Finishing Techniques Tips
Read these 14 Finishing Techniques Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Interior Painting tips and hundreds of other topics.
Trim First
When painting or repainting new drywall and trim, paint the ceiling first, then paint the trim before the walls. It is much easier to cut the wall into the trim than the reverse. Also, clean up is much easier that way, if you mess up.
How to do marbling
Marbling is the process of layering tinted glazes over a white or colored basecoat to create a marble-like finish. Great for fireplaces and mantles.
Tools you will need: Paint (base color, 1st glaze color, 2nd glaze color, veining color), natural sea sponge, artist's brush, feather and dishes.
Here's how:
Dab on the first color with a damp sponge over the entire work area. Allow the basecoat color to show through. Apply the second glaze color in the same manner as above. Mottle the two colors a bit with sponge or scrunched plastic.
Using the veining glaze and artist's brush drag or push some glaze across the mottled colors to imply the presence of veins.
Add highlights or crystaline marks inside the wider veins with the feather.
HINT: Do not overload the sponges and blot off extra paint. Try to imitate the natural variation seen in real marble - asymmetry is the key. Natural veins have lots of contrast besides color. For example, veins may be long or short, narrow or wide, continuous or broken, parallel or angled.
Paint for Sponging, What to Choose
Sponging - which paint for which surfaces?
Latex is ideal for sponging walls. In kitchens and bathrooms, where condensation and washability are a concern, I recommend kitchen and bath paint, or a semi-gloss latex.
For small items such as furniture, woodwork, pots etc, you can use latex or a premium alkyd (oil) paint.
Ragging Tips
Ragging is a great technique for disguising uneven or blemished walls. The best results are created by using a lighter shade as the top coat.This quick and easy technique can be used to give new life to old furniture and is very effective on ceilings as well.
Tips for Decorative Painting
Most decorative painting techniques are done with washes or glazes. A wash is a watered down latex paint which is quick drying and is suitable for "Sponging On" or "Ragging On". A glaze is a thinned translucent alkyd based or latex acrylic based mixture of clear glaze, colored paint and a thinner or water (depending on latex or alkyd). More complex techniques such as marbling or scrumbling work best with alkyd based glaze which is slower drying and allows more time to manipulate the finish.
Make your own Latex Washes
Washes are simple to make by mixing an acrylic latex paint and water. Start by using one part of each. You may adjust the intensity by adding 10 - 90% water.
To make a latex glaze, begin with transparent latex blend and glaze (paint without any pigment, readily available), add latex paint and water. The intensity of the color is determined by the amount of paint added to the blend.
Basic recipe: 5 parts blend and glaze, 1 part acrylic latex paint, 1 part water, (optional) 1 part base and glaze extender.
Sponge Painting
Sponging light over dark gives an illusion of depth. Applying a dark color over a lighter one produces a more defined, textured look. If you are sponging on more than one color and are using latex paint, wait until each application is dry to the touch before you start applying the next paint.
Technique: Sponging
Acrylic latex is an excellent choice for beginners. If you make a mistake it can be fixed with a wet rag before the paint dries.
Tools for sponging:
Paint, sea sponge, rubber gloves, mixing container, a dish for each color and paper towels.
You can use the existing paint as your basecoat, or apply a coat of a new color. Latex basecoats work best for sponging.
Rinse your sponge thoroughly to remove any dirt or loose pieces. Squeeze it out so that it is barely damp. Tear the sponge into comfortable size and shape pieces for your hands. The rounded side will be used to dip into the paint. Also keep a small piece aside for corners and tight areas.
Pour a small amount of the first paint color, diluted slightly with water, into the first dish. Dip your sponge into the paint so the entire work surface is covered. Blot excess paint onto a paper towel so that you will not have "blobs" in your work. Pick an inconspicuous place to begin (behind a door or dresser). Work in small sections, no larger than 3' x 3', lightly dabbing your sponge in a random pattern in your area, leaving spaces between your impressions.
If desired add a second, third or fourth color, by repeating the above steps.
HINT: The color that you apply last will be the most dominant.
Glazes: Which to use
Alkyd glazes, the traditional medium of decorative painters, stay wet and workable longer than either washes or late glazes and produce a beautiful translucent finish. Mistakes are easy to correct by wiping paint off with a rag dipped in thinner. An alkyd glaze gives a rich, deep finish that is ideal for marbling, sponging off and ragging off.
Latex washes are easier to use and clean up with water.
