You Can Faux Finish!

Dynamic Paint Wizard tools make "faux finishing" easy. If you are a beginner, don't let words like "faux" or "glaze" scare you away! All "faux finishing" really means is that using special tools, you apply two or more layers of paint and glaze to a surface. What could be easier than that?

Faux finishing is a fun and inexpensive way to decorate your home with flair. If you follow our easy instructions, you’ll feel like a faux finishing expert in no time.

The question we get asked most often is, "How do I choose the right colors?". The answer depends on how dramatic you want the effect to be and how experienced you are. There are no hard-and-fast rules, but these guidelines will help you:

• You need at least two colors. One will be the base color and one will be the glaze/top-coat color. For a subtle, tone-on-tone effect, choose two shades of a color close together on the paint swatch card. For a more dramatic effect, choose two shades of one color that are farther apart.
  
  
• Using totally different colors will produce a very dramatic effect, but you need to be very sure of your color choices! If you’re uncertain, ask the paint experts in the store; they are experienced and can lead you in the right direction. And, to be really sure that you'll like the finished effect, you can buy small quantities of your chosen paints and test your technique in a small area or on a piece of Bristol board before you buy enough for your entire project.

Choose a low sheen or semi-gloss water-based paint, as this will allow the glaze to dry more slowly than flat paint. Since you will be working the glaze into a design, the longer the drying time the more you have an opportunity to work with the finish to achieve your desired effect.


Step 1 Preparing The Surface

Before you begin, it’s important that the surface you are going to paint is properly prepared to achieve a professional-looking result. When your project is finished, you'll be glad you took the time to prepare!

First, remove all old wallpaper and peeling paint. Fill holes and cracks using Dynamic Dyna Patch and sand to a smooth finish. Wipe clean using a Dynamic Tack Cloth so the surface will be clean and smooth. Prime where required using Zinsser primers.

Once your walls are ready, use a Dynamic roller to apply the base coat of paint.

Step 2 Mixing the Glaze

To mix the glaze, simply combine 6 parts Paint Wizard glaze in low humidity conditions (4 parts in high humidity conditions), with 1 part latex paint. Combining paint with glaze gives paint a translucent appearance and extends its “open time” (the time it takes to dry). You can also add Zinsser's Extender to increase the open time of the glaze even more, giving you a full 15 to 20 minutes working time. If you’re a beginner and feel you need more time, you might find it handy to keep a water-filled spray bottle close by. Just spray a light mist of water onto the surface - it's that simple!

Step 3 Faux Finishing – The Choice is Yours!

There are two ways to create a faux finish. By rolling the glaze evenly onto a freshly painted surface and then removing some of it with a Dynamic Paint Wizard tool, you will create a “negative application”. Alternatively, by applying the glaze over the base coat using the Paint Wizard tool you’ll create a “positive application”. Try experimenting with both to see which finish you like best.


Click here to see more Paint Wizard Decorative Paint Applicator Tools.

Negative Application Faux Finishing

This is the most popular method of faux finishing and results in more glaze being left on the wall than with the positive-application method. That’s important to keep in mind, since the color you apply last will be the one you see the most. Here's how to do it:

1. Prepare the surface for painting as in Step 1. Roll on the base coat and allow it to dry thoroughly.
2. Using your second color and a fresh Dynamic roller, apply a thin, even coat of prepared glaze (see Step 2). The glaze will appear thin and translucent. Be sure not to apply too much glaze – you don’t want it dripping - and work within a 4-square-foot area at a time to ensure that the glaze remains wet during the next step.
3. Apply the Dynamic Paint Wizard tool to the area covered with wet glaze until the desired look is achieved. Roll excess glaze that will collect on the tool onto an old towel. Two people working on this project makes the application easier and faster: one person applies the glaze and the other applies the Paint Wizard tool.
4. It’s wise to plan to have enough time to complete the project without stopping, but if you must stop, be sure to end at a corner! That way there will be no awkward line between where you stopped and started, in the middle of your wall.

Positive Application Faux Finishing

This is the best method to use when you want to apply only a small amount of glaze to a wall. Here's how to do it:

1. Prepare the surface for painting as in Step 1. Roll on the base coat and allow to dry thoroughly.
2. Pour a small amount of prepared glaze (see step 2) into an empty tray. Roll the Dynamic Paint Wizard tool* through the glaze, evenly distributing the glaze over the roller, and apply to the wall. You can apply more than one coat of glaze, depending on the effect you want.

* Do not use Loose Bag Rollers, Honey Comb Rollers, Honeycomb Pad or Porcupine Pad when using the positive-application method.

Step 4 Clean Up Your Tools

If you used a water-based (latex) paint and glaze, clean up using warm soapy water (Paint Wisard glazed is water based for easy clean up). If you used an oil-based paint and glaze, clean with the solvent recommended by the paint manufacturer. Be sure to clean the Dynamic Paint Wizard tool thoroughly so it will maintain its shape for your next project.

Congratulations! You have just completed a faux finish like an expert!