Grab your paintbrush!
Let's face it: using paint to cover up dings and scratches around the house doesn't exactly sound like advanced home improvement work. But the fact remains that you probably didn't learn how to use a paint brush properly in school, unless you were making watercolors! Using a paint brush around the house can be a very useful skill, particularly if you notice that there are areas of your home that can be fixed with a little "cosmetic surgery." So how do you become an ace surgeon? Simple. Keep reading.
When it comes to using a paint brush around the home, you might hear that it's "instinctive." Don't believe it. It might seem instinctive to people with a lot of home improvement experience, but unless you learn the proper techniques, you could end up wondering why your paint jobs look so different from everyone else's. With that in mind, here are some crucial tips and techniques to remember:
- "Load" the brush effectively. When you start painting (by the way, you made sure to cover surrounding areas, right?), you'll first have to "load" the brush with paint, which simply refers to dipping the paint brush into a bucket or puddle of paint so that you can apply it to the surface you want. There are some things to keep in mind here: first, only load the paint on the brush up to about a third on the bristles. Don't "scrape" the brushes on the side of the paint can, instead tapping it out to get rid of some of the dripping. Scraping the brush will lead to less paint being used on each application.
- As you apply the paint, try to work from side to side, starting on the left if you're right-handed, and vice versa for lefties. Try to cover the corners first so that you don't have to worry about them; one handy trick to remember is to have the dark edges cover the lighter-colored edges. This is because covering a dark edge with a light edge can mean that the dark coat of paint underneath shows, and it won't look very attractive.
Now that you've got a better understanding of how household paint works, you should find it easier to do the right job the first time. This means you won't have to worry about a poor paint job after your most recent coat dries. Remember that home improvement starts with self-improvement!
Photo Credits: FFX © florbelas fotographix
Originally posted 2009-10-05 03:59:58.
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Posted by Fix Handyman on March 11, 2010 in
Handyman, How to Fix, paint
Window won't budge?
It's warm outside and you want to get to the window to allow a fresh breeze in the living room. The problem? You pull on the window and it seems jammed! You check the lock; sure enough, it's still locked. You unlock it and go to pull the window again. No luck. Now what do you do? If you're still wondering that, then you're reading the right article. Here we'll tackle those stubborn windows that won't open even though you know they can.
If your window is a new one, or if a fresh coat of paint has been applied after the window was installed, then you'll want to take a look at the coat of paint and how it's interacting with the window. Sometimes, windows can be painted shut by paint that has been allowed to dry where the window should normally be allowed to move. Check this paint; if it looks like the paint might be getting in the way, use a razor knife and carefully cut the paint between the "stop" and the "sash." The "stop" refers to a window's frame on the house side of your window. The "sash" is the moving section of your window.
If you've done this and still are having trouble with the window sash not moving, then you're going to want to move on to the next level.
Now it's time to check the other parts of the window that are key to allowing movement. Check out pieces like the parting strip or the jamb. Once you take a step back and look at the areas of the window that should be working but aren't, you should have a better idea of what might need fixing. If you can confirm that each individual part is working, knock it off your list - a process of elimination might help you diagnose the real problem.
It's not an uncommon problem to have windows that seem heavier than they are because of slow-moving parts or parts that aren't quite working properly. If you use this window as a learning experience, you should have a better idea of all of the elements that go into making a window move effortlessly; use this knowledge to not only fix the window that is having the difficulties, but any future windows in your home that might require struggling to get them open.
Photo credits: David 23
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Posted by Fix Handyman on December 5, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, windows
Rusty and crusty? No problem!
For the beginning handy-man, it's pretty obvious that none of us were born knowing how to fix devices like lamp posts. But if you have a lamp post on your property that's been gathering rust for who knows how long, it might be time to take out the equipment and set to work. Which equipment will you want to bring out? Start with steel wool (or a wire brush), a rust inhibitor, metallic paint, a high-speed rotary (see details below), and safety glasses or goggles. It's time to finally fix that rusty lamp post.
Use your steel wool/wire brush (you can use both if you want to) to scrape away any debris or dust that won't be part of this job. You'll be working with the lamp post and its rust - before you try anything else, you're going to want to make sure all other debris is removed. Getting debris in the way can lead to a poor paint job once it's all done; the goal here is consistency.
A high-speed rotary with a #500 aluminum oxide grinding wheel will be important for removing the hardest rust. You can't exactly expect to scrape the rust away. Make sure you wear safety goggles, no matter how brave you're feeling.
Once you've scraped the rust down to size, apply a rust inhibitor so that the areas you've exposed won't begin to rust over themselves. This might not seem totally necessary, but it will help fix your lamp post for the long-term. After all, who wants to keep revisiting the same post year after year? Ask your hardware store for rust inhibitor. Apply it generously to the bare surface and joints of your lamp post.
After applying the inhibitor, it's time to put on the metallic paint. This will probably come in the form of a spray, since your lamp post will probably have hard-to-reach joints that you'll simply want to coat quickly. Try to get a color that matches your lamp post's color for the sake of uniformity. If this isn't possible, you might simply try applying another coat of paint - which is another article entirely!
It's easier than you think to fix what seems "unfixable," such as a rusty lamp post. You simply need the right knowledge and the right equipment. Don't be afraid to experiment - after all, the skill might come in handy some day.
Photo Credits: gingher
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 26, 2009 in
Furniture, Handyman, How to Fix, light fixtures
Three Reasons to Use Primer Before Starting a Paint Job
Any good painter will tell you that for a lot of surfaces and for a lot of different coats of paint, you're going to need to use a coat of primer before applying your paint. What exactly is primer, and why is it so popular? Here are three reasons you should consider making primer part of your standard painting practice.
Primer helps paint stick. One of primer's most basic functions is to help paint to adhere to the surface you're applying it to. Without primer, smoother surfaces can see paint drip down and lose its volume. Paint can unevenly adhere to different areas of rougher surfaces, making the paint job look unprofessional and sloppy.
A good coat of primer will cover a lot of the cracks and imperfections in a surface, helping to provide the foundation for a fresh, even coat of paint that actually sticks to the surface it's being applied to. Not only will paint stick better - ultimately looking better - but it will adhere to the surface for longer periods of time.
Primer helps even out a coat of paint. One of the most crucial aspects of a paint job is how evenly spread the paint is. Anyone who's painted a wall before knows that an uneven coat of paint will look downright unprofessional. You don't want to see clumps of heavier paint next to thinner, even transparent areas. That's why primer can be crucial for applying a coat of paint that evenly spreads throughout the surface.
You want your primer to do much of the work for the paint; let the paint simply look pretty. By setting your primer deeply and evenly into your material, you'll be able to lay on a healthy coat of paint that looks even and attractive.
You have to protect your surface and the paint, especially on wood. For wood surfaces, primer is considered mandatory practice - without it, paint's chemicals easily leak through and damage the wood. This also dries the paint, giving it less durability and a shorter shelf life.
Remember that wood doesn't always respond well to moisture over time - in fact, a poor paint job can contribute to problems like rotting and warping. The layer of primer applied ahead of the paint will protect both the wood and the paint.
Do you absolutely always want to use primer? It depends on the kind of surface you're using. Make sure that you do a little more studying on your paint surface before you begin a paint job to ensure that you'll be applying a healthy, consistent coat of paint that can last for a long time.
Photo Credits: danielle_blue
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 27, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix
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