We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Learn how to paint the interior of your home from six professional painters who reveal the secrets that make them so good at their craft.
Most of us can do an okay job of painting a room. But a seasoned professional does a great job. Obviously, pros have more experience than the average homeowner, but they also know techniques and tricks that make them better painters. We asked six pro painters to share those secrets.
They shared how professionals paint rooms to help you work more efficiently and get better results. Some of what you'll read may surprise you. For instance, their secrets won't cut painting time. Painters spend two to four days on an average-size room.
That's how long it takes to prep, prime and paint correctly. It's more work, but when you stand back to admire the results, you'll agree it's time well spent.
To begin, move everything out of the room. Every painter we spoke with had a horror story about the time he didn't follow Rule No. Bigger pieces of furniture can sometimes be left covered in the center of larger rooms, but if you are repairing drywall, says Chris Span, of Span's Quality Painting in Mobile, Alabama, "Take everything out.
Drywall dust goes everywhere. Remove doors, light fixtures and hardware, and label everything with masking tape. Also, invest in drop cloths. Buy high-quality drop cloths, such as canvas or paper-backed plastic. A note that, paint soaks right through lightweight fabrics and bedsheets. Plastic sheeting works, but it's very slippery and doesn't absorb drips.
Even an old lamp with a bare bulb held close to a wall will make minor cracks, bumps or nail pops jump out. Carmen Toto, owner of C. Instead of the standard tape-and-spackle method for bridging over recurring stress cracks, Maceyunas uses a rubberized spray-on primer called Good-Bye Crack.
Damaged wood requires a slightly different approach. For damaged trim, he uses painter's putty or a two-part wood filler, such as Minwax's High Performance Filler.
Smooth any repairs, bumps, and nibs with a drywall pole sander. For smoother walls and better adhesion, some of our pros sand all previously painted walls regardless of the shape they're in. Sanding not only feathers out chipped paint but also provides "tooth" for the next coat of paint. For glossy trim, use a sanding sponge rather than sandpaper.
Sponges mold to the shape of the trim and last longer than paper. When applying latex over alkyd paint or when he is not sure of the original finish, Brian Doherty, a painter in Richmond, Virginia, follows the hand-sanding with liquid sandpaper to make sure the surface is completely deglossed to prevent incompatibility problems. Unless you like textured walls, don't paint over dust. To clean a wall, use two buckets.
Load up your rag or sponge from your cleaning-solution bucket, and scrub. Before redipping, rinse the sponge in a second bucket filled with clean water. Filling gaps with a paintable acrylic-latex caulk cuts down on drafts and makes your trim look better than new. The secret to using caulk is to cut the tip smaller than you think it should be; too much caulk makes a mess. Also, instead of using a nail to break the inner seal, use a small wire so you don't stretch out the nozzle.
Also consider buying a dripless caulk gun, which will automatically back off the pressure after each pull on the trigger to prevent unwanted oozing.
Pro2Pro Tip: Cutting in is painting just the surface you want, not the surface adjacent to it — for example, where a wall meets the ceiling. The pros were split on this tip. On the other hand, "If you can't cut in, you can't beat tape," says Span. Painters risk injury on the job. Common hazards include falls from ladders, muscle strains from lifting, and exposure to drywall dust and other irritants. Most painters work full time. Self-employed painters may be able to set their own schedules.
Industrial painters may be required to travel for work. Painting jobs that are outdoors may be seasonal. There are no formal education requirements to become a painter.
Some technical schools offer optional certificates in painting. Painters typically learn on the job: how to prepare surfaces, apply coating, hang wall covering, and match colors. Painters may have to complete additional safety training in order to work with scaffolding and harnesses. Although less common, painting apprenticeships lasting 3 or 4 years may be available for candidates who have a high school diploma or equivalent and who are at least 18 years old. For example, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades , in conjunction with the Finishing Trades Institute , offers a 3-year apprenticeship for painters.
For each year of a typical program, apprentices must complete a predetermined number of hours of technical training and paid on-the-job training before becoming journey workers. Apprenticeship program requirements differ based on the type of program and by region.
Although most painters learn their trade on the job or through an apprenticeship, some new workers enter training programs offered by the hiring contractor. Courses range from 1 day to several weeks, depending on the certification program and specialty. Applicants also must meet work experience requirements. The U. Environmental Protection Agency provides certification for lead paint abatement. Some states require licensing for lead paint removal. After gaining experience, painters may advance to supervisors, superintendents, or managers, directing other painters and the jobsite.
Painters may also work as estimators or start their own business. Painters who work in a union may have advancement opportunities within the organization as a union official, training instructor, or business manager. Ability to work at heights. Painters must be able to work at heights on scaffolding, lifts, and ladders.
Communication skills. Painters interact with clients and must be able to convey information in order to ensure accuracy of color selection and application techniques.
Painters must also communicate with coworkers. Detail oriented. Painters must be precise when creating or painting edges for overall quality of appearance. Physical stamina. Painters should be able to stay physically active for many hours and spend much of the workday standing or climbing ladders. Physical strength. Painters must be able to lift at least 50 pounds and move heavy items during the course of a job.
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U. Source: U. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. In May , the median annual wages for painters, construction and maintenance in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:.
Apprentices make less than fully trained painters, but they receive increases as they learn to do more. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program. Much of the projected employment growth in this occupation is due to recovery from the COVID recession that began in The expected increase in new construction will continue to create a need for painters. However, many homeowners choose to paint themselves, which will temper employment growth for painters.
These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link s below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. All state projections data are available at www. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state.
CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area.
There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code. This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of painters, construction and maintenance. Carpenters construct, repair, and install building frameworks and structures made from wood and other materials. Construction laborers and helpers perform many tasks that require physical labor on construction sites. When looking for a house painter in Singapore, here are 10 important qualities you should be able to find in your prospect contractor.
You need to make the extra effort to find a paint contractor that has deep love for executing quality painting jobs—and of course, has artwork abilities and flawless painting skills. You will only know whether a prospect painter is a qualified one if you ask for references.
A good local house painting contractor should be able to provide you with at least three references. Take the time to call each of the clients and ask the relevant questions about the workmanship of a prospect painter.
You may also check them out on the internet to find both good and bad reviews about the company. For bathroom painting, are you aware that you need special type of paint to use for the walls? Hiring a professional with extensive experience on the type of job you need will ensure that they know what to do and what they need to guarantee flawless execution and impeccable painting outcome.
What is the level of experience of a prospect contractor? Whether it is an interior, exterior or a repainting work, your chosen painter should show exceptional skills to execute the job properly. Bear in mind that an ounce of experience now goes an extra mile later in the process of beautifying a project. You want to work with someone with so much expertise and passion on the field. After determining that a contractor has the expertise to get the job done, it is always a good idea to meet the contractors in person, s you can get a feel of their personality and go over your project in details.
This will give you the opportunity to assess their professionalism. Working with a personnel wit high standards will guarantee that your project finishes on time and in an efficient manner. While interviewing the contractor, notice his personality and come up with a general impression about the prospect.
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