How do you get good at house painting?

[woolgoolgaoffroad]

just don't lose your stroke motion

either go stroke up then stroke down
OR
either go stroke down then stroke up

 

[Mallory Black]

You'll instantly be a good painter if you wear white shirt, white pants
and Volleys, you have to have a pair of Volleys on your feet. that's the key

[Goose]

Ceilings are easy to paint. If in doubt mask up the cornice/wall junction with the blue painters masking tape. If I am doing a whole room I won't mask this bit as I paint the ceiling and cornices first then it is an easy cut in for the walls. As cruisindub mentioned the Dulux ceiling paint that goes on pink and dries white is excellent.

So if you're painting the ceiling first and wall second you don't use any tape for either? Describe how you cut in the walls without getting wall paint on the newly painted cornice. This is a bit that i struggle with. I tape up the cornice before painting the wall and then when i remove the tape from the cornice i pull the new cornice paint off with it. Grrr... Alternatively, don't tape up cornice and get wall paint on the cornice. Double Grrr..

[Goose]

Also, are there any recommended online stores or e-bay stores for buying painting accessories?

My local Bunnings just stocks so much el cheapo stuff, and their lines are horrendous.

[fuji]

There is an online store or I should say discount paint store in Melbourne
http://www.paintclearancecentre.net.au/

[Mallory Black]

Hi,do the ceilings first and work your way down.

when you are 'cutting in' the wall paint on the edges of the cornices and tril, use a fine bristled cutting brush (they have the hairs on an angle)

those other fancy things with wheels and guides (shur-line) have their place though.
They are not as good as a good hand with a brush but if you suck at doing your cutting in with a brush try that avenue.

I painted our house 5 years ago and on the new gyprock did 2 coats of undercoat and 2 coats of colour. might seem like overkill but the result looked awesome

We used Dulux paints and undercoat
ceilings had Dulux Once
walls had Dulux interior wash & wear low sheen. didn't go for the full matt because we have kids and dogs and wanted to be able to clean easy
bathrooms and toilets had the Dulux wash & wear in a semi gloss. this paint is specially formulated for wet areas.

99% of our stuff we got from bunnings and no problems

here's a few pics to give you inspiration. colour is called ghosting

[cruisindub]

Looks a nice place mate. Like the dining room, onto the patio with the doors and decking. Looks nice. Well done.

I guess, also for the OP, it's easy enough to change colour should you not like the shading.

We sampled a couple of colours,   well worth it, they are expensive to buy. We chose a grey, too dark, finally settled on a lighter shade.
Took us a couple attempt to find the right shade of teal to accompany it.

[Mallory Black]

oh yeah
here's another tip
practice on a kids room or utility room or closet
do the main areas last

[shakey55]

Trust me you don't


'shakey'

[evans52]

Call a bunch of Mates, put a BBQ on, supply some beer and soft drinks and get them to do it while you play with power tools. That's what I did. Works a treat.

[Ynot]

I started paint our interior last Saturday and gave up on Sunday. Can't stand painting, it is boring as bat hire.

Misses had a few quotes Monday and the job is booked for after the school holidays.

Not much of an answer but that's my take...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[cruisindub]

Don't take 'Evans52' advice........alcohol and paint dont mix. Could turn out very messy.

[oldmate]

So if you're painting the ceiling first and wall second you don't use any tape for either? Describe how you cut in the walls without getting wall paint on the newly painted cornice. This is a bit that i struggle with. I tape up the cornice before painting the wall and then when i remove the tape from the cornice i pull the new cornice paint off with it. Grrr... Alternatively, don't tape up cornice and get wall paint on the cornice. Double Grrr..

And right there is the difference between a pro painter and the average jo who thinks he can paint. By the time average jo has mucked around taping up cornice,down one wall, a pro painter has just cut in the room with a dead straight line and not a bit of tape o paint on the cornice.
There is no secret as to how you do it goose, it is just a practise thing. If you did it 8-9 hrs a da every day, you get good at stuff.  A good painter will have it done in half the time as average jo also.
In my line of work is see plenty of jobs, and I will say, that you can ALWAYS tell the jobs that was not done by a professional.
 

