For questions regarding the application of paint to a surface, including preparation and cleanup.
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Do I need to prime/seal new drywall behind cabinets?
If I were doing it, I would usually prime and paint before installing the cabinets. My painter for this project says he'd prefer that I install everything before he paints.
Do I need to use a sealing ...
3
votes
4answers
568 views
How can I remove water-based emulsion paint from paving slabs?
On painting the bedrooms in our new house, we've gotten some (mainly) water-based paint on some of the paving slabs on the patio. A little of it may be oil-based gloss we used for skirting boards, but ...
0
votes
0answers
72 views
What are the differences between “standard” BM Aura paint and the “Bath and Spa” variety? [closed]
What are the differences and pros/cons between the Benjamin Moore Aura Paint and the specially formulated Aura Bath & Spa Paint?
The manufacturer's page lists them with nearly identical specs ...
2
votes
0answers
76 views
How to reveal a mural that was painted over [closed]
A mural I painted years ago was recently painted over by 'accident' and the owners would like it restored. I painted it in latex and acrylics. Looks like they used white enamel. Is it possible to ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Should a special type of paint be used on a forced air HVAC heat register?
I'm not sure if the higher temperatures would compromise the finish.
4
votes
2answers
773 views
What type of paint should be used to paint a brick fireplace?
The brick color is hideous. Additionally there are some missing bricks that will be replaced first and would be hard to match.
Is there a particular type of paint that should be used on brick?
3
votes
1answer
296 views
How should I paint a stain on a white wall without having to repaint the entire wall?
My livingroom has a white wall with a visible brown stain on it.
I would like to cover it with some white paint but the wall was painted a couple of years ago so it is not bright white but it has ...
5
votes
1answer
3k views
How long does paint have to dry before I can tape over it?
I have painted the trim with semi-gloss latex paint. How long does it need to dry before I can mask it with blue painter's tape?
5
votes
3answers
286 views
Why do touch ups on flat paint show?
I just had my whole house gutted and renovated due to a fire. I am having a problem with the paint they used. The contractor insisted on using flat paint as it could be touched up and would not ...
3
votes
1answer
169 views
Why does my interior paint absorb water and darken when splashed?
I am wondering if the paint contractors painted my new drywall appropriately. It is a flat latexand if even brushed with a damp towel it darkens. It seems to me that the drywall must not have been ...
0
votes
1answer
711 views
How to clean up spilled paint on carpet?
My drunken roommate came home last night and knocked a whole can of paint all over the carpet. I just found it this morning, half-dry. I scooped most of it up, but there's still the bottom layer ...
3
votes
1answer
180 views
How to remove paint and refinish metal fan housing front plate
I have an old exhaust fan from the 50s in my kitchen; the kind where you let a bead chain loose and it opens a hatch and the fan engages. Anyways, the fan has a metal faceplate, and a stainless steel ...
6
votes
2answers
371 views
How long should I wait before painting new lumber?
I am building a fence. I just bought some treated 4x4s from the lumber yard and they are water logged from being out in the rain for an unknown amount of time.
The weather has been cool and wet for ...
2
votes
1answer
380 views
What is best product for stripping paint from wood?
We want to strip previously painted trim and baseboards. We have tried the Jasco paint stripper but it gums up and is not very successful, especially since the trim has a fairly detailed profile. Is ...
2
votes
2answers
850 views
Can I use an airless paint sprayer to paint kitchen cabinets?
Is an airless paint sprayer recommended for painting kitchen cabinets, boxes and doors?
6
votes
1answer
824 views
What type of paint and how many coats should be used to paint a radiator?
We've moved into a new house with a fairly incompatible sense of interior design. To illustrate one room in particular, the walls are orange, the floor to ceiling shelves are orange, the fireplace ...
4
votes
1answer
382 views
How can I remove small paint specks from a wooden floor?
The painters I had hired (and quickly fired) to repaint my apartment spilled some paint (little specks and spots) on the wooden floors and let it dry off without cleaning it.
