Helpful Painting Tips

If you're a do-it-yourselfer and thinking of putting a fresh coat of paint to portions of your home, here are a few tips that may help you out.

I'm not sure if Michelangelo used the following guidelines while painting the Sistine Chapel, but this may be a bit more relevant for you.

If you're doing exterior painting, keep temperature and humidity in mind.  If you paint in direct sunlight the paint may blister.  Paint will take longer to dry in high humidity.

A rule of thumb.  One gallon of paint covers about 400 square feet.

Choose the best type of brush(s) for your project.  For large sections of interior walls a roller will help speed up the job.  For tight places and trim you'll need a smaller brush.

No matter how careful we try to be, there's a good chance some paint will drip from the brush.  Before you begin, cover your floor and furniture with a tarp.

Dip the paintbrush into the can only a third of the way.  You won't waste as much paint.

For "clean" straight lines, use that blue painter's tape.

When you're finished for the day, rinse the brushes with water and wrap them in plastic or newspaper with a rubber band.  This will keep the bristles moist..

I'm sure the folks at your local paint or hardware store will be more than happy to answer specific questions and guide you through color selection.