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How to Paint a Room FAST

March 26, 2013

Painting a room is one of the easiest and most cost-effective home improvement projects you can tackle. However, for a lot of Portland homeowners painting a room or multiple rooms can be a real time-suck. Well never fear, dear readers! Improvement Remodeling is here with six tips for painting a room in no time. Enjoy!

 

1. Clean first, ask questions later.

It's important to start with a clean wall if you want your paint to dry quickly and evenly. We recommend using a plain sponge and trisodium phosphate (TSP) cleaner. TSP solutions are inexpensive and are great at removing grease and grime from your walls. TSP also slightly etches your existing paint, which helps the new paint form a better bond.

 

2. Don't tape everything.

Most DIY painters will tape off every edge and molding they can get their hands on. This technique is not only time-consuming, it's not even guaranteed to work - paint can still get under the tape. Instead of taping everything, focus on taping horizontal surfaces, such as baseboards. These spots are the most vulnerable to splatter and dripping. 

 

3. Get into the groove.

Painting up to a rough-textured ceilings is hard. Tape doesn't stick to the surface, but without it you're bound to get paint on the ceiling, right? Not necessarily. Make a groove along the edge of the ceiling with a putty knife by holding it at a 45-degree angle and scraping off some of the texture. This will force the brush bristles to slide into the groove while you're painting, giving you a crisp line and avoiding paint blotches along the edge of your ceiling.

 

4. Use paint extenders.

Paint extenders or conditioners increase the time paint will stay wet on the walls. This is important because the longer paint stays wet, the less likely it is to leave dark lines, or lap marks, on your walls. Extenders also help even out brush marks and reduce paint runs.

 

5. Cut corners, but only one at a time.

A lot of homeowners think it's a good idea to paint along the edges of the trim, ceiling, and corners before they start on the walls. In reality, if you wait to trim the edges of the each wall until you're about to paint that wall, the trim paint and wall paint will blend together better and leave you with a more even paint job.

 

6. Roll smart.

There is a specific way to use a paint roller that ensures a quicker job and a more even coat. After you load the roller with paint, roll from the bottom of the wall to the top, then straight back down. Load the roller again and move a few inches to the right or left (towards the unpainted wall). Repeat. This technique guarantees an even coat and a quick job.

 

What other room painting tips do you use to ensure a quick, high quality paint job? Did we leave out your favorite? Leave us a comment and let us know!



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