The paint was "glycéro", ...
7
votes
1answer
277 views
Do primer + paint products work well?
Are primer + paint products as effective as using separate primer and paint
2
votes
1answer
225 views
What is best way to thoroughly clean airless sprayer after using shellac primer
We will be using a shellac-based primer on our interior walls, using an airless sprayer. I know it needs to be cleaned thoroughly with denatured alcohol. I read somewhere that I should run an ...
4
votes
2answers
94 views
How can I remove a mark from a freshly painted wood cupboard?
While carrying a cupboard door to reinstall, my husband accidentally scratched a gray line on the door with his belt buckle. We were using "Advance"-brand paint.
How can I get this off without ...
4
votes
1answer
459 views
How to determine if paint is sandable?
I'm about to embark on some painting projects. I'll be painting (priming) bare wood (fir) jambs/doors, a vanity and some drywall. My understanding is most flat paints are sand-able, while glossy ...
6
votes
1answer
364 views
Drywall Painting: Do I need to keep priming here?
I am painting a room where the previous paint job was not very good. You can see brush marks from a great distance, it got all over the trim, and the paint looked watered down (thanks builders). It ...
7
votes
1answer
298 views
What is the best method for painting a door
I'm planning to repaint a closet door to match a newly painted room. Would it be better to use spray paint or just use a brush and the same paint I'm using on the walls?
12
votes
1answer
333 views
Is white paint the same color regardless of the company?
I'm painting and have run out of the particular white paint I was using. I have some leftover white from a different room. Is there a way to tell if the white will be the same and match?
Here are the ...
4
votes
2answers
796 views
How much do I need to sand before painting?
I want to paint my home's varnished window sills. How do I know when I have sanded them enough?
9
votes
1answer
4k views
How should I clean and repaint a painted wooden deck?
My deck appears to have been painted with just a single layer of paint, which is now peeling off. I like the look of the paint (when it's in better condition, of course), and am uninterested in ...
1
vote
2answers
522 views
Recommended palm sander techniques?
I'm palm sanding (quarter sheet) flaking/chipped paint from exterior hardwood siding I want to preserve. I read some hints here, but I'm seeking any other labor-saving hints - this job is tedious. ...
14
votes
2answers
1k views
What is causing/caused these brown circular stains in my cabinetry?
Recently moved into a 1950s-built home and have unearthed a number of brown, circular stains on the wood inside various closets. These rings don't appear on the plaster walls, but rather on the wood ...
4
votes
2answers
698 views
How long can I leave a paint brush and roller sleeve submerged in water without damaging them?
I'm painting my fence (with water based paint) and have more to do tomorrow.
How long can I leave the paint brush in water until it's likely to be damaged? I think it's a synthetic bristled one.
...
6
votes
1answer
4k views
What is the proper method for rolling paint on a wall?
When rolling a wall with paint, is there an optimal or proper method of rolling?
Usually I just go up and down and make sure the paint is rolled evenly.
I've attached a picture showing some ...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
How can I remove graffiti from painted walls?
How do I remove graffiti (spray paint and permanent marker) from a wall previously painted with oil-base paint (or perhaps nitro paint - not sure) without damaging the original paint?
I've seen a ...
4
votes
1answer
167 views
Can blue painter's tape turn glass blue if left on too long?
A yokel told me that the blue painter's tape can be permanent. He heard of someone leaving it on the window pane too long ( like a year ) and it turned the glass blue. Is there any merit to this ...
1
vote
2answers
2k views
How can a glossy finish be achieve on a wooden desk?
I'm planning to build a desk for my workstation and I wanted to have a glossy finish something like this.
I'll be using a 3/4" thick plyboard and plan to cover it with patching compound to have a ...
3
votes
1answer
463 views
How long should I wait before painting a concrete patch?
How long do I have to wait to paint a polymer concrete repair such as Sakrete Top N Bond with Behr one part epoxy concrete paint? The repair is indoor and temp. is about 60 degrees F.
