Winter is a great time of year to tick some of those little maintenance tasks from your to-do list. Breaking out the brushes and repainting the bathroom or another area of your home will mean the shorter days of inclement weather will not have been wasted.
If you’re a keen DIY-er, you probably rate your painting skills fairly highly. With a little time and application, most of us can paint a room successfully.
There are three dreaded elements to painting, of course – preparation, cutting in and cleaning up afterwards.
The technique that perplexes most of us, and it has us reaching for a damp cloth to clean away unwanted splotches and brush marks, is “cutting in”.
This is where we need to paint in tight areas, such as along a ceiling line, in corners and on edges, and around window and door frames.
Here are nine tips to ensure your finished painting project is perfect:
First step – Always “cut-in” before you use the roller. And do one wall at a time, otherwise the cross-over between the brush and roller paint will look patchy.
Brush is key – Spend a little extra on a top-quality brush. Talk to your retailer about the best type for your task. Some bristles are cut diagonally to help you get into those awkward corners. A bigger brush will help you stay in a straight line because of its weight.
Get a grip – When “cutting in”, you should hold the brush as you would a pen. Make sure you have a brush that’s light enough for you to do this.
Dip in – Never dip the brush further than 33% of the bristle length. Make sure the paint has saturated the bristles as this helps produce an even application.
Go slowly – Begin by brushing near the area where you’re required to “cut-in”. You want to get your range so you know where the bristles are landing on the surface. Also, if you go into a corner with a brush full of paint, it’s going to drip.
Smooth operator – Glide the brush towards the area where you must “cut-in”. It’s best to approach the area from a 45-degree angle, and an arcing motion is highly effective where possible. The slower you do this, the more accurate you’ll be.
Minimal width – Don’t “cut-in” more than 50mm. The roller is the preferred tool for the overall job, so don’t “cut-in” too deeply.
Multiple coats – For the best result, you should “cut in” with every coat of paint that you apply. If you don’t, the cut-in will look thin in comparison to the rest of the area that’s been painted.
Masking tape – A great idea to protect skirting boards or windows, but don’t leave the masking tape on for too long, otherwise removal may become difficult. It can pull away the paint, which will put you back to square one. Read the manufacturer’s recommendation on the packaging of the tape.