| Surface preparation is vital, and can make or | | | | perform as expected. |
| break a paint job. Ensure you fill any holes | | | | |
| and take off any old flaky paint, and then | | | | Always look after your quality equipment so |
| sand back to form a smooth finish. The | | | | you can use it again. For cleaning acrylic |
| "she'll be right, the paint will fill in the | | | | paint from brushes use water to remove most |
| holes" theory is totally incorrect! Always | | | | of the paint residue, and then use a brush |
| check the surface before starting to paint | | | | cleaning product and rinse again, then use |
| with a light to see if there are any | | | | dish washing liquid and a final rinse in |
| blemishes.Make sure the surface you are going | | | | water. For Enamel, use mineral turpentine to |
| to paint is clean!! This is essential, | | | | initially clean the brush, and then the brush |
| especially in kitchen areas where the walls | | | | cleaner, then the turpentine again. Use a |
| can have oily residue from cooking. Use sugar | | | | bucket for these processes, you use less |
| soap for cleaning.Get rid of any problems | | | | product and can use the side to press the |
| before you paint, mould - use household | | | | brushes against to remove any paint |
| bleach diluted 1:5 with water to remove the | | | | residue.Remove all fittings that you can, ie |
| visible mould and find out why it is | | | | door handles, light fixtures, and use |
| happening, and fix it. Stains from nicotine - | | | | painter's masking tape around any that cannot |
| these are nasty as they bleed through the | | | | be removed ie door hinges, light switches, |
| paint. Seal the area with a proprietary stain | | | | glass in windows. A sloppy paint job is |
| block, or use a couple of coats of solvent | | | | obvious when you see paint all over the light |
| based paint.Select good quality paint | | | | switch!Lee Brown is an experienced |
| products, if you are unsure of what you are | | | | professional designer and co founder of |
| buying, make sure you ask and get the experts | | | | interiordezine.com, a website dedicated to |
| to specify the correct preparation required, | | | | providing free interior design and decorating |
| product, and sequence of application.Always | | | | information. Go and look at to see if you |
| use quality branded equipment (brushes & | | | | can answer some of your home decorating |
| rollers etc), as they usually have a | | | | questions now! |
| guarantee or come back if they brake or don't | | | | |