When it comes time to paint our home’s interior; the first decision we have to make is whether to hire a professional house painter or just do it ourselves. For some of us it is an easy choice! But if you fall into the “others of us” category….keep reading! There are pros and cons to both- so let’s jump into it!
Price Point: Doing the work yourself will cost less money. Usually this is still the case even if you have to buy a ladder or tools!
Your Time: You can do the work on your schedule, whenever it is convenient for you. No rush. No strangers in your house!
End Result: You can be as picky as you want to be! The job is not done until you say it is done! 😉
You Da Boss: You’re in charge of everything: surface prep, masking, paint selection, material costs, you name it! You want to skip a step? No one can stop you!!! Muahaha!
Cons
Price Point: Doing the work yourself will cost more time. Which currency is more important to you? Time or Money?
Your Time: Youwill spend more time on this project than a professional will, due to lack of experience and efficient tools.
End Result: Moooost of the time the end result is not going to be as nice as it would be if a professional were to paint for you.
You Da Boss: It can be a lot to make sense of: which materials, how much material, and where to even begin! Don’t forget to give yourself a good warranty! …wait! 😉
While the painting itself might be totally up your alley; a lot of other work goes into an interior painting project that often gets overlooked… at first… Things like moving or covering furniture, masking or removing light fixtures, sanding and cleaning trim…. Knowing which materials are going to work best for you is a whole other pile of research you will need to do if you don’t want to waste money on things you don’t need. However, some people really enjoy this process and love the sense accomplishment and capability at the end! And then there are the “others of us” again…. hahah Just keep reading if that is you!
Interior Painting by Professional
Pros
Efficiency: Professionals have a system they follow day to day. They will get a lot of work done in a short amount of time.
Knowledge: They already know which methods and products will work best for reaching your project goals.
Experience: Skills improve with consistency! You get good at painting in a straight line when you do it every day!
Tools: Ladders, Paint Sprayers, Hand Maskers, Extension Poles, Vacuum Sanders, Drop Cloths…. They have what they need to do the job right. This is Especially beneficial if your home has tall walls and ceilings or other challenging obstacles.
Warranty: Most professionals have a warranty on their work, and if something goes wrong they will take care of it- sometimes for years!
End Result: Crisp and Clean! (disclaimer: it DOES matter WHO you hire – if you’d like some tips about that click here!)
Cons
Price Point: It will cost you some dollars. You could probably try and fail to paint your own house a couple times before it cost the same amount of money.
Personal Space: You will have painters and plastic all up in your face and in your doorways. You might not have doorknobs. This doesn’t have to be a con though… Its an excellent time for a vacation!!! Or fun conversations with painters!
You Da Boss… with limitations: You and the contractor will put together a plan based on what your goals are. You still get to make decisions but there is a point at which you can no longer change your mind “for free”. They have a schedule to stick to; and as much as they will try to accommodate you, they have already made and agreed upon plans with other customers too. If you have big changes or additions, they might have to be scheduled at a separate time.
When you hire a professional to do your painting, there are a lot less things you have to figure out alone! Some professionals will even send out a color consultant to help you choose your paint colors. They have everything they need to come in and do the job efficiently and effectively. They have insurance in case anything Were to happen (idk about you but I (the wife) am much more likely to spill paint on the floor than my husband, the painter 😉 ).
Either choice can be a good one depending on what your goals are and who You are. If you have a particularly challenging job with damaged walls or peeling paint or some other obstacle that makes it so you can’t just roll it out; give us a call at 541-600-2025. We would love to come out and give you an estimate so you can make the decision that is best for you! If you’d like to book an estimate with us online- click here!
Some may carry tools in totes. Some may carry tools in bags. We don’t care about the outside. It is what’s on the inside that counts ;). Let’s take a peek inside and learn about some essential painting tools
A painter needs many tools but the specific tools required varies from one project to another, and sometimes from interior to exterior. Pressure washing an interior would be quite a sight to behold, but is unnecessary and would most likely require an insurance claim. Smaller, more basic tools are the highlight of this blog but I am working on another one to cover larger painting equipment as well. I will link that here soon!
1. Hammer and Nail Punch
One of the first things a painter will pull out of their tool bag is a hammer to pull out nails so they can have a smooth surface to paint on. A nail punch is sometimes needed for nails in trim which are protruding and need carefully tapped in.
2. Electrician Screwdriver
The absolute quickest way to remove all those outlet covers and light fixtures and all those other things with screws that need to come down before painting. If you have never used these before; prepare to be amazed. Regular old-fashioned screwdrivers will also suffice, however since many houses also have fixtures with all sorts of miscellaneous shaped screws or bolts, it is good to have a multi-bit screwdriver with various attachments. If you must be basic-be basic with your hammer instead. 😉
3. 5 in 1 Tool
This tool can also be used for pulling nails and hammering a nail punch; but a good philosophy to have with your paint tools is “Two is One and One is None”. It is Always good to have a backup option and the 5 in 1 tool will have your back! This tool is also great for scraping rough or raised spots out of drywall and for scraping peeling paint. Its other uses are for opening paint cans and cleaning excess paint from the roller.
4. Spackle and Putty Knife
Once you’ve used your other tools to get all the obstacles out of the way, it would be a great idea to smooth out all those nail holes and other small imperfections. Use a putty knife to smooth spackle into these spaces, taking care to not apply more than necessary to level out the hole. Mountains and Craters are both spectacular sights…but not when they’re on your wall texture…
5. Sanding Sponge or Sandpaper
Surfaces like doors and trim really need to have the shine buffed off before painting. A Scotch Pad is another option you can use for lightly scuffing a surface. It is also a good idea to smooth over areas you may have added spackle or patched drywall.
