I’ve seen a lot of ‘scary paint jobs’…. that’s being very generous!!!! Many folks think that dipping a brush in some paint and putting it on a wall makes you a painter… That may be technically true but
When it comes to painting there are FOUR key elements.
- picking out the color and type of paint
- preparing the area to be painted
- applying the paint….
- ‘PROPER CLEAN-UP’
Color is a matter of taste. And what makes one person happy may make the next person sick! My take is: if it’s your space, do what makes you feel good. If however, we’re talking shared space or a more public space, good judgment is in order…. If your kid wants a ‘black room’… well that’s up to you…. But don’t expect the next person to be thrilled….
I did a renovation project on a 120-year-old building that was used as a ‘Knights of Pythias’ Recreation Center: It had a ballroom and band area, a big kitchen, pool tables area, and so on. This 6000 square foot space with 12-foot ceilings was once iconic but had been let go and was condemned. So, to transform it back into a feel-good space for offices, youth activities, community activities and weddings was a trick. I worked with an interior decorator who picked out 5 compatible colors. We let everyone do what they wanted in their space and whola’, everyone was happy, and it felt great!
Another creative painter/mentor pointed out that any given space can and will change tones throughout the course of a day…. Once I began observing more closely … he was absolutely right. So, don’t get too hung up over the perfect tone! Some sources say there are OVER 2000 shades of white!!!!!
A key area that is often overlooked is good preparation! Notice I didn’t say perfect, I said good. Perfect is when you are trying to match a spray-painted finish on a brand-new car! Not for the novice!
A house is a lot more forgiving…. but good preparation is a key element. That primarily means a surface that is clean, and in good state of repair. And this can cover the gamut…. Holes, cracks, peeling paint can all be part of the preparation challenge if you do it right…. and if you’re going to do it…. do it right! I CRINGE WHEN I SEE CRAPPY PAINT JOBS!!
The summer after high school I and a friend could barely pay rent and keep gas in our vehicles. We decided to help my friend’s cousin, who was a professional painter at a large manufacturing plant. The job was to paint a large full 2 story home 20 miles plus out of town, for an older lady who had left her narrow Cedar wood sided house go for far too long! My friend’s cousin did things right, EXCEPT bidding his odd jobs!!! Mind you this was long before power washers and paint sprayers! It took all summer and we barely made beer money. Part of my lifelong OJT!!
I grew up on a farm with parents that took pride in keeping things looking good. With over 20 different buildings and a big white farmyard fence, summer painting was a given! I had early practice, but I also learned to listen when a mentor came along with some tips , tricks or suggestions!
Rudy was one of those gems! A little guy that painted for a living… He painted inside and out but His specialty was big old barns no one else wanted to tackle. This was long before the days of spray guns and fancy lift equipment. It was wooden ladders and a brush. He was fast and he was good! He could trim with unbelievable accuracy and speed! Masking tape for him was a waste of time! I still use some of his techniques that he shared.
As for many projects…. Don’t expect to be a pro right out of the CHUTES. I encourage you to use our clips to make the project flow smoother and to help give you a sense of pride to your painting projects for years to come
Here’s To Happy Painting 🙂
