Painting the interiors of a home seems like an excellent DIY project for most homeowners. You are likely to have some experience in painting rooms. As you become familiar with the procedure it becomes fun. Remember to put on some old clothes before setting out to transform the interiors of your home. However, your painting project may not turn out right if you do not have the right set of Painting tools at hand.
Supplies necessary for painting a home
During any painting project, you will observe that having the supplies and Paint Brushesin order is a challenge. It also makes a notable difference when it is time to start the actual work. So when preparing to dive into your project following is a checklist of the essential Painting tools.
Prep materials
Before getting into the fun part it is critical to put some hours into preparing the walls by cleaning, patching holes, sanding, patching holes, and more. These are important for achieving the desired results.
- Fine-grit sandpaper- To smoothen out rough edges and bumps on the painting surface.
- Metal paint scraper- For peeling off cracking paint before sanding the surface.
- Spatula and spackle- Patching holes in the wall
Painter’s tape
Suitable for taping off borders to avoid bleeding paint into spaces, not for painting. It is also useful for covering outlets and hardware items. Using tapes helps achieve clean and crisp lines. Besides there are different varieties of tapes available in the market for different applications. Taping off saves cleaning time after completing the work. For beginners taping makes the painting process a lot easier. It is especially evident when working the lines separating the wall and the ceiling.
Soap and water solution
For cleaning grease and dirt from the walls before application of primer.
Step stool or ladder
For painting the walls of a room having a stable structure to reach the top half is necessary. A full ladder is best even though it is quite bulky and expensive. A step stool is a relatively more affordable and easy option.
Dust mop
Before starting to paint it is important to wipe down the walls properly to remove dirt, dust, stains, and cobwebs. Using a damp rag is also helpful for this purpose. A dust mop comes with a long pole to allow for broader sweeping motions for faster work.
Room fan
Ventilation is critical for quick drying of primer and paint. It keeps the moving through the next coat. Also, the painter feels cool during work.
Furniture slider
Unless it is an empty room there is always a need for moving heavy furniture to access the wall. With furniture sliders, the floor does not suffer damage. Also, it prevents physical injury from pulling heavy loads. Besides the sliders reduce stress on the furniture structure and prevent breakage.
Must have painting supplies
3-inch flat paint brush
These Paint Brushes aresuitable for cutting-in which refers to the process of painting the borders around the taped-off area.
Angled paint brush
These Paint Brushesarefor painting around hard-to-reach places. It is useful for giving clean edges with little paint bleeding.
Plastic drop cloth or canvas trap
Suitable for protecting furniture and floors. Using newspapers is also helpful however not suitable for carpeted floors.
Roller covers and paint roller frame
Make use of paint rollers for quick and easy painting as it is a lot faster than traditional brushes. When painting large rooms with high ceilings it is best to use a painter’s pole for the purpose.
Always make certain to proper Painting tools for a project. Since all covers are not made the same. Some are for smooth walls while others are for brick or stucco.
Paint tray
It is for holding small volumes of paint during the painting process. Also prevents the dipping of brushes inside the paint can and prevents the mixing of dirt and dust.
Gloves
Gloves are not necessary but it is good to have one to keep the hands clean. Also, you can use it later for other DIY projects around the house.
Painter’s plastic
It helps prevent drippings, spills, and sprays on windows, floors, furniture, and other items. Painter’s plastic usually comes in different thicknesses. For protecting furniture, non-walking surfaces, and countertops.
For the floor always use thicker materials. Remember to tape down the edges tightly to prevent gaps when working.
Putty knife
It is an important tool for taking out and applying putty. This flat and flexible tool helps in pushing the compound into holes and cracks in the wall.
Cleaning supplies
After patching and sanding uneven walls cleaning the dust is necessary. Adding a couple of drops of dish soap to water creates a good solution for the purpose. Clean surfaces are good for taping, priming, and painting.
Paint for walls
Primer- It forms the first undercoat before the application of the actual paint. For painting over an existing layer of paint, primer helps cover the previous color. It creates a blank surface for the application of paints in a clean and even manner. Primer has excellent binding properties that make it suitable to adhere to the paint surface more evenly. Hence it takes less time to achieve desired results.
Interior or exterior paint- Now is the most exciting part selection of colors. There are different varieties of paint and each has a different purpose.
Satin and Eggshell paint- Suitable for high-traffic spaces like bedrooms and living rooms. These are easy to clean and have little reflective properties suitable for most rooms.
Flat paint- It is best for low-traffic spaces as the final finish is dull and cleaning is difficult.
High gloss or semi-gloss paint variety of paint is suitable for windowsills, small surfaces, banisters, etc. Avoid using gloss paints on wall surfaces.
Things to avoid during painting
Poor-quality corner painting tools
These can easily affect the final result of a paint work. The Painting tools mentioned above are sufficient to get the job done. Avoid using tools like foam wedge or a triangular sponge.
Paint sprayers
Paint spraying tools are suitable for professionals working on the exteriors of a house. Also, these are not available at hardware stores. For DIY projects it is best to stick with a brush and roller setup.
If you are not sure about painting the interiors of your home worry not. The first the results may not be as expected but eventually, you will get the hang of the process. Always remember in painting there is never a mistake it’s just happy accidents.
Plastic tarps
People seem to use them as a substitute for a drop cloth. However, the material is too slippery and can cause accidents during work. Hence it is best to avoid them during wall painting.
Stirring rods
When using paint it is best to shake the container well before opening. It helps in the proper mixing of the contents. Stirring rods are not suitable for the purpose and often cause a wastage of paint.
Final words
Painting is one such task that gets messy no matter how you do it. Whether you are experienced or a beginner, you will have drops of paint all over the place. So wearing proper clothing and shoes is always helpful. Besides, the Painting tools mentioned above should make things a lot easier for you to manage.