Professional Tips and TricksIn my 40 years as a house painter and contractor, I've gathered many tips and practices that are now part of my every day routine. Some of these tips simply make my work faster or more efficient. Other tips help produce higher quality results. I'm certain that homeowners painting their own dwellings will benefit from these suggestions. Less-experienced contractors may also find my suggestions helpful, so over the coming days and weeks I hope to provide this information freely via my Twitter feed. Why am I sharing this hard-earned experience? It's my belief that generosity of knowledge and practice brings benefits to the giver and the recipient. I hope you'll call on me the next time you require a professional house painter.
You can access previous tips and keep up-to-date by "following" me on Twitter. Tip: Don't try to paint soft texture ceilings (sometimes called "popcorn texture" because of its appearance) with water-based paints. The texture material is water soluble and will be removed with the application of any water-based solution. (If the texture has already been painted previously, it is usually acceptable to paint it with a water-based paint, although water-based paints usually do a very poor job at hiding stains or soiling.) Depending on the products available in your area, painting an unpainted texture ceiling may require the application of an oil-based primer, followed by a top coat of water-based finish. In some areas, specialty products are available to paint directly onto the unpainted texture, so that only one coat is required. (In Western Canada Sherwin Williams/General Paint makes a product called "Fresh-Tex" which is superior for this purpose.) Copyright ©2011 by Nathan Harms |
