How to Paint Your House in One Weekend!

    For those who do this every day, painting is much simpler. If you start, as an amateur, see how much work there is. Here's what you need to know so you don't go wrong.

But, how to paint your house in one weekend?

    If you, as an amateur, start painting yourself a quarter of a kitchen or two walls and the ceiling in the hallway, see how much work it is. And precisely because we are not professionals, this operation requires a lot of training and clear explanations, for the ignorant, including things that seem obvious. (Use this link to watch a short video about painting your house!)

About the necessary materials

We start from the premise that the walls are already repaired or that you only need a fresh layer on the walls. If you have to make repairs, I recommend that you opt for an easier option, such as the one in the article here.

Choose a washable one suitable for the type of room you are painting - bathroom, kitchen - taking into account the properties you need, apart from the color. It is preferable to those that let the wall breathe and that is very easy to wash without losing color. As for choosing the color, here are some tips in the article on how to choose new colors in your home.

    Changing colors is one of the most affordable ways to improve a house's design. You can choose the colors for your home without resorting to an architect or designer if you follow the tips in the article.

If you look around a bit, on the street, in autumn or before spring comes, you would think that the world is made only of shades of gray and brown, with slight traces of dirty blue and a lot of blacks. In winter, if it weren't for the snow that would open up the atmosphere a bit, the landscape would be even more depressing: people, buildings, and parks are as gray, as in an undeclared competition for the title of the driest matter on earth.

Where are the colors? Why do we choose to cover ourselves under the colors of the dirty earth? Why are we afraid of color?

Changing colors is one of the most affordable ways to improve a house's design. You can do it without resorting to an architect or designer if you follow the tips below. You can count on them because I've studied the problem before: I work in the construction industry, meaning I guys which are painting houses.

Walls: That means painted and you're right, but a new layer of paint on the walls is easier to apply than you think. A two-room flat can be solved on a weekend if the walls are in good condition. But it depends on our ability to work without making a mess around and, in fact, this is the biggest problem.

    

As tools, you need a brush for the hardest-to-reach places and for the edges, 1-2 rolls (one of at most 20-22 cm for the ceiling and another bigger one for the walls), and a tray for the paint.

You can find different types of rollers on the market, and their choice is simple: the straighter and finer the surface to be painted, the shorter the fiber thread and the ones in the sponge are for enamel paint. Remember one thing, though: the fluffier they are, the harder they get soaked in the paint and the heavier and more difficult it is for a person with no painting experience to handle. I suffered from it, that's why I chose a sponge, although that means "feeding" it more often with washable!

For the ceiling, a wooden tail for adults could be useful, which you can use as an extension, so as not to perch on a ladder. But you need a little dexterity to handle the roller from such a distance.

Dress in older clothes (you will seriously stain them) and use plastic gloves and goggles so as not to splash in your eyes. Have a few damp cloths on hand, so you can wipe them immediately in case of paint spills (especially on the soles, so you don't slip and fall), as well as 3 packages with protective foil, which you can find in stores DIY for 3-4 $ a piece. You could do with 2, but it's better to stay than not have enough.

Preparing for painting

The first thing to do is to empty the camera of anything that can be easily removed or overturned during the process. Pull the furniture next to the walls, so that you have access to all the areas where you have to paint. Arrange them in such a way, in the center of the room, so that you also have a place to step on them or a place to bring the ladder, to reach the ceiling.

Cover everything with protective plastic foil or protective textiles. Usually, these foils are very large, so you can cut the piece in two or three, depending on the surface you need to protect. Secure it with paper shells for more safety.

It also protects the window frames and the door frames, also with paper shells, so that you can easily paint them without getting dirty. Cover the chandeliers that you do not take down, covering them also in protective foil or paper.

 

The wall must be cleaned well - wiped of dust and spiders, otherwise, they will mix with washable paint and will leave marks on the walls. If there are obvious grease stains or splashes, degrease the wall with water and detergent. Dirt will not be able to be completely removed, but no substance gets stuck on a wall lined with splashes of hardened food, for example. (Sounds incredible, but I've seen houses with something like that.)

