Danny Lipford » Painting & Finishing

How to Filter Paint Using a Window Screen

Joe Truini — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:00:04 +0000

Old paint often contains dried chips inside the can. While you can buy paint filters to strain them out, a scrap of fiberglass window screen works just as well. Simply drape a piece of screen over the can, and secure it with tape. After filtering the paint, rinse out the screen to use again.

How to Tint Paint Primer Yourself

Joe Truini — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:00:53 +0000

When painting, it’s a good idea to tint the primer the color of the finished paint to reduce the number of coats needed. While a paint store can add colorant to the primer, you can also tint the primer yourself by adding some of the colored paint to it. Make sure the primer and paint are compatible before mixing the two together.

Paint and Primer in One Can

Jodi Marks — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:00:24 +0000

Behr Premium Plus Ultra paint eliminates the need for separate primer and topcoat by combining both into one can. The 100% acrylic latex paint comes in several sheens in both interior and exterior paints and is available at The Home Depot.

Eco-Friendly Wall Paint

Jodi Marks — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:19 +0000

Freshaire Choice Paint is the first tinted paint that’s completely free of volatile organic compounds to help reduce indoor air pollution in your home. Freshaire goes on smooth, covers flawlessly, and dries in minutes. It comes in 66 different colors, carries a lifetime warranty, and is certified by the GreenGuard Environmental Institute. Freshaire paint is available at The Home Depot.

Universal Spray Paint for Any Surface

Jodi Marks — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:09:52 +0000

As its name implies, Rust-Oleum Universal Spray Paint can be used on wood, plastic, metal, vinyl, concrete, and more. It comes in a range of colors, sprays from any angle, and has a comfort grip trigger that’s easy on your hands. Rust-Oleum Universal Spray Paint is available at The Home Depot

Thompson’s WaterSeal Exterior Multi-Surface Cleaner

Jodi Marks — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:17:32 +0000

Thompson’s Exterior Multi-Surface Cleaner with oxy-foaming action is formulated to remove dirt, mildew, and other stains from a variety of outside surfaces including wood and composite decks, concrete, masonry, and even some fabrics.

The powerful oxygen cleaner contains no bleach, making it gentle on surfaces. Apply with a pump up sprayer or watering can and then allow 5-10 minutes for the cleaner to soak. Scrub the surface with a stiff brush, then rinse it off with a hose. Thompson’s Exterior Cleaner is available at The Home Depot.

(699) Budget Bath: How to Remodel Your Bathroom

Danny Lipford — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:18:05 +0000

Let’s face it, there are a lot of downright ugly, outdated bathrooms, which is why renovating the bath is one of the most popular home improvement projects around. While you can go all out and spend a bundle on your bath, you don’t have to break the bank to make it look like new. Here are some ideas for making the most of your budget whether it’s big or small.

Bathroom Budgeting Options

Homeowners on a limited budget should consider a cosmetic upgrade for their bath. You’ll be amazed at the difference a coat of paint, along with new hardware and faucets can make, and it can be an easy do-it-yourself project as well.

Those with more to spend could go for a complete remodel by gutting the existing bath and replacing everything from fixtures and cabinets to countertops and flooring.

For the ultimate in luxury for cramped, older baths, consider removing an existing wall and expand the bathroom into an adjoining closet or rarely used guest bedroom.

Bathroom Remodeling Tips

To make your bathroom seem more like a castle than a dungeon, consider some of these remodeling tips:

Painting with light colors keeps a small bath from feeling claustrophobic.
Laying floor tile diagonally makes a bath seem larger than it is.
Adding mirrors to the walls expands the feeling of space in a bathroom.

Stay with white or neutral colored countertops and fixtures.
A 36” tall vanity can make the sink easier to use.
Consider replacing your bathtub with a walk-in shower.
Cultured marble is a durable, budget friendly alternative to natural stone that can be used for shower stalls, countertops, and sinks.
Using pocket doors in can save space in small baths.
A window seat in a bathroom can make dressing easier and provide storage space inside.
Utilize wasted space by mounting a hanging cabinet on the wall above the toilet.

Other Tips from This Episode

Simple Solutions with Joe Truini:
Tips for Cleaning Glass Shower Door

White vinegar works great for removing soap scum from the glass on your shower door. When the door is clean, spray a car windshield sealer, such as Rain-X Glass Treatment, on a rag and wipe the door down thoroughly. Once the sealer has dried, use a clean rag to remove any remaining sealer.

Best New Products with Jodi Marks:
Milwaukee M-Spector Camera

The Milwaukee M-Spector Cordless Camera can be equipped with a 3’ or 8’ long waterproof cable that can fit through a 3/4” diameter hole to see inside walls or down plumbing pipes. Adjustable zoom and a three stage LED light enhance the image on the LCD color screen. The M-Spector Camera is available at The Home Depot.

Thinking Green:
Reusing Plastic Containers

All manner of items can be reused rather than being thrown away, and plastic containers are a perfect example. Once they have been cleaned out, plastic containers can be cut to shape and reused as scoops, birdfeeders, or planters. The tops make great containers for small items like push pins or paper clips.

How to Paint a Room Like a Pro

Danny Lipford — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:32:43 +0000

Painting a room is one of the most common do-it-yourself projects around the home. While it’s not that difficult to do, it helps to know the tricks of the trade on how to go about it before breaking out a roller or brush.

