DIY Network

Finishes: Paint From "Blueprint for Home Building" episode DBHB-208

Figure A

Now that you've learned what the trim carpenters do, host Jeff Wilson explains the role of the painters in this segment.

You really want to have your painters come in and give you a quote during the middle of construction. Hiring a painter may not be in your budget, and it may not need to be. There are a few hundred dollars in the materials to paint a house, and a few thousand dollars in the labor. Most people have the ability to paint a home with a roller or brush, which why this is an area where many homeowners become do-it-yourselfers.

Painting Your Home

• The most important thing about painting is preparation. You have to make sure that the plasterboards at the joints have all been sanded and that there's a good undercoat to be able to hide the joints and make everything flat.

• The surface needs to be dust and grease free -- as well as fingerprint free. Clean is the key!

• The primer (figure A) goes against the wall and is what the paint adheres to -- and this also known as the undercoat. You can get different types, but you want one that is thick.

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Figure B

• All walls and ceilings are primed by spray that pumps approximately 1-1/2 gallons per minute. Behind the spray the primer is back rolled for a nicer finish.

• The trim work is prepped with caulk and putty, and the function is to fill small imperfections in the surface that's going to be painted. You want to fill nail holes, corners, seams, joints and any spot where trim pieces come together.

• All the railings will be caulked to the wall, and all the door pieces will be caulked to the door.

• The rough caulking or puttying (figure B) is done after the primer stage, and sometimes there's a second puttying and caulking after the first coat of paint has been applied.

	Figure C
	Figure D

Selecting the Paint

The paint color selection is extremely important. You need to decide what type of paint to use -- flat to glossy.

• Flat finishes and low-gloss finishes are usually used on plaster, drywall or stucco walls.

• Gloss finishes, semi-gloss finishes or high-gloss finishes are normally used on areas that are subject to water (figure C) and need to be cleaned easily.

• Flat paints and ultra flat paints are great on walls, especially on picture walls, which are large walls that are the highlight of the room.

• And for a translucent finish, use stains (figure D), which is a good product that you can see through, which means you can use it on wood and concrete.

• After staining, you should then apply a sealant to protect the surface.

  Note: Ceramic paint is a special type of paint that can be applied like any other paint. It's heat-resistant, flame-retardant and can reduce noise levels in a home.

In the last segment see how the pros do it when it comes to painting your new home.

GUESTS :

John Holton
Senior Architect
Ibacos
Website: www.ibacos.com

Al Sain
Homeowner
7117 Fairway Dr.
Butler, PA 16001
Phone: 724-865-3056
E-mail: alsain@zbzoom.net

John Harmon
Licensed Contractor
Specialized Services
PO Box 1377
Sunset Beach, CA 90742-1377
Phone: 562-592-3831
E-mail: SpecEmail@aol.com

Pierre Abboud
Designer/Sales
We apologize no further information is available.

Skip Weahunt
Homeowner
E-mail: skip@ownerbuildercenter.com

Regina Zernay
CMTS, Inc.
Phone: 310-390-9558

Bob Miller
CMTS
E-mail: robertmillerpe@comcast.net

John Owens
Consultant
1265 South Camino Santiago Drive
Pueblo West, CO 81007

Monroe Makowsky
5357 Lemon Grove
#4
Lox Angeles, CA 90038
Phone: 323-469-2551

Tony Ramos
Phone: 818-762-9318
E-mail: luisantonioramos@hotmail.com