H Mag - The Handy Mag for Home, Hardware and Home DIY Jun. 2014 | Page 24

24

Top 10
Painting Tips
1

To avoid getting paint on the floor, glue a paper plate to the
bottom of the paint can. The plate should be five to eight
centimeters wider than the can so it can catch drips.

3
The secret to a finish that’s free of lap and brush marks is
mixing a paint extender (also called a paint conditioner),
such as Floetrol, into the paint. This does two things. First,
it slows down the paint drying time, giving you a longer
window to overlap just-painted areas without getting ugly
lap marks that occur when you paint over dried paint and
darken the color. Second, paint extender levels out the paint
so brush strokes are virtually eliminated (or at least much
less obvious). Pros use extenders when painting drywall,
woodwork, cabinets and doors. Manufacturer’s directions
tell you how much extender to add per gallon of paint

2

To keep paint fresh, all you need to do is add four tablespoons of methylated spirits, then seal and store. Do not stir
until using paint again.

4

Using a primer can hide dark colors, block stains, and help
your new paint job last longer. It’s also a must when painting
exposed woodwork, and there are many primers that adhere
to glossy surfaces (allowing you to skip sanding first).