Tips on Painting House

1. While buying brushes you can choose from natural and synthetic bristles. For latex paint use only synthetic bristles and for oil based paints you can use both. For painting walls buy brushes that are 3 to 4 inches wide and are flat. For intricate work like the mullion on a window use a sash brush that is angled and about 1-1/2 inch wide. For doors, windows and trim use brushes that are 3 inch wide and have a straight edge. If the brush has a narrow end then it will retain more paint than a flat-ended brush.
2. While buying rollers follow the same rules as above; for latex paint use synthetic rollers and natural rollers for oil-based paints. When you buy a roller remember, that when the surface is rougher, the head of the roller should be longer. To find out how good the roller is, use your hand to squeeze the middle of the roller. It should regain its original shape as soon as you release your hand.
3. Buy enough sticking tape. It is best to invest in some good quality masking tape or painter's tape. Though both these are a little costlier they are easy to remove. You will have to use tape to cover trims, windowpanes, doorknobs etc. Some tapes come with little paper attached to one side for greater protection. While removing the tape, to avoid pulling off the finish, use a hair dryer and blow hot air over the tape before lifting it off. The hot air will stop it from sticking to the finish.
4. To prevent paint from dripping while painting, using a nail and a hammer, make a hole on the rim of the paint tin, after you have opened it. Doing this will allow the paint from the brush to run back into the tin, as you drag you brush across the rim of the tin to remove the extra paint from the brush. This prevents the extra paint from collecting on the rim of the tin and overflowing after some time.
5. When you begin to paint a wall, begin from the edges and then fill in the middle section. Try not to start a new can of paint in the middle section of the wall. If there is the slightest variation in color it will be clearly visible in this section of the wall.
6. To get an even coat of color, pour paint into a smaller can and take a piece of coat hanger wire and bend it across the small can. Fix the wire by twisting its ends across the rim of the can or across the handle. Use this wire to brush off extra paint, from your brush, every time you dip your brush into the can. Doing this will ensure that your brush is evenly coated with paint across the span of the brush. This will give the wall an even and smooth finish.
7. Keep some old clean rags at hand to clean up any mess by dripping and spilling paint. Buy a set of use and throw foam brushes that you can use for touch ups.
8. If you are applying a number of coats of paint, wait patiently till each coat has completely dried up before applying the next coat.
9. If you are breaking for the day and will continue painting the next day, then wrap the wet brushes in plastic or aluminum foil and place it in the freezer. The next morning all you will have to do is remove it and start off from where you stopped last night.
10. Soaking paint brushes in water or paint solvent for sometime makes it easier to clean. Make a hole in the metal clam of the brush and pass a nail through it. Now fill a small jar with water or solvent and hang the brush in it, by laying the nail across the mouth of the jar. Soak it for sometime and then wash thoroughly. Empty the jar and place the clean brush in it and this way the bristles of the brush will remain straight after they dry.
11. When you use a roller and a tray, ensure that you use a tray liner so that you do not waste time cleaning the tray once the job is done. You can either buy a tray liner or use aluminum foil as liner and throw away once soiled.
12. A newly painted wall, takes 30 days to cure, so do not wash the paint for about a month.