Painting Primer

Getting a smooth, professional looking paint finish depends as much on how well you prepare the surface for paint as it does on how you apply the paint and whether or not you use the right tools. It’s tempting to just “get painting” – we know! – but don’t fall into that trap. Invest the time up front and the pay-off will be a high quality, durable and attractive paint finish.

Loosen cracking or peeling paint on surfaces such as concrete using a wire brush. On wooden surfaces or drywall, use a bent scraper or flexible metal scraper.

Use a flexible putty knife to apply patching compound when repairing cracks, holes and any other repair work.
Make fast work of plaster and drywall repairs and can even patch metal doors with Dyna Patch Premixed Patching Compound. This ready-to-use spackling paste dries quickly and won’t shrink, sag or crack if applied correctly – and clean-up is easy, requiring only soap and water.

Caulk all gaps and seams in the surface before painting with Dynamic caulking and allow to thoroughly dry. If you're in a hurry, Dynamic's Siliconized Acrylic Caulk had the quickest paint-over time on the market - it sets in only 30 minutes! Be especially careful to check around window and door frames for areas where caulking may need to be replaced.

Once all patching compound and caulking has dried completely you are ready to prepare the surface for paint using Sandpaper and sanding sponges, which come in a variety of grades or grits (terms used to describe how coarse or fine the sanding surface is). Use 120 -180 grit for initial sanding purposes, followed by a 220+ grit (which is very fine) to produce a smooth surface ready for paint. Sand all patches so that they will not be noticeable and lightly sand glossy areas to dull the finish so the new paint can adhere.

After sanding and before painting, wipe all surfaces with an anti-static tack cloth to remove all dust and particles clinging to the surface and ensure a smooth finish.

Use plastic or paper drop cloths to cover carpets and furniture or sidewalks and shrubbery - or any other area that needs protection - before you start the painting job. To protect trim, or when two colors come together, use painting tape at the point where the two colors join. This low-tack tape won’t damage painted surfaces and can be easily removed when the paint is dry to reveal a perfect join between the two colors.



Paint Like a Pro


All paint should be thoroughly mixed using a paddle to stir. If the paint has been sitting for some time you’ll need to stir the paste that has settled in the bottom of the can back into the paint.

If you will be using a roller, you can save a lot of cleanup time by using Dynamic’s disposable tray liners, made from recycled plastic. When the painting job is finished you can simply remove the liner and throw it away, leaving little or no clean up.

Be sure to choose the right paintbrush for the job and the type of paint you are using. Begin by dipping the paintbrush into the can, loading the bristles with paint about half way. Never dip the brush further into the paint! Touch the brush lightly to the surface and use back and forth motions and zigzag strokes to spread the paint evenly. Use long leveling brush strokes to finish the area.

You can avoid creating ridges by ensuring that you stroke into the wet paint as opposed to away from it. This way you can blend the paint you are applying into the wet paint you applied previously to create a smoother finish.
When painting with a roller, begin by making criss-cross strokes, and then roll up and down to spread out the paint evenly.

You’ll find that with practice and the right tools you can achieve a professional-looking paint job much more easily – and in less time.


Clean Up

Waterless hand cleaners take off oil based paints easily and quickly without irritating the skin as solvents do. Latex paint washes off easily with soap and water.

Quality Dynamic painting tools can be used over and over again with the proper care and storage. Brushes should be cleaned thoroughly after each painting job. Brushes used to apply oil based (alkyd) paints must be cleaned with a solvent such as Dynamic Turpisol or paint thinner. Those used to apply latex paint can be cleaned with warm water. Rollers can be cleaned in the same ways as paint brushes to maintain them for further use. Learn more about how to properly clean and maintain your tools.