Painting and decorating tips

Decorating doesn’t have to be stressful. Preparation is key to making a project run smoothly. Our technical expert, Jon, is on hand to give his top painting and decorating tips so that you can be ready to tackle that next project.

Fill

Filling any holes or cracks with the correct filler for the surface (walls or wood) will ensure a smooth finish.

Our Casein Filler is highly breathable and ideal for all walls in need of repair. Simply mix 1kg of our Casein Filler with 250ml of water, stirring until lump free. Apply the paste to the problem area and allow to dry for 8 hours. Once dry, use a fine sandpaper to level the filler to the wall surface – leaving an even finish.

Breathable casein filler for walls

Clean

For paint to adhere properly, the surface needs to be clean, dry and free of any dust. Any loose paint should be removed with a brush or scraper.

Try to remove any greasy marks with warm water, for more stubborn stains use our Isolating Primer where necessary – this will stop any grease bleeding though fresh paint.

For very powdery surfaces, our breathable Wall Glaze can be used as a primer to stabilise the surface for painting.

Isolating Primer-2.5L

Mask

Masking tape is your best friend. Use tape to section off areas you don’t want paint to reach such as skirting, window and door frames. Gravity is also your friend here. When sticking the tape, do it from the top downwards, so the roll is hanging down, it’s much easier.

Once painted, try to peel the tape off whilst the paint is still wet to leave a crisp edge and avoid peeling. Is there anything else more satisfying than peeling the masking tape off at the end? (Other than the satisfaction of finishing the project, of course).

Stir

Stirring paint is often overlooked but is crucial for an even, streak free finish.

Give your tin a vigorous shake before opening then grab yourself a stirrer (NOT an old screwdriver!). Make sure when you’re mixing you reach the bottom and sides of the tin.

Tools

Having the right equipment ready for the job will avoid any ‘where’s my…’ moments in the middle of decorating.

Start with dust sheets (old bedcovers work a treat for this), you might also need a ladder, and a piece of cloth or kitchen roll is handy for when you need to quickly rub off a mistake. We recommend short pile rollers and synthetic brushes when using our Claypaint.

Once you have finished, be sure to wash your tools in warm soapy water.

Top to bottom

It’s best practice to start with painting ceilings first, followed by walls, then woodwork. Working in this way will prevent any unwanted fallout or splashes from getting onto your freshly painted surfaces.

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