils, the right paint shades, and tons of patience, but it’s worth it for the appearance you want in your kitchen or mudroom.

Faux finish painting ideas are what have kept the average person in the black when it comes to decorating their homes.  For any expensive wall dressing you may like, there is a faux idea that works just as well.