Repainting a room for the first time

Problem Solution My walls are quite rough to the touch - what caused this and how can I fix it? The most likely cause of this problem is too many layers of paint being applied over the years without any sanding between coats or between applications. Sanding every time you paint and between every coat ensures that the end result will be smooth. How do I paint up against baseboards and other trim that I really don't want to remove ? There are many ways to do this. The most common way is to use a good quality painters tape like Dynamic EdgeWise to prevent paint from getting onto the trim and yet can be easily removed. Another method is to use a paint edger which has wheels on it to keep the paint away from the trim. Finally, you can get a trim guide (Dynamic has a variety of sizes and shapes to choose from) which you hold against the trim while you paint that stretch and move it as you move to the next stretch. What about the opposite scenario - how can I paint my trim without getting paint on the walls? On the wall edge, use the EdgeWise tape on your wall using the technique of tacking down one end in a corner and then holding the tape tightly to keep it straight. Now lay out the tape over the rest of the run and smooth over it with your hand or finger after you are satisfied it is straight. To protect the floor, Dynamic has a handy product called Carpet Shields (which work equally well protecting laminates, tiles and hardwoods too). Carpet Shields come in a pack of 6 x 3' lengths that you wiggle under your baseboards to protect the floor. For added affect, you can also slide a drop sheet under the Carpet Shields to protect more of your floor area. I want to paint two walls that butt against each other in the corner of my room two totally different colors! The last time I tried this the line between the two was nearly impossible to get straight from floor to ceiling. Help! This is a common problem due to corners not being really square and other issues. The best advice we can give is to first sand the corner really well with a square Dynamic sanding sponge (making sure to sand both sides evenly). This will help square up the corner. After you have wiped down the corner with a tack cloth, paint the wall with the lightest color first in such a way the the corner where your two colors will meet is well covered. After letting the light colored wall dry for at least 24 hours, use Dynamic EdgeWise tape to make your line. Tack the tape first at the top of the wall and reel off enough tape to go all the way to the floor. Holding the tape tightly, try and tack it next at the floor so that the tension you kept on it keeps it straight. Once you are satisfied that your tape line is straight, run your hand over the length of the tape to give your first color the protection it needs from your second darker color. Paint - remove tape after 24 hours. I have peeling paint in a couple of areas of my room - what causes this and how do I fix it? Peeling paint can be caused by a number of factors - surface contamination when the paint was applied, the wrong type of paint being applied, (preventing it from bonding properly) and excessive moisture to name a a few of the most common. Use a paint scraper (Dynamic Bent Chisel scrapers work great!) to remove all the failing finish and then sand the entire surface. After sanding, you will have to determine whether or not a filler is needed to relevel the surface or if paint is the next step. If moisture was the culprit, then be sure to install a fan or vent of some sort to prevent this from happening again. I have some stains showing through my paint and the cleaners I have tried have not removed them - now what ? When stubborn stains like this appear, the only solution is to clean the surface well, apply a top notch stain killing primer and then repaint. To be sure that the stain does not reappear, we suggest using the strongest base primer you can - either oil or shellac based. Both are stronger sealers than acrylic based ones for the vast majority of stains. I just bought this house and I want to repaint but I don't know what kind of paint was used previously - how can I tell? There are test swabs available on the market that will tell you whether the existing finish is latex or oil. You can also wipe the wall with a rag dampened with methyl hydrate and if the paint comes off a little, that is an indicator that the finish is latex. And, if you want to use latex paint and don't have access to the testers, you can prime with a 'conversion primer' (an all purpose acrylic primer) and you are good to go!

Always sand before you put on a layer of paint or primer and sand lightly between each subsequent coat of paint - 120 or 150 grit will do nicely. Planning to paint all the surfaces of a room from top to bottom? Do what the pros suggest: ceilings first, then walls followed by trim.

Dynamic Tack cloth - a mildly tacky cloth that is used to wipe off a surface prior to painting or staining. Removes sanding dust and other contaminants and leaves no harmful residue. Ensures proper adhesion of new coatings. EdgeWise Tape - a painters tape with an acrylic based adhesive that is strong enough to give you the straight and clean edges you want and yet, removes easily after use. Also, can be used over uncured coatings with little fear of removing the new finish. Paint edger - a handy pad painter with guide wheels on the edge to keep your paint line straight and even Trim Guides - Dynamic offers a venetian blind style (in three sizes) or a heavier duty option (in two sizes) both of which allow you to keep paint away from areas you don't want to paint. Sanding Sponge - four sided abrasive tool in a variety of grit combos with a core of high density foam. Very efficient at sanding small repairs, edges, corners, moulding and trim, hard to reach areas or even entire walls! Can be cleaned and even reused. Bent Chisel Scraper - a stiff scraper with an ergo grip that even fits on a pole if desired. Perfect for removing any failed finish inside or out. Carpet Shields - 18' (5.5M) of protective strips (6 lengths of 3'/.85M) that slide under trim and baseboards to keep paint from dripping on your floor. Cleanable and reusable too ! Pole Sander - Dynamic offers many versions of this tool that conveniently fits onto a pole to allow you to sand larger areas and those hard to reach spots too - metal or plastic, standard thread or universal, with or without a pole. We also have precut sandpaper sheets cut to fit these sanders. Hand Sander - available in plastic or metal versions. Easy fastening system and precut sandpaper make these sanders 'handy' to use for all kinds of projects - furniture work, wall sanding between coats of paint, levelling of repaired areas and so on. Sandpaper (precut & others) - Dynamic offers full sheets in 6 different types ranging from 50 to 600 grit, and precut sheets in a variety of types and grits to fit all kinds of sanding tools and rolls of different lengths and grits too for those larger jobs. Hook & Loop Comfort line of abrasives - an ergo designed sanding block that is the most comfortable abrasive tool to hold that uses a wide variety of paper types and grits that cling to the block using a hook & loop fastening system. Paper will not shift no matter what kind of abrasive pressure is applied and yet, switching to a new sheet is much easier than changing papers on any other sanding tool. Convenience, comfort and easy to use, too!

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