Find a
Tradesman

FREE !

Find Local Recommended Tradesmen - ratedpeople.com

Painting

The Diy Fix It guide to paint and painting.

This section covers which types of paint to use and how to apply them to doors, windows, frames, wall and ceilings as well as advice on using choosing and cleaning paint brushes and rollers. There are articles showing you how to wash down surfaces, prepare and fill holes and cracks before painting, and how to use apply knotting. We also have information and tips for staining and varnishing, paint stripping and sanding to help you get the best results with your decorating.

	Brush painting How to paint professionally with brushes and get a high quality finish without brush marks. Guide to putting paint on the brush and spreading evenly before laying off for a smooth result.
	Cleaning paint rollers How to clean paint rollers thoroughly to remove all gloss, satin, undercoat or emulsion paint. Including advice on washing and rinsing your brushes to keep them in good condition.
	Cleaning paintbrushes How to wash and rinse a paint brush thoroughly to remove all gloss, satin, undercoat or emulsion and how to maintain brushes in good condition.
	Cleaning up after painting Guide to cleaning up after painting and decorating a room, with information on how to removing masking tape and clean the windows.
	Clearing and covering for decorating Guide to preparing a room ready to paint and decorate. With advice on removing furniture, protecting the carpet and laying dust sheets.
	Danish Oil - protecting wood surfaces The secret of Danish oil is that the oils and resins soak into wood giving excellent protection of the surface and it doesn't craze or chip.
	Distemper How to identify distemper and other chalky or dusty surfaces which need sealing with stabilising solution before painting and decorating.
	Dusting down before painting How to get rid of dust before painting so that the best results are achieved and there are no bits in the paint work.
	Filling holes and cracks in walls and ceilings 1 Complete guide to filling holes and cracks in walls and ceilings using plaster filler or polyfilla. Mixing the filler and using a filling knife then sanding when dry to produce smooth results.
	Filling holes and cracks in walls and ceilings 2 Guide to repairing plasterboard, filling small and large holes with plasterboard and filler ready for painting and decorating.
	Filling wood before painting How to fill wood work ready for painting and decorating. Filling with filler or polyfilla and sanding for a smooth surface before re painting.
	Knots and knotting How to treat knots with knotting to prevent them bleeding or showing through paint with brown stains.
	Masking up - masking tape How to mask up with masking tape before painting and decorating to protect carpet and edges as well as the glass in window frames.
	Paint - types and choices Guide to choosing paint and selecting the right type for different materials or surfaces. Details of oil, gloss, eggshell, satin and undercoat as well as vinyl, matt or silk emulsion and acrylic primer.
	Paint and paint systems Guide to paint and painting systems detailing the properties of gloss, satin and eggshell as well as matt and silk vinyl emulsion.
	Painting doors 1 Diy instructions showing how to paint a door properly with details showing which edge and parts of the frame to paint in which order.
	Painting doors 2 Diy instructions showing how to paint a door properly with details showing sequence for painting flush and panel or panelled doors as well as the order.
	Painting order Step by step guide to the correct order for painting ceilings cornice woodwork and walls.
	Painting radiators Diy guide to painting radiators, dealing with removing rust priming and finishing with enamel paint.
	Painting walls and ceilings - brushes 1 Diy how-to on painting walls and ceilings using a brush, showing how to paint correctly and achieve perfect brush mark free results.
	Painting walls and ceilings - brushes 2 Diy how-to on painting walls and ceilings using a brush, showing how to paint correctly and achieve perfect brush mark free results.
	Painting walls and ceilings - rollers 1 Diy how-to on painting walls and ceilings using a roller, showing how to load the tray, paint correctly and achieve perfect results.
	Painting walls and ceilings - rollers 2 Diy how-to on painting walls and ceilings using a roller, showing how to load the tray, paint correctly and achieve perfect results.
	Painting windows 1 Diy how-to on painting windows using a brush, showing how to paint correctly and achieve perfect brush mark free results and the order for painting the window frame.
	Painting windows 2 Diy how-to on painting windows using a brush, showing how to paint correctly and achieve perfect brush mark free results and the order for painting the frame.
	Painting windows 3 Diy how-to on painting windows using a brush, showing how to paint correctly and achieve perfect brush mark free results and the order for painting the frame.
	Painting woodwork and trim DIY tips and help with painting skirtings, dado rails, fireplaces and stairs showing in which order to paint.
	Preparation - general How to prepare surfaces for painting and decorating to get a professional finish and long lasting results.
	Preparation - walls and ceilings 1 Diy guide on preparation of new and old plaster walls and ceilings ready for painting and decorating, including information on sanding and washing down then sealing with a suitable primer.
	Preparation - walls and ceilings 2 Diy guide on preparation of painted plaster or plasterboard walls and ceilings ready for painting and decorating. Including information on sanding and washing down then sealing with a suitable primer.
	Preparation - walls and ceilings 3 Diy guide on preparation of distempered, dusty or papered walls and ceilings ready for painting and decorating. Including information on sanding and washing down then sealing with a suitable primer.
	Preparation - woodwork and trim Diy guide to preparation of new and old painted woodwork ready for painting and decorating. Including information on sanding and washing down then sealing with suitable primer.
	Priming bare surfaces How to prime bare surfaces ready to receive paint coats, with details of primer types and their uses and properties.
	Sanding 1 How to sand new wood and old paint for a smooth surface using sandpaper.
	Sanding 2 How to prepare new wood and old paint with wet and dry sanding for a smooth surface.
	Staining and wood dye 1 Choosing and colouring wood with dye showing how to prepare the surface and remove old wood stains.
	Staining and wood dye 2 Step by step guide showing how to colour wood using dye whilst keeping its natural beauty. Details for preparing the surface and applying the dye with a brush or cloth
	Stripping paint 1 There are two different ways of tackling this – either burning off, or using a chemical stripper.
	Stripping paint 2 Guide to using chemical strippers to remove old layers of paint before re painting. Details of technique and use of stripping knives and scrapers.
	Varnishing wood Step by step guide showing how to varnish to protect wood and show its natural beauty. Details for preparing the surface and applying the varnish.
	Washing down old paint How to wash down paint to clean thouroughly ready for painting and decorating. Details of cleaners and use of sugar soap to remove grease and dirt.