Blistering paint job.
When you add a coat or two of paint to your home, you expect that paint to stick there and for that to be that. But life isn't always that easy, as sometimes the paint will peel, blister, or even chip off. So how do you fix some of the most common paint problems you'll find around the house? If that's the question you're asking yourself this weekend, you've come to the right article:
Problem: Paint blistering. What does paint blistering look like? Like skin blisters, except not (necessarily) red. Blistering paint will have bumps that pop up, and this can be caused by a number of problems, such as trapped water vapor underneath the paint. You can't simply paint over this problem, so how do you fix it?
Solution: Start over. If the cause of the paint blistering is coming from inside the house, you'll want to fix that. But when it comes to the pain itself, you'll likely have to start over - scrap the paint off, re-sand the surface, and re-paint the area using the same method you did around the rest of the area. Let the paint dry and re-evaluate the entire area in a few weeks.
Problem: Paint is "chalking," spreading to areas underneath the paint in what looks like chalk. Paint that "chalks" has a layer of what looks like chalk appear on it, also affecting other areas that you don't want covered in what appears to be paint powder. Chalking is a problem that often comes from lower-quality paint, and you might see it if you used a contractor.
Solutions: You'll have to fix the paint itself, or else the area will simply continue chalking and you'll need to keep cleaning the effected area. In order to do this, you'll want to do as much as you can to replace the paint job - remember that chalk would be considered debris like any other paint job. Apply a layer of higher-quality latex paint after washing and rinsing the chalking off, and then clean the affect areas (such as masonry walls including bricks) with specialized cleaners that are designed for those areas.
Problem: Paint "sagging" or running makes the paint look like old skin. Forgive the image, but "sagging" is an ugly way for your paint to settle anyway. Here's how to fix it.
Solution: Sand over the effected area - where there will typically be an area of excess paint - and repaint over that area.
Photo credits: Photos by Mavis
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Posted by Fix Handyman on December 1, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, paint
Painting the wall.
One of the most frequent themes in home repair and decoration is painting. Just go into your local hardware store and you'll see how much is dedicated to paint - from the brushes to the cans, to finding the ideal mixture of a paint color for your room. So when your home has an amateur paint job in one of the rooms, it definitely sticks out. How can you paint like a professional without paying professional prices for an expertly-crafted paint job in your favorite room?
If you want to paint like a professional, you'll have to prepare like one. This separates the professionals from the amateurs. If you want to put up a professional paint job in your home, start with preparing by removing light switch and outlet covers, removing other hardware that can get in the way, removing fixtures that can get in the way, and taping off the edges that you can't quite get rid of. Preparation for your paint job is crucial, so make sure you don't slack here. Once you've done a good job preparing for a professional paint job, you'll find that the rest of the job feels as easy as "connect-the-dots."
After a first-rate job of preparing the room for painting, it's time to put on the first-rate paint itself. First, put on a coat of primer if you feel like you need it. Let the primer dry - and make sure that you've applied the primer to all of the areas you plan on brushing and rolling paint onto. With the primer ready to accept your paint, start working from the top-down: start with the ceiling, move to the walls, and then handle areas such as the finishing paint near windows.
As you paint, make sure to be generous with your paint, but consistent. Don't slop paint on and spread it around like it's jelly; instead, just be sure to do a thorough job. Being thorough is exactly what separates an amateur paint job from a professional job, so be sure that you follow through on this point.
Be sure to let your paint dry before you evaluate it. You might find that your paint job is great and ready to go! If it needs another layer of thickness, apply another coat and let that dry. Once you're finished, put the room back in its original order and enjoy a fresh coat of paint and the new color you've applied.
Photo Credits: Patrick Goossens
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Posted by Fix Handyman on October 22, 2009 in
Handyman, House, How to Fix
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
Painting the outside of your home?