[MDS69]

So if you're painting the ceiling first and wall second you don't use any tape for either? Describe how you cut in the walls without getting wall paint on the newly painted cornice. This is a bit that i struggle with. I tape up the cornice before painting the wall and then when i remove the tape from the cornice i pull the new cornice paint off with it. Grrr... Alternatively, don't tape up cornice and get wall paint on the cornice. Double Grrr..

Correct if I am painting both ceiling and walls I do the ceiling and cornice first as painting the 10mm edge on the bottom of the cornice can be difficult if trying to cut in against the wall. It is easier to cut in up to this edge.

[Brumbypt]

i built and painted my place. I hate house painting, swore every time, till I learnt to buy professional gear, and not the cheap crap..

sstronger trays, better rollers, etc etc..

[Goose]

And right there is the difference between a pro painter and the average jo who thinks he can paint. By the time average jo has mucked around taping up cornice,down one wall, a pro painter has just cut in the room with a dead straight line and not a bit of tape o paint on the cornice.
There is no secret as to how you do it goose, it is just a practise thing. If you did it 8-9 hrs a da every day, you get good at stuff.  A good painter will have it done in half the time as average jo also.
In my line of work is see plenty of jobs, and I will say, that you can ALWAYS tell the jobs that was not done by a professional.
 

I'm afraid you're exactly right. The only way to get good at something is just to practice practice practice.

Maybe its better to not use the painters tape at all as that forces me to cut in in a straight line, or not cut in at all -- i have seen a few (ugly) houses where the walls and ceiling are the same paint and color. Suppose they thought it was a good idea at the time.

[cruisindub]

Have a go.

Dont be stressed.

Besides, you can always touch up afterwards. How close are you, your family going to look at it. If your visitors do, and comment on it, don't invite them round again.

It's your house, your home.

We did all our renovations ourselves, and I looked at it this way. How long would it take me to earn the same amount of money in my pocket as to what I paid someone to do it............     
We saved thousands by doing it ourselves.

That's thousands in capital in your home, and more in your pocket.

There's been some great advice above.

Pick up the brush and have a go. Wishing you all the best.

[Crisp Image]

A mate who is a painter says don't use plain white paint on the celling. Use builders white (He is a dulux man) a little drop of black in the paint makes it flow better. you cant tell the difference once it is dry.
I also found using a good quality brush and rollers are the key. Do not skimp on them, look after them and they will make it so much better. A good cutting in brush and a steady hand.
Good luck
Regards
Crispy

[V8100]

You need a good cutting in brush around 60mm you need to sort of push it in ona 45 degree angle until it is straight against the cornice. Does that make sense? Probably not. You also need to have a full brush don't skimp on the paint and keep using the same side of your brush it will wear in and be easier. Keep going in the same direction whilst cutting do not brush back and forward. I am not a painter but carpenter/ builder and my old man was my boss as an apprentice so he made me work with a painter until I got good at it.
Eddy

[Azz]

In my line of work is see plenty of jobs, and I will say, that you can ALWAYS tell the jobs that was not done by a professional.
 

THAT IS LIFE ADVICE RIGHT THERE 

[GeoffNeal]

I was told by a painter that putting a bit of black in to your ceiling paint helps with coverage.... He explained that the tinted used are like tiny ball bearing except the black ones are a lot smaller and fill in the gaps between the white ones.... A bit like pouring sand into a glass of pebbles, if you get my drift..... Anyway they swear it works and you use a lot less paint to cover a ceiling..

[Mallory Black]

tell you what I'm doing this weekend instead of the anual Fraser trip..

Re-painting the outside of my house because the so called 'professional' I paid $15k 5 years ago to do the job failed to do what he was paid to do on the prep and also used a very sub-standard brand of paint starting with S.
By the time I figured out what had happened and caught up with him to get him back to fix the job mother nature fixed him up with lukemia so I left him alone to fight that battle.
I went to the paint manufacturer who admitted that there "might" be a problem with the paint but all they could offer me was some free paint (but no one to do the re-paint) which I declined.

If I was going to have to use my own labour I would rather pay for a premium brand and not have to touch it for another 15-20 years.

So have a go, be patient with yourself, focus on the prepration, workset hours like start at 7am, don't allow disruptions, knock off at 2.30-3pm and be sure to reward yourself with some nice treats (drinking treats) and a slap up meal.

Do take your time, yoyu will probably surprise your self and get a finish something like a pro might do but it'll just take you twice as long.

The money we saved helped Mrs B get a really nice kitchen in return