You will see that this step takes a lot of time, but it then saves you a painful cleaning. If everything is well protected, all you have to do at the end is vacuum and dust, as usual, before bringing back the evacuated objects.

The prime

The second step is to apply a primer - which is actually a combination of water and spray - that will help the paint adhere better to the wall. Apply the primer with a brush, roller,  or spraying with a spray type for the window wiping solution.

Now you will see how well you wiped the walls: if they are very dirty, the primer flows and leaves a dye that can be seen through the washable, if you have not given enough layers or the paint does not have a high degree of coverage. Let it dry well for at least half an hour so that it soaks into the walls and takes effect.

The painting

When the primer has dried, you can wash it and start with the ceiling. When I was little, I used to see my grandparents whitewashing and I know that they always said that the ceiling must be turned in one direction and without letting the trace dry, otherwise unsightly shadows remain. Washable paints now are not so pretentious, but it is still good to spread washable in one direction when you apply it to the ceiling.

    First, use the brush to paint the joint of the ceiling with the wall and in other areas where the roller does not fit (between the pipes or behind the curtain gallery). Continue with the roller, always in the same direction. To make it easier for you, put the paint in the tray, and from there feed your roller, as you work, but first roll it on the tray grill to remove the excess paint.

When you have finished the ceiling, take a deep breath and take care of the walls in the same way: first paint the edges next to the windows and doors, then the portions where you can use the roller. Make sure that the last cough from each portion is always in the same direction if you want a uniform texture.

If the paint seems too thick, you can add water up to 10% of the total amount. But know that a thin paint will flow and splash even worse. In addition, the obtained layer will be more transparent and you will have to apply it again.

You will see that painting the ceiling is the most difficult thing, due to the awkward position you are in and the fact that you do not have to paint over it because you will be filled with splashes.

9 tips to keep in mind when painting yourself

Things are relatively simple, what complicates everything is our physical limitations and the level of experience in painting. who paints himself for the first time should not expect miracles, but all kinds of surprises. Here are some things to keep in mind to avoid problems as much as possible.

1. All rollers sprinkle. Remember this, so that you don't blame yourself and think that you don't know how to paint.

2. Always have three points of support when you are tall and paint. Place your feet on different objects, one of which should be fixed (table, kitchen counter), and with one hand be prepared to support you when you go up and down. No kidding with a healthy fall. I learned this when I started climbing trees and believe me it is essential information for your safety.

3. Mark your places covered by protective foil where you do not have to step (sink, hob, chairs, etc.) so that you cannot stop there in any way. Also for safety reasons.

4. Wear light shoes that do not slip on your foot and that you do not drop when you go up and down.

5. If you spray the walls while painting the ceiling, wipe or even out the paint. Otherwise, there will be embossed marks that cannot be covered when you paint the walls.

6. If you want to take a break at the end of a wall, put the roller in a bag until you come back. The water-based paint dries quickly and you risk it hardening on the roller and complicating your process. Either you have to wash it or look for another one, and that takes up your time.

7. Drops that fall outside the protective foil should be wiped off immediately so that it is not difficult for you to remove them later. In addition, you can slip on them and fall.

8. Lime marks on furniture, doors, and windows are easily removed with vinegar water. You don't need to rub hard, you just need to wipe in the first phase with a cloth soaked in vinegar water, and a minute later wipe again. Vinegar neutralizes lime dust and you will not have whitish marks often left after painting and which are difficult to remove, after washing with various substances with high levels of chemical compounds.

9. Wash the tools when you are done, with hot water in which you put vinegar. You will still need them and it is a shame to throw them away, as long as the fresh paint is easy to clean.

All in all, painting requires effort. If physical work is not part of your daily routine or you are not a sports person, this activity can take you at least two days in one room. The first day is for painting, and the second for restoration, because the renovation will drain you of strength.

 If you have any questions or would like to help with advice, feel free to leave a comment and I will answer as soon as I can. Thanks!