In order for you to understand how to fix your paint job, it will be important for you to first understand how paint applies to your home's exterior in the first place. Remember that oftentimes, simply painting over a problem with the old paint job won't do the job - at the very least, it will only cover up the problem. If you want a paint job that is smooth and covers no hidden problems, this article is for you.
Fixing exterior paint jobs is all about understanding how paint sticks. Either you'll want to be removing paint, or applying paint in a way that it provides a thick uniform coat and doesn't chip off. In order to accomplish this, you're going to need a few tools: paint and a paint brush, sandpaper, paint primer, and possibly a paint scraper.
In order to fix your exterior paint job, you're going to have to answer one crucial question: how large is the area you're looking to coat with a new paint? Some people only want to fix an area where the old paint job is chipping and falling off, using the same color to coat over it. Others are looking to replace the paint job altogether, starting from square one on the exterior of their home.
If you're looking to fix a small area on the paint job, make sure you have the right paint color before beginning. Call your contractor to see if you can find out the specific paint used - you might also be able to chip off a piece of the paint job and bring it in to the hardware store for color matching. This might not be perfect, but the closer the color is, the less the old paint job will be noticed.
Next, chip off the old paint using a paint scraper - be careful not to damage the wood itself. If you can't chip certain areas of the paint off, try to sand it down with the sandpaper. Make sure that you sand the entire area to get it as uniform as possible. Once you've sanded off the area, clean it out - there will probably be a lot of wood debris in the area.
Next, apply your primer. The primer itself needs a uniform coating, and will require some time to dry. Make sure you follow the primer's directions and allow it to dry before applying the new paint. Once you've done that, you're ready to apply your first coat of paint. Well done!
Photo Credits: eye of einstein
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Posted by Fix Handyman on August 25, 2009 in
Handyman, House, How to Fix, paint
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
Five Ideas for Remodeling Your Kitchen
Whenever a spouse brings up the possibility of fixing up the kitchen, it's usually the other spouse's job to think about the money (hint: I'm on the money thinking side). After all, remodeling anything your home probably won't be a cheap situation, especially the more ambitious your plans are. But if you really want to fix a kitchen and make some necessary repairs while upgrading a room's look, there may be no avoiding it.
Don't forget that fixing a kitchen can increase the value of your home if you plan on moving to a larger home in the near future. That's just one of the reasons you'll want to remodel your kitchen, but if your heart's already set on it and you're not sure you have the cash, don't fret. This article will tell you five ways that you can remodel your kitchen while slashing the prices.
- Change the wallpaper or paint the walls.
Perhaps one of the quickest and cheapest ways to change the overall look of your kitchen is to look past the cabinets, countertops, and appliances, and to the wall itself: is the wallpaper dragging the rest of the room down? Does the color contrast in all the wrong ways with its environment? It might be time to either try new wallpaper or give it a new paint job. Make sure you consult with someone to be sure you're picking a color that will improve it, not do further damage to the ambiance.
- Update your countertops.
Countertops take up a lot of the space in the kitchen, and making sure that they're top-of-the-line can be a great bonus for kitchen lovers. Expensive stone countertops can make the entire kitchen seem more expensive without breaking the bank.
- Modernize your appliances.
If your kitchen is clean and looks good, maybe it's time to modernize the appliances you're actually using. Even if you plan on showing your house to prospective buyers who won't be taking your appliances, the better your kitchen looks, the more perceived value your home will have. Besides, since you get to keep the appliances and use them, it works better for you.
- Redo the cabinets.
Perhaps the first place most people look in the kitchen is to the cabinets: old dusty wood can be replaced by new, strong timber. It's not an easy project but if you tackle it yourself, you may be able to save a few bucks.
- The floors!
Although the floors will be under your feet 100% of the time, they can still have a dramatic impact on how the rest of the room looks. If you can't figure out anything else to do with your kitchen, maybe you should stop looking around and simply look down at your feet.
Photo Credits: brianc
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Posted by Fix Handyman on July 16, 2009 in
Handyman, How to Fix, kitchen
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