4
votes
2answers
413 views
How do I remove paint from plastic window frames?
The paint is dark red and has dried. It only covers little areas on the plastic of the window frame.
How do I remove it without damaging the frame?
The frames are white.
6
votes
2answers
725 views
How do I restore paintbrushes ruined by dried latex paint?
I have had a couple of good natural bristle brushes for several years. I've been careful about cleaning them until now, but a couple months ago I left them in a jar with water "to get back to ...
3
votes
2answers
191 views
How can you rid your house of 'Sick Building Syndrome'?
It's a rite of passage - You and your spouse are expecting, and it's your responsibility to paint the baby's room.
But before you do so, make sure that you use only latex/low VOC paint, keep the room ...
4
votes
1answer
96 views
Should Young Families Always Favor an Egghshell Finish?
When choosing paint, should young families always favor an eggshell finish because it's easiest to clean?
Also, are bathrooms and kitchens exceptions to this rule because water vapor can cling to the ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Should I be concerned about the repair to a ceiling after water damage?
We're in the middle floors of an apartment building and have had some damage done to our bathroom ceiling around the manhole due to some leaking pipes (minor rupture so there was a bit of water).
The ...
4
votes
1answer
334 views
How should I repair flaking paint?
I have just removed some frog tape from a painted wall and it has taken the paint off down to the plasterboard (4 layers, 2 undercoat and 2 topcoat).
How should I go about repairing the damaged ...
1
vote
2answers
293 views
How can I paint furniture with a laminate finish?
Is it possible to paint furniture that is made of particle board and has a laminate finish that makes it appear as if it is solid wood? Essentially cheap furniture. I have an entertainment center than ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
Can I paint over wallpaper glue?
I have a room where I removed the wallpaper in preparation for painting. Surprisingly, the very old wallpaper just peeled right off, leaving behind most of it's glue. I used some wallpaper remover ...
5
votes
2answers
239 views
What do I need to do to prepare this trunk for painting?
I've got this trunk. My eventual goal is to paint it red and use it as a combination storage space and coffee table in my (tiny Manhattan) apartment.
It's about fifteen years old. It's covered in a ...
7
votes
5answers
2k views
How do you remove paint from hair?
We painted a closet recently with a latex/acrylic based paint and no plastic hair caps. This lead to the issue with some unsightly paint splotches on our hair. After several washes the paint still ...
5
votes
1answer
258 views
What's the right tool for painting joist bays in my basement?
I'd like to paint the joist bays in my basement to brighten the basement up. No, putting up acoustic tile is out of range for the budget, but paint is in.
I've tried a small portion with a roller and ...
4
votes
2answers
7k views
Should I use caulk or wood putty and paint to fill nail holes on trim?
I'm installing painted MDF crown molding, and I wasnt sure which method for covering nail holes is technically correct. Is using caulk considered a shortcut? Or is filling in the holes with wood putty ...
5
votes
1answer
193 views
How do you finish a polyurethane coat?
I'm building a table and finishing it with a high-gloss polyurethane. I've seen how to apply the poly and what to do between coats, but what do you do after that last coat? Is it done? Do you wet ...
0
votes
0answers
1k views
Is IdeaPaint worth the money or will Rust-Oleum Dry Erase Paint work similarly well?
As far as I can tell, there are 2 main dry erase paints on the market - IdeaPaint and Rust-Oleum Dry Erase Paint. They have the same purpose but differ greatly in price (IdeaPaint being almost 10 ...
1
vote
3answers
277 views
How can I turn glossy finish matte?
I've just decorated my front room, but the skirting boards and cabinets are too glossy and I'm looking for a way to turn them matte. Is there a product or method which I can use to remove the shine?
6
votes
3answers
3k views
How can I fill small holes in drywall without painting?
I am taking down several items hung on our walls; this will leave about two dozen holes ranging from small nail holes to anchor holes about 3/8" in diameter. I am looking for a way to fill these holes ...
