This edition of Get Painting is full of great outdoor projects for the summer months. From driveways to patio sets Dynamic Paint Products has you covered! We'll show you how to give them durable new finishes that look great and last a long, long time with proper care. And great home-fix-up's are just the beginning — you'll also learn to maximize outdoor atmosphere for your next summer event with our Dynamic Designer Tip. And, we've introduced a brand new Tips & Tools section on the www.getpainting.com website — enjoy a sneak preview below!

We hope you enjoy this month's edition, and, if you have any requests or suggestions, please let us know!


Exterior Painting & Staining Tips

Problem Solution How do you stop debris in the air outside from getting into your paint can? Get a snap-on, plastic lid that can be snapped on and off by hand. You can pour from the can when your tray needs refilling without the aggravation of having to pry the lid off the can, hammer it back on when finished and spattering paint in the process! How can I stop a skin or film forming over the paint in my open can in hot weather? See point above regarding a handy lid. When I paint or stain a large area, how can I avoid refilling the tray with paint or stain over and over again – especially when the tray is difficult to move? This is a common problem with many exterior jobs ! It's easy to resolve with a bucket (5 gal/ 20L) and a bucket grid. The bucket has a handle for easy transport and the bucket grid fits inside the bucket (filled halfway with liquid) at an angle and allows you to load your full size roller, brush or mini roller right out of the pail. What's the best, fastest way to paint lattice work? It can be very tedious and sloppy to paint these kinds of areas with a brush. Try a fabric mini roller (4"/100mm) and you'll find it's easier, neater and faster to use. Stain never seems to go as far as the label says it will. Why is that? This can be because the surface was left too long between applications and is very dry as a result; it can also be because too heavy a coat was applied. Also, since exterior surfaces tend to be a little rougher in nature, many people choose an exceptionally high pile roller thus applying too thick a coat at one time. Be sure to give exterior surfaces (especially those exposed to the south and the west) a maintenance coat from time to time. Smooth surfaces require a roller cover with 10mm or 3/8" pile. Semi-rough surfaces like rough fence boards require 15mm or 1/2" pile. Rough surfaces require 20 to 30mm or 3/4" to 1 1/4" pile for best results. Can lumpy, leftover stain or paint still be used? Yes! Sometimes paints or stains can develop lumps or chunks and these will ruin your application. The best approach is to strain the paint through a paint strainer.

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