A-Z of DIY & Building Guides How To Paint

Date Published:

23/05/2008

Planning Ahead

It's a tough job but someone's got to do it, so the 4Homes Team have got together to provide key tips on painting your house.

You've got a few days off work and an opportunity to do all those DIY jobs that you've been putting off for months. Where should you start? As your thoughts turn to giving the spare room a new lick of paint, check out the 4Homes Team expert advice on painting your home.

1. It's all in the Planning

You need to work out in advance the order in which you're going to carry out your jobs. After all you don't want to spend the day painting your floor boards then remembering that you were going to paint ceiling too.

2. Breathe

Even if the weather outside is typically wintry you still need to ensure that you have plenty of ventilation from open windows and doors. Do not paint in a small and sealed room.

3. Mix it up

If you're going to need more than one pot of paint in the same colour then avoid the risk of colour variations by mixing all the paint together in a larger container.

4. Wrap it up

If you're taking a break from painting (when The Great Escape is on for instance) then stand the paint in a cool safe place and wrap your brush in cling film. If you're taking a longer break then reseal the can of paint so that it is airtight by wiping the rim of the can clean, replacing the lid, placing a block of wood over the top and tapping it down with a hammer.

5. Play Safe

Always wear gloves to protect sensitive skin. Use an appropriate skin cleanser to clean splashes from your skin. Do not use white spirit.