Dynamic Paint - Tips & Tools - Repainting a room for the first time

Dealing with Surface Imperfections

Problem

Solution

There are hairline cracks around some of my windows & doors that have reappeared since the last time I filled and sanded them - how can I cover them permanently?

These are structural problems due to shifting that frequently occurs in any climate with significant weather changes.

Instead of just filling and sanding these cracks endlessly, use a product called Good Bye Cracks.

This is a spray on elastomeric which goes over top of repaired areas that tend to shift with your home so that, at least visually, you will not see the cracks when they reoccur.

You can then cover the goodbye cracks with latex paint.

The walls I have decided to repaint have dozens of tiny holes in them from years of hanging & rehanging pictures - what is the best way to fill them without making it a week long project?

The best method is to fill all the holes with a lightweight no shrink filler such as DynaPatch Lite.

Use a high quality, small putty knife and be sure to push down any ridges around each hole.

Then apply the filler as directed.

Do Either of these scenarios sound familiar?

"The home we just bought has some walls that have been drywalled poorly and are not all that level or smooth" or. "Our older home has plaster walls that are not smooth and it is very noticeable in certain light conditions".

In either case, the problem is the same - imperfect surfaces that you want to look nice without taking the walls down and
having to start over .

We recommend a faux finish.

The focus is guaranteed to switch from the condition of the wall to the effect created by an interesting faux finish.

Another option would be to add some other accent to the wall to draw the attention of the observer such as a wallpaper border, a nicely stained chair rail with wainscoting or a wallpaper below it, a piece of furniture in front of the wall, or even artwork.

Faux finishes allow you to have complete control over the perception of your walls to others, no matter their condition.

Sand and prime like a pro!

One of the most overlooked steps in any repainting job is the sanding and priming steps. Usually, people will only sand and prime areas that need repairing and then wonder why the finished look is poor. To be certain that your end result is a wall that looks uniform and brand new, be sure to sand the entire surface and prime it. Following these crucial steps every time will guarantee that the whole surface looks smooth and uniform.

Use the right tool

When repairing lots of small nail holes, be sure to use a small 1” high quality putty knife. This will ensure that you don’t apply too much filler causing you to sand more than required. A high quality putty knife is comfortable to hold and carries a blade that flexes in such a way that it will apply the filler with some authority while leaving it relatively smooth in the process. To test the flexibility of the putty knife, apply pressure to the blade on a hard surface. If it bends too easily, it will not be strong enough to apply the amount of the filler you need. If it does not bend easily at all, the stiffness will make it tough to level off the filler properly. If the blade only flexes towards the end, then it will prove difficult to apply the filler consistently from hole to hole. So, what is the ideal flex to look for? When you apply pressure to the blade, it should be firm and flexible at the same time and the bend in the blade should be uniform and gradual from the handle to the end.

Fool the eye with a faux finish

If you have never done a faux finish before, it’s best to choose one that is random and has no pattern. That way, no one will be able to tell if you are a faux finishing rookie or not!

Another tip to consider is to choose colours that pick up from another item, such as flooring, window coverings, or furniture in the same room. This will ensure that the focus is not primarily on the faux look but on the whole room.

Take your time with Wall repairs

For any wall repair that is larger than a nail hole, you need to attempt it in more than one step. Deeper and larger areas should not be filled with one heavy coat of DynaPatch; Instead fill with a base layer, let dry, sand lightly, clean and then add another layer. Repeat this process until you are satisfied with the leveling relative to the rest of your surface.

In an effort to not overdo a repair job, a lot of people tend to apply filler ( DynaPatch, drywall mud, etc) only into the area needing filling. This action has the potential to draw more attention to this area unintentionally even after painting. A good practice is to “feather out” your filler lightly and randomly beyond the actual repair area, and then sanding the entire wall.

DynaPatch & DynaPatch Lite - Interior and exterior useable spackles for small and large repair needs. Fast drying and non-shrinking, these make for a better and faster repair job.

Dynamic putty knives - Putty knives with controlled flexing to position your filler where it needs to be effectively and smoothly.

Three available series of putty knives in all sizes- 1-6”, to suit any filler required. In addition, two of these series feature a comfortable ergo grip.

Taping knives - Taping knives for those bigger patch jobs and for applying drywall mud to new joints.

Four available sizes - 6,8,10, and 12”. They feature an easy to hold handle and stainless steel blades.

Paint Wizard Faux finish products - Some of Dynamic’s faux finishing products include glazes, stencils, Venetian plaster, metallic paints, and faux application tools.

Please see our online catalogue for more details.

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