6. Surface Cleaner
After sanding there will be extra dust on the surfaces aside from the normal dust. It is essential to now clean these surfaces before painting. Unless a surface is particularly grimy; you can just use warm water and add a mild soap if necessary. Using a floor mop is an easy way to quickly reach the whole wall. For tougher spots like the crayon masterpiece on the living room wall or the kitchen wall behind the stove; a little TSP followed by a quick rinse is a good idea! Pay extra attention to window trim and door trim as these areas collect significant amounts of dust (as I am sure you noticed while sanding). Wipe them down good because you will need to mask these off later in order to paint. You will need them to be clean if you want your tape to stick. Which you do. Trust me.
7. Caulking Gun
You also need the caulk to go with this ;). Make sure you use a paint-able caulk! Caulk along unsightly seams where trim meets the wall and remember to smooth out your caulking bead with your finger or a rag as you go. This will prevent these areas from becoming even more unsightly. 😉
8. Masker and Tape
We love to use these masking tools. You can load them up with paper or plastic to quickly mask off any areas that need protected. Also note that you should sweep or vacuum along the floor trim in order for your painters tape to adhere properly.
9. Canvas Drop Cloths
If you leave any speck of floor showing; paint will land on it. Painter’s Law 😉
10. Paintbrush
Use a paintbrush for cut in along where the wall meets the ceiling, the floor trim, the window trim, the door trim, and around any masked off fixtures etc. The most common brush size for this is 2.5 or 3 inches, however once you’ve got that down, a 4 inch brush can really increase your speed because it holds more paint but is still small enough to be precise with along these sorts of edges. Use whichever size you can be precise and efficient with!
11. Paint Roller
Use these systematically across the wall and make sure to back-roll for even coverage! These fluffy ones are obviously our favorites for most jobs! On larger jobs we will switch to the 18 inch rollers.
12. Extension Pole
An extension pole is a helpful tool for quickly being able to roll out a wall, especially so if the wall is a little on the tall side. You can also steal your wife’s broom handle and it will serve this purpose well…until you forget to return it to her and your kitchen does not get swept for 8 days….
…based on true events…
13. Paint Tray
For smaller jobs use an average sized tray. For larger jobs, we love to use these 18 inch monstrosities. Some painters also like to use plastic liners in their paint trays for easy color switches and quicker clean-up.
14. Wire Brush
A very helpful tool for cleaning out your paintbrushes and getting any bits of dried paint off of them.
15. Ladder
If you have made it this far without a ladder, congratulations on being a descendant of Goliath! The rest of us will likely need a ladder at some point. We recommend these ones as they are practical for both indoor and outdoor use.
Ok, Ok… not all of these tools actually fit “inside” the toolbox, but who doesn’t love a good cliche? Don’t answer that… Hopefully we have answered any questions you may or may not have had about a painter’s tools! And just because what’s on the outside matters a tiny bit….Here is where you can find our favorite tool box 😉
Choosing exterior paint for your project in Eugene can be a bit tricky, especially if you’re not familiar with the paint finishes and colors.
There are generally four types of paint finishes; matte, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss and each has pros and cons.
When painting the exterior of your home, the choice is usually a little limited, as gloss and semi-gloss paints are rarely used on the outside. The choice is usually between a matte or satin finish. Since the outside of your house is subject to wear and tear, the choice of the finish is very important.
Understand Paint Sheen/Finish
Paints with a high content of resins/binders create a high gloss/shiny surface, while those with a high pigment content create a less reflective surface.
In general, brighter paints are more durable, while duller paints are less durable but offer better coverage.
For larger exterior surfaces, glossier paints are usually reserved for finishing areas, such as window sills and doors, as well as surfaces that can be washed frequently.
For large surfaces such as the siding, less glossy paints are a better choice. Here, you want to avoid bright, glowing paints with highly reflective properties that will highlight every bump and imperfection.
Matte Paints Outside
Matte paint has an anti-reflective finish that will be slightly chalky and rough when you put your hand on it.
The finish is quite velvety in appearance and is at first very attractive since the lack of reflectivity hides bumps and cracks. It offers a very contemporary and modern look.
However, as with interior surfaces, matte paints don’t tolerate repeated washing and scrubbing. You can rub the matte finish with TSP or a high-pressure water cleaner, but often the best solution is to apply another coat of paint.
You can expect to repaint more often if you use flat paint.
Satin Paints Outside
Satin finishes are relatively low in reflection, which means they also do a decent job of masking dents and imperfections on the surface.
To the touch, they retain the chalky appearance of matte finishes, but with a slight, creamy finish.
The same paint color will appear slightly richer in a satin sheen than in a matte sheen. Satin finishes can be wiped or even cleaned with water.
Semi-Gloss and Gloss?
In general, reserve higher gloss levels for trims and doors, which wear out a lot and may require frequent rubbing.
The brightest paints are more durable, and they will hold well on these weathered finish surfaces.
They can also be a logical choice when an exterior needs to be washed frequently, for example, in a climate where windblown dust is a problem, or in a home where active children can dirty the siding.
But the glossy appearance will also highlight every bump and imperfection so that for most people, they are not the right choice for large siding surfaces.
Glossy and semi-gloss paints, however, produce a more vibrant color, which is why they are sometimes chosen when a homeowner wants to put more emphasis on design.
Recommendations
In all respects, the satin finish is best for the exterior of a home. It satisfies the essential maintenance points while providing a pleasing appearance that appeals to most homeowners. Ultimately, the choice depends on your situation.
At Sir Paints A Lot, we offer affordable, high-quality, and durable residential painting services that will stand the test of time. If you need professional help repainting your home exterior in Eugene, our team can help.
To give a try, call us on 541-600-2025 or book now for a FREE painting estimate.
