Adding Paint To Your Walls

Painting Your Own Home? Follow These Tips For Better Results

14 May 2020

Paul Lucas

In a perfect world, everyone would hire a professional to paint their home beautifully. But this world is not perfect. Maybe you have a limited budget, or maybe there are no painting companies operating in your area. Whatever the case may be, if you are painting your own home, there are a few tips you will want to follow to get better results.

1. Don't skimp on the paint.

One reason why professional painting jobs often look better than DIY painting jobs simply has to do with the paint. DIY homeowners often buy cheaper paint in an effort to save money. But cheaper paint is less pigmented than the higher-end brands, and it does not go on as smoothly. Spend a little more to buy the top-shelf brand, and your paint job will come out remarkably better. This advice applies to your primer, too — you get what you pay for.

2. Cut in, then roll.

You might be tempted to paint the walls with a roller and then finish the edges and corners with a paintbrush. But this approach is actually backward. If you paint the edges first, which is a process called "cutting in," you'll cover most of your brush strokes with a roller, which will make for a cleaner look.

3. Use a trim brush instead of tape.

Although there are some cases in which you might want to use tape, such as if you're painting stripes on a wall when it comes to painting trim, you're often better off leaving the tape in the drawer. It does not always peel off cleanly, and sometimes paint seeps under it. Instead, use a trim brush. This is a special type of brush with angled bristles. If you hold it so that the bristles spread out, you can paint a very straight line without the need for tape.

4. Roll in multiple directions.

Some people roll side to side, and other people roll up and down. But if you want really professional results, you need to do both! Roll up, down, side to side, and diagonal. By rolling in multiple directions like this, you can get better coverage with fewer lap marks. (Lap marks are where you can see the different strokes of paint overlapping.)

If you follow these tips, you should get lovely results when painting your home! Above all else, remember to be patient and use good-quality supplies. Contact someone near you for more info.

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