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Yes, it’s fun! More than that — you can save a lot of money if you do it yourself, provided you do your homework and research beforehand. Reading this is an excellent start!

The novelty of painting does wear off after a couple of hours, so try to enhance your painting task by playing loud music (be it punk-rock or classical) and experimenting with new colours. We are playing it safe by giving you guidelines on the basics of wall painting; you are on your own when it comes to washes, sponges, stencilling and other special effects. Take note: read the information on the paint tins — everything we don’t tell you the tin will!

Which Paint You Need to Paint

When it comes to paint, a rose by any other name is not just a rose. There is a superabundance of paints out there, with different finishes, colours, purposes and naturally names as decided by each manufacturer. Most hardware stores have very knowledgeable staff, and you should ask for advice if you’re not sure what you need for your particular paint job.

If it’s an outside job you’re planning, you need paint that clearly says exterior. When you go shopping, bear in mind that some paints do better at covering surface cracks, some give you optimal coverage, some give you a textured finish and others have built-in mould protection. Pretty nifty, hey?

If it’s an inside job, your choice of paint will depend on which particular room you have in mind, whether it’s the bathroom or kitchen where you will have steam, a child’s bedroom (or studio) where an occasional scrub will be the order of the day, or simply the lounge. Water-based emulsion paints are mostly used for walls and there are finishes suitable for each room: gloss and matt finishes, washable, scrubable, or neither (cheap!) and those especially for rooms that are exposed to moisture of some sort. Wood trim and doorframes are usually painted with oil- based or enamel paint.

If you’ve moved into the house of a masochist and wish to change wall paint from oil-based to water-based, you will need to cover the walls with a universal primer before applying the first layer of water-based paint.

We cannot stress enough that you should speak to the shop assistants — they are incredibly knowledgeable and will be able to advise you on which paint will best suit your needs. This is only valid when you are shopping at dedicated hardware or paint stores. You won’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting decent advice in a large department store if our experience is anything to go by.

Painting Brushes and Rollers

You don’t need a dozen different brushes. Remember, the more tools you use the more you’ll have to clean, and that’s probably the worst part of the job. Beg, steal or borrow a 25-mm and a 75-mm brush, a roller and a tray. The 25-mm brush is essential for those little nooks and crannies that require a fair bit of precision painting. The 75-mm brush is for slightly larger areas and of course the roller for the bulk of the wall. The wider the brush, the more effort it requires to paint with it, so don’t go wider than 100-mm.

Don’t buy the cheapest brushes! It’s worthwhile paying a bit more and not spending hours picking bristles off your newly-painted wall with your flatmate’s tweezers (which will surely lead to a domestic once he finds out).

There are various types of rollers as well, sheepskin being the best, but ask your friendly hardware man (or woman) for advice as there are less expensive synthetic rollers that do the job just as well. Once again, the wider the roller, the more effort it requires working with it. A good average size is between 180 and 230 mm.

Give a Measure to your Wall

Measure the area to be painted and calculate the square meters (yup, height x width). Information is given on the tins of how much paint you will need for coverage. It will vary between the various types of paint so be sure to check. Another factor you should take into consideration is the colour of the wall that you want to paint. If your predecessor had a funky orange that you wish to cover with white, you might have to cater for an extra layer or two. The smoothness or porosity of the surface also plays a role, but on average you shouldn’t need more than one litre for 10 square metres.

Painting Preparation, Wrap Up

For an inside job, tidy the room and either remove the furniture or cover it with plastic sheets to avoid getting paint spots on everything. It is advisable to remove light-switch and plug-socket covers, but some crafty taping will also do the job. Use low-tack masking tape to protect the skirting boards and the ceiling. It’s a good idea to tape down some paper close to the wall on the floor as well as covering the rest of the floor with plastic sheeting or old newspapers. Fill in cracks and dents before you start painting.

For an outside job, we’re limiting our advice to plain old walls — no fascias or window frames. We are all mere mortals and baby steps will do. First, read the weather forecasts and don’t plan any painting when there is potential for rain! If the walls are very dirty, use a pressure nozzle on the hosepipe and hose them down thoroughly. Allow to dry completely before you start painting and fill in cracks and dents.

You may encounter patches of paint that have started pealing or flaking. To avoid ridges on the new paint job use a scraper to strip the loose bits, and sanding paper to soften the edges where the paint is thick. Keep the sun in mind and arm yourself with a hat and bikini top (for the girls obviously) and plenty of sun block. Get an early start, beginning with the north-facing side of the house so that the paint will dry quickly in the sun.

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