Painting our new house

jonbeeza

jonbeeza

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Just settling into our new bungalow ( rented ) , been three weeks now. Not had time to do anything, not even come on TP, had no internet for ages.
Got to do all the painting, and I hate painting. Last time I painted, was probably about twenty years ago. No idea how much pain costs, or even the best place to get it from :thinking:.
Last time I bought emulsion, it was about £1.99 for a massive tub, probably about twenty quid by now.

Ceilings look OK, just walls and skirting boards, got to paint over some anaglypta. Keeping things simple, and going for emulsion and vinyl silk.

I do not think the place needs painting, missus does not agree :(.
 
Allow for 2-3 times the amount of paint the manufacturer says you need!

AL
 
Been a while since I was a decorator but back then, we always used Dulux Trade emulsions. Better coverage than the cheaper ones meaning fewer coats = less time spent painting! It was a bit more expensive but still worked out cheaper for customers since the labour was always much more than the materials. For the woodwork, I would suggest an undercoat and gloss (or whatever finish you want) rather than a 1 coat solution and proper preparation is key to a good finish.
 
Reading a few web sites, and they suggest using a trade paint, as it is obviously better quality. But you should avoid trade paint sold at well known diy stores, as this is simply re branded diy paint. I suppose the trade would not sell to the public anyway. I do not want to end up with poor quality paint, and end up putting lots of coats on.
 
Nod said:
Been a while since I was a decorator but back then, we always used Dulux Trade emulsions. Better coverage than the cheaper ones meaning fewer coats = less time spent painting! It was a bit more expensive but still worked out cheaper for customers since the labour was always much more than the materials. For the woodwork, I would suggest an undercoat and gloss (or whatever finish you want) rather than a 1 coat solution and proper preparation is key to a good finish.
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I posted just as you did lol

That was not in direct response to your post ;)
 
Nod said:
Been a while since I was a decorator but back then, we always used Dulux Trade emulsions. Better coverage than the cheaper ones meaning fewer coats = less time spent painting! It was a bit more expensive but still worked out cheaper for customers since the labour was always much more than the materials. For the woodwork, I would suggest an undercoat and gloss (or whatever finish you want) rather than a 1 coat solution and proper preparation is key to a good finish.
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I do like a gloss finish, but I did prefer working with vinyl silk ;)
 
Dulux. Or if you want a simple colour like white or magnolia then the Leyland Trade you can get from Screwfix is really good.

Proper decorators always seem to prefer Dulux Trade or Leyland paints but if you don't have access to a trade only merchant then Dulux consumer from B&Q always has offers on it and IMO it's far better than any other consumer paint.

For woodwork, the Leyland Acrylic primer from Screwfix is a great first coat.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Dulux. Or if you want a simple colour like white or magnolia then the Leyland Trade you can get from Screwfix is really good.

Proper decorators always seem to prefer Dulux Trade or Leyland paints but if