When painting a room, the work should be done in the following order:

Prep: Clean surfaces and repair any defects.
Prime: Where needed, prime the walls and trim.
Caulk: Fill any gaps or cracks with caulk.
Ceiling: Paint ceiling first to prevent drips on walls.
Walls: Apply paint to walls using a roller.
Trim: Paint trim last to avoid roller splatter.
Cleanup: Clean brushes and rollers, remove drop cloths, and replace furnishings.

Painting Preparation

Walls

Interior walls are usually painted with latex paint and can usually be repainted without priming unless the existing walls are:

Painted a dark or vibrant color.
Have stains, grease, or other hard to cover marks.
Defects in the drywall have been patched.
Previously painted with oil-based paint.

In these cases, prime first with a stain blocking primer. To cover repairs, you may be able to spot prime without having to prime the entire room.

Before painting, shine a bright light along the surface of the wall to check for dents or defects, and fill them using a putty knife and spackling compound. Once the spackling has dried, sand the surface smooth. On rough surfaces dab the patched area with paint on a sponge or rag to mimic the texture of the wall.

Trim

In older homes, interior trim was painted with oil-based enamel, but improvements in the durability of latex enamel now make it the popular choice. Before painting over oil-based paint with latex, it’s important to prime the surface so the new paint will adhere properly.

To determine if the old paint is oil-based or latex, rub it with a rag dampened with denatured alcohol. If the paint comes off on the rag, it’s latex. If not, it’s oil-based.

Caulking

When caulking gaps or cracks:

Remove loose old caulking with a utility knife, scraper, or putty knife.
Use a good caulking gun that can stop and start the flow of caulking easily.
A quality acrylic latex caulk works best for caulking trim in most rooms.
For high moisture areas, such as kitchens and baths, use a caulking that is mold and mildew resistant.
100% silicone caulk should only be used on surfaces that will not be painted, such as between the tub and tile in a bathroom.
Apply caulk only to dry surfaces and when the temperature is over 50° F.

To apply caulking to a gap or crack:

Cut the tip of the caulking tube to a 45° angle so the hole is the width of the crack.
Puncture the seal in the tube several times using a nail or the seal punch on a caulking gun.
Hold the caulking gun at a 45° angle so the opening in the tube is parallel to the surface.
Lay down a smooth, even bead of caulk with little or no excess.
Smooth the bead with your finger before it sets up. Dampening your finger with water (latex caulk) or mineral spirits (silicone caulk) can make smoothing easier.
Allow caulking to dry thoroughly before painting or getting wet.

Painting a Room

Once the room has been prepped and you’re ready to paint:

Remove furniture, wall hangings, light switch and receptacle covers.
Apply safe release painter’s tape along baseboards and around window and door trim.
Cover floor with tarp or plastic sheeting.
Cut in ceiling edges and around light fixtures with brush.
Paint ceiling with roller. Unpainted textured ceilings may be hard to paint.
Mix the gallons of wall paint together in a 5-gallon bucket.
Cut in the walls with a brush around the ceiling, switches and plugs, windows and doors, baseboards, and along inside corners.
Use a quality roller and cover with a ½” to ¾” nap.

Hook roller screen over the side of 5-gallon bucket.
Dip roller in bucket and use screen to remove excess.
Start at one corner of room and apply paint vertically to the wall over a 2’ wide area.
Use light pressure on the roller at first, then press harder as the roller becomes less saturated with paint. Move the roller at a moderate pace to prevent splattering.
Go back over the area to spread and even out the paint.
Dip the roller in the bucket again and move to the adjoining 2’ area. Keep a wet edge between each section and smooth out any lines or drips.
Clean up the brush, roller, bucket, and screen with water and dishwashing detergent in a sink or outside with a garden hose.
If you’ll be using the same paint again the next day, wrap the wet roller in a plastic shopping bag and seal it with a tie to keep it from drying out.
After the walls have dried, remove tape and paint the trim with a brush, going with the grain of the wood.
Make sure the paint has dried thoroughly before hanging pictures and installing switch and outlet covers to keep them from sticking to the wall.

Further Information

Homeowner’s Guide to Paint Primer
Homeowner’s Guide to Caulk
Interior and Exterior House Painting Tips
Interior Painting Preparation (video)
How to Paint Walls (video)
How to Paint Trim (video)

Homemade Protective Pads for Extension Ladder

Joe Truini — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:14:31 +0000

The plastic caps on the end of an extension ladder can scratch paint or siding when they are leaned against your house. A simple way to protect your siding is to wrap the ends of the ladder with scraps of carpet, then hold them on with duct tape.

How to Paint a Stairwell

How to Paint a Galvanized Metal Door

Danny Lipford — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:26:33 +0000

Our front door is galvanized metal and the paint is popping off. What is the correct way to remove the old paint and repaint it? -Byrnes

Hi Byrnes,

If the door is peeling badly, you may need to use a stripper to remove all the paint. If only a few places are causing problems, you can probably get by scraping and lightly sanding the door to remove any loose or peeling paint.

Next, wipe down any bare metal with white vinegar to etch the surface and improve adhesion. You may also need to clean the door with a degreaser if the metal is oily as discussed in our article on How to Paint Galvanized Metal.

Next, prime any bare spots with a latex primer designed for use on galvanized metal, then topcoat the door with a high quality, exterior acrylic latex paint. Since darker colors absorb more heat, which can lead to peeling, you might want to stick with a lighter shade.

Good luck with your project,