When painting the exterior leave sheltered areas to last just in case it rains or just for some where to get out of the direct sun light.

HOUSE PAINTING TIPS

There are a variety of tips that are useful when painting around your home, some will save you time and others will just make your painting project easier to do.

Before you start painting make sure your paint has been stirred thoroughly and if you have two or more tins make sure you box them together first. When paint is being tinted one tin could get a little more or less tint then the other (it does happen), this will change the colour slightly. If you get a larger container and mix the two together first you are guaranteed that you have one uniformed colour.

Always purchase enough paint to finish an area, this may not seem important but it can very disappointing if you need more paint and the colour is slightly different, most times the colour difference is not noticeable until the paint is dry. If you happen to find yourself in this position where you don't think you will have enough paint to finish a room or the exterior of your home then there is a solution.

When painting a room, just paint 3 walls only then decide if you will be able to finish the room or not with the paint you have left. At least if you need more paint and the colour is slightly different it wont be noticed if one complete walls is done, you may even decide to make it a feature wall instead. For exterior walls the process is the same, make sure you complete a wall with the paint you have and don't start another wall until you have enough paint to finish it. One important thing is to save some paint from each batch of paint for touch ups.

Always work with manageable areas, if you try to do too much at once it can be overwhelming and you may feel as if your getting no where. Break your painting project up in to small areas and give yourself realistic goals, this will give you more of a sense of achievement and hopefully keep you motivated.

When using a new brush make sure you wash it in water (if using water based paints) or turps (if using oil based paints) before you start using it. If you use a dry brush paint will start to dry in the stock of the brush and cause the brush to become stiff. 

If you are painting on a warm to hot day it is advised that you wash you brush every few hours or even every hour depending on the heat. Paint will start to dry on the outside of the brush and make the brush difficult to work with.

While you are working and for some reason you need to go out for a little while its best to put your brush in water and cover your paint pot with a rag to keep the air out. It is possible to cover your paint pot with the brush in it but it will depend on how long you intend to be away for.

During break times its a good idea to cover your paint pots and roller trays with a rag or sheet, this will help it from drying out while not in use.

Rollers should only be brought out when needed and if possible used in a continuous fashion to avoid being left around and going hard. Rollers are not as easy to wash out as brushes so a little more care is needed when using them.

When using a roller make sure you wet it first like you would a paint brush but make sure you spin the roller to remove as much water as you can out of it. The other reason for doing this is because a new or old roller sleave can have dirt in it, so by washing it first you will remove any dirt that maybe in it.

If working outside try to work on the shady side of the house during hot weather, remember what is shady in the morning will be in direct sunlight in the afternoon. So plan your day, making sure you are always working in the shade. During colder weather you can almost do the direct opposite, depending on how cold it is you may need the direct sunlight to help dry the paint.

During colder conditions try not to apply paint too late in the afternoon as it may not dry. Save some of your prep work for late afternoon, this way you can still get a full day in and your not wasting your time.

How To Cut In When Painting

The following video will demonstrate the basic technique on how to cut in when painting.