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Tips and Techniques for a Great Paint Job
Essential Painting Products
©2021 The Betty Brigade
2. Essential painting products
1. Don’t paint over problem walls
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If your walls have holes or cracks, fix them before you
start with the paint.
•
Find about the best products for the job—any home
center or paint store has knowledgeable personnel that
can guide you
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Wide cracks and large holes can be “bridged” with
fiberglass tape
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Spackle will fill small holes and cracks
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Texturizing products are available to match your existing
wall finish.
•
There are a lot of products to help make painting more
enjoyable. You'll want to select the best ones for your
job.
I.
Natural or Synthetic Brushes
Natural brushes are meant for oil-based paints. These will
soak up the water and go limp in water-based paints.
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Synthetic bristles were designed for water-based or latex
paints but can be used for anything.
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Densely packed bristles that taper to a chisel edge help
with painting a straight edge, cutting in, or tipping.
Split ends or "flags" hold more paint and spread it more
evenly and smoothly.
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©2021 The Betty Brigade
2. Essential painting products (cont.)
II.
III.
Foam Brushes and Rollers
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Foam brushes come in many widths, are inexpensive, and
are great for small jobs or touch-ups.
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Foam paint rollers work well, don't spatter the paint, and
are easy to use when you want a really smooth wall.
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Don't try them on rough surfaces, though, as they will not
hold up.
Pad Painters
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Smooth pad painters offer simple and neat paint
application and easy clean ups.
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Don't apply too much paint to the pad because it will drip.
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If that happens, you have to take it apart, clean it, dry it
thoroughly, and start over.
IV.
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Water-based or Latex Paint
Latex paints are formulated to be environmentallyfriendly.
Drying time is short—usually about 1 hour—and cleanups
are easy with water.
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Apply water-based paints with rollers, pads, or synthetic
bristle brushes.
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Latex paints tend to get a “skin” of paint in the can when
they begin to dry out, so keep the can covered as much as
possible.
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Pour paint into another container to work from and close
the can.
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©2021 The Betty Brigade
2. Essential painting products (cont.)
V.
Oil-Based Paint
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Most professional painters prefer oil-based paints,
especially for cabinets, furniture, and trim.
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Because they dry more slowly, oil-based paints allow for
better coverage and work well in warm, dry climates
where water-based paints would dry too fast.
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Apply oil-based paints with pads, rollers, or natural bristle
brushes.
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Clean up with paint thinner or another solvent.
VI.
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The best material for a drop cloth is a heavy canvas cloth.
It's not as slippery as plastic and covers better than
newspaper.
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Drop Cloths
Fold the cloth to fit any size room and tape down the
corners to prevent paint from oozing over the edge.
To prevent scratching, be sure to vacuum hardwood floors
before you put the drop cloth down.
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©2021 The Betty Brigade
2. Essential painting products (cont.)
VII.
Tinted Primer
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Most paint jobs work better when you use a primer or
base coat.
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Have the primer or base paint tinted to match your
surface paint color.
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You may be able to avoid a second coat of finish paint.
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For ceilings, try paint that is specially formulated for
ceilings.
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Some brands go on light blue and change to white when
dry. This makes it easier to see where you've already
painted.
VIII.
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Painter’s blue tape has a waxy coating to keep paint from
seeping through.
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Painter's Blue Tape
It is available in several widths and provides a perfectly
straight edge for painting.
It will not pull up the paint on the surface it's stuck to, and
the seal is activated when you put it down on a smooth
surface.
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Don't leave it on the wall more than a couple of days
because these amazing properties don’t last forever.
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©2021 The Betty Brigade
Tips and Techniques for a Great Paint Job
The Betty Brigade has great resources, knowledge, and reliable partners, always ready to help.
Give us a call Toll-free at- or at-
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©2021 The Betty Brigade