Easy House Painting Tips - Newsletter October, 2008

Painting Windows - inside to outside, top to bottom.

Problems with Roller Marks? - use the right quality and technique.

Before jumping into painting a window, you will want to set all nail heads slightly below the surface and then fill the depressions with caulk or putty. If your window needs reglazing, now is the time.

Painting Many professional painters use an angle sash brush to paint window frames. Angle sash brushes have a 15-degree diagonal edge, instead of being straight across. The pointed end allows you to reach into corners and paint more easily along lines. If you’re using an alkyd or oil paint, stain, or varnish, the best choice would be a natural bristle brush.

Paint the window in the following order, from the top down and inside to outside, to help avoid smudges:

1. mullions (these are the frameworks in the middle of the window)
2. vertical sash (inside against window)
3. horizontal sash (inside against window)
4. vertical frame (outside trim)
5. horizontal frame (outside trim)
6. sill (bottom)
7. apron (trim below sill)

To reduce brushmarks, try not to paint a window when the hot sun is shining down on it.

A "Straight Line" Painting Technique Don’t try to paint right on an edge the first time—paint next to it instead. This technique is called "cutting-in." On your first stroke, lay down a thin bead of paint next to, but not on, the line you want to paint. Start with a stroke about 8-inches long. Immediately following, for your second stroke, "push" the bead of paint onto the line with the edge of your brush. As your skill increases, you can increase the length of your strokes. That’s how the professionals "cut" a line.

Cleanup Tips After the paint has completely dried on the glass, a pop-up razor blade works quickly to eliminate the drips (just use caution). Then with a few squirts of glass cleaner, your window will provide a fresh, new view!

Roller marks or stipple and any unintentional textured pattern left in the paint finish by the roller.

Here are some tips to keep in mind to help reduce them:

1. Use a quality roller cover with the proper frame and nap.
2. Avoid too long a nap for the paint and the substrate.
3. Use a quality roller cover to ensure adequate film thickness is applied and the uniformity of the finish.
4. High quality paints tend to roll on more evenly due to their higher solids content and leveling properties.
5. Moisten roller covers used with latex paint with just a little water and shake out all excess water. A quick trick it just to run wet hands over the roller cover – that should be enough.
6. Apply even pressure and don't let paint build up at the ends of the roller.
7. When making the final strokes up and down, apply a little pressure to one side of the roller – the side leading into the dry area.