Painting

PAINTING

When using a paint roller, to get a good finish apply separate coats of paint from different directions.

When painting downpipes, to avoid splashing paint behind them fasten some newspaper or cardboard to the wall behind them first. Splashed paint behind pipework is very unsightly.

If sanding paintwork down prior to painting, use wet and dry sandpaper but slightly dampen it. This reduces the amount of dust from sanding and makes the whole job a bit easier.

It is not always necessary to rub exterior paintwork right down to the wood to repaint. If the paintwork is just grubby but otherwise in reasonable condition, wash it down with a sugar soap solution. Then wash it off and let it dry. Then you can paint over it, with undercoat first if you are painting it a different colour.

To avoid a skin forming on stored paint, put a piece of kitchen foil, cut to the inside diameter of the paint tin, on the surface of the paint before you close the lid.