Preparing a New Roller Cover Before the First Coat
Inspect a new roller cover, remove loose fibers using the maker's recommended method and make sure it fits a straight, freely turning frame. Condition it only as the cover and coating…
Read guideTHE PAINTING JOURNAL
Good questions.
Better finishes.
From the first brush to the final walkthrough. Practical answers for homes, workplaces and the people who paint them.
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110 articles · page 2 of 10
Keeping Paint and Tools Clean Between Coats
Keep the working paint separate from the main supply, protect tools from dust during pauses and prevent drying at tray rims and brush heels. Choose temporary storage based on the coating's…
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Choosing Bathroom Wall and Ceiling Paint for Humid Conditions
Choose a coating specifically suitable for bathroom humidity and the surface you are painting. Sheen alone does not establish moisture performance: some designated bathroom products have a matte…
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Choosing a Brush for Waterborne Trim Enamel
Select a brush the enamel manufacturer recommends, with a width and shape that fit the trim. A synthetic brush is commonly specified for waterborne coatings, but stiffness and paint release…
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Cleaning Paint Brushes and Rollers Without Ruining Their Shape
Use the cleaner specified for the coating, remove paint before it hardens deep inside the applicator and dry the tool without crushing its working surface. Water cleanup does not mean every part…
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When an 18-Inch Paint Roller Helps and When It Slows You Down
An 18-inch roller is useful on broad, accessible walls and ceilings when you can load it evenly and control the added weight. It is less convenient in small furnished rooms, narrow wall sections…
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Choosing Airless Spray Tip Size for Walls, Doors and Primer
Choose an airless tip by two separate dimensions: fan width and orifice size. In Graco's common three-digit system, a 515 gives a nominal 10-inch fan at 12 inches from the surface and a…
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Setting Up Doors for Spraying: Hanging or Horizontal?
Choose door orientation around secure support, access to every required surface and the coating's application limits. Horizontal work can make face access easier but needs space and a careful…
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A Preflight Checklist for a Small Airless Paint Sprayer
Before spraying, verify that the exact coating, tip and filter setup fit the machine's ratings, then inspect the fluid path and complete the manufacturer's startup procedure. Test on a separate…
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Choosing Ceiling Paint for Large Smooth Ceilings
For a large smooth ceiling, start with a ceiling-suitable coating whose reflectance and application properties match the room, then make the substrate uniformly prepared and primed where…
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When to Back-Roll Sprayed Walls and How to Keep the Texture Consistent
Back-roll sprayed paint when the selected coating system calls for it or when the approved finish needs a rolled texture. The roller follows the spray application while the material is still…
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Can Your Sprayer Handle That Primer? Read These Specifications First
A sprayer can handle a primer only when the exact product's application requirements fit the machine, gun, tip and cleaning system. Compare the primer's recommended orifice and pressure with the…
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