Technique: Ragging Off
Ragging is a quick and simple method of painting which produces outstanding results. Ragging can be done by two methods: ragging on is the technique used to add wet paint to the surface, and ragging off is the technique of removing wet paint from the surface. The rag can be either scrunched up and dabbed over the surface or rolled up like a sausage and rolled over the surface to give a more constant patterned effect.
Tools you will need: paint, unhemmed cotton rags, wash or glaze, mixing container, roller and/or brush,rubber gloves, paper towels and a large bucket of water.
Here's how:
You can use the existing paint for a basecoat, or add a new coat of paint.
Mix your wash or glaze. Work in sections no larger than 3' x 3'. As you work you may find that paint builds up on your gloves. Periodically dip your hands into the bucket of water and wash off any buildup (for latex only).
Ragging off: Once you begin this technique you can only break when reaching a natural break in the surface such as a corner. For larger areas it is best to work with a partner - one to apply the glaze and the other to rag it off. You will need several clean rags available when you begin. Lightly dampen the rag with a small amount of thinner so it will hold its shape when you scrunch or roll it.
Scrunch- First apply some glaze, start with a 3' x 3' section. Scrunch the rag comfortably in your hand and begin to dab it over the surface, removing some of the glaze and allowing the background color to show through. Quickly move onto the next section repeating the steps until the surface is done. Once your rag becomes too wet to remove the glaze, toss it aside and start with a fresh one.
Rolling- Apply your glaze in a 3' x 3' area, and roll your rolled rag over the surface in random directions, removing glaze as you go.
HINT: It usually works best to start in the upper conrner of the wall and work downward to the floor, moving sideways unless your wall is much higher than wide. This will help you maintain a "wet edge" so that you can overlap the areas easily.
How to Tips for ColorWashing
ColorWash simple and quick.
Use an oil glaze; they stay wet longer and give you more time to work. You can use a latex paint for your basecoat if desired, and apply the oil glaze over it. Oil basecoat will require an oil glaze.
Begin by applying your base color which can range from a basic white to a rich dark color. Allow your basecoat to dry completely (latex paint about 2 hours, 8 hours for oil).
Work in a section no larger than 3' x 3'. Use an ordinary 2 1/2" brush and wash your glaze over the basecoat in random strokes which run into and across each other. Step back occasionally to be sure that you are getting the look you want.
HINT: Never apply more than one layer to color wash. The last coat will be the prominent one.
Dragging Technique
Unique finish idea. What you will need:
Paint
Wash/Glaze
Mixing container
4 inch wide natural bristle brush
2 inch wide natural bristle brush
clean cotton rags
If you are using the existing color base coat, skip this step. Otherwise, apply your base coat with a brush and/or roller and allow it to dry thoroughly. This technique is easier if you "mask" off the adjacent walls and around ceilings, windows and doors etc. Always use a "low tack" tape to ensure that you don't damage your base coat.
Mix your wash/glaze. Apply over the base coat in a vertical section no wider than 20", using a roller or brush.
Drag the wide, natural bristle brush through the wet glaze immediately, working from top to bottom in a long, continuous stroke. Keep the brush ridged; hold the bristles against the surface with the handle angled at your body. Repeat until the effect is that which you want.
Wipe the paintbrush regularly on a clean, dry rag to remove excess glaze to ensure that you maintain an even appearance.
If softer lines are desired, use the softer, smaller brush after about 5 minutes and brush the surface lightly with continuous vertical strokes. HINT: This finish looks best using tone on tone colors, such as white or beige base coat and blue or green glazes, but the combinations are limitless. It is recommended that you try your color choices on a board first.
Make your own Oil Glaze
To make an oil glaze, begin with a transparent oil based blend and glaze, add alkyd paint and thinner. The intensity of the color will be determined by the amount of oil paint added to the mix.
Basic recipe: 1 part blend and glaze, 1 part oil based paint and 1 part thinner. Experiment from there.
HINT: Alkyd (oil) glazes stay wet the longest and allow the most manipulation time.
Feather Painting
"Textured" finishes are very popular, and they can give you the look of wallpaper without the hassle and expense. The first step is to put a base coat on the wall. Then get a good semi-gloss paint that complements it. Now, you could use almost anything to apply and create the texture with your second color including a feather duster! Here's how:
1. While holding the duster handle, dip the tip of the feathers into the second color paint.
2. Touch the duster lightly to the wall rotating the duster randomly.
3. Keep working in 3-foot sections until you've got the finish you want.
Be sure to use a light touch, be creative, and have fun! This technique is much better than wallpaper because when you arw tired of the look, you can paint over it!
Products Used:
feather duster, latex paint, paint tray, and safety goggles.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Jolyn Wells-Moran |
