Painting Myths: What Works and What Doesn’t

Many homeowners feel pressured into hiring a professional painting company when any painting jobs come up around the home. Whether you’re worried you lack the necessary painting skills, or just don’t think you have the time, it doesn’t have to be as hard as you may initially assume. One of the best ways to build up your confidence and know-how is by learning more about the truths and myths to painting at home. Understanding what actually works and what doesn’t can let you take on the task yourself, without feeling so nervous and stressed.

Primer.

Some people think you need primer, others think it’s just a waste of time. The fact of the matter is that for the best, most professional finished look, primer is a must-have. Especially if your top coat paint of choice is a rich red or other bold, bright shade, you’re going to find yourself going through a ton of paint and still not getting the desired effect if you skip on the primer. What primer does is create a specific surface against the wall, allowing the paint over top to go on smoother and stick better, leaving an even, covered finish.

You can either apply the primer separately, before the paint, or opt for paint with the primer already mixed in. This saves you money and time, which is something all homeowners can appreciate.

Tape.

There is always a big debate over whether or not to prepare the walls using painter’s tape before starting. Although the tape can help prevent you from dripping paint on areas you don’t want it, it can also be a big pain. Not only does it waste a lot of time simply smoothing the tape on around all the corners and crevices, but even if you wait until the paint is completely dry like you’re supposed to, you still may find it ends up cracking and splitting, leaving you with a less than desirable finished look.

Professional painters know how to angle their brushes and how much paint to apply on the brush each time, which saves them from having to use the painter’s tape and yet still end up with a crisp, clean finish. If you can, avoid the tape and just take a bit more time to go carefully around the edges of the walls and windows, for the most professional end look.

Two Coats.

One of the biggest painting myths is that you always need two coats. This is actually not the case at all. Depending on the brand and shade of paint you choose, and also the existing paint color on the walls, you may only need a single coat, two coats, three or even more.

Ceiling.

One part of a room a person won’t touch with paint is in the ceiling. There is actually nothing wrong with painting the ceiling, and it can be a great way to create a focal point in any room. You can even try a more complex pattern, such as a floral print or checkerboard design, to really make the ceiling stand out and draw the eye.

It’s pretty amazing how many painting myths there are, but once you’ve debunked those bogus tales, you can get started painting and you can actually have a really good time with it.{picture sources:1,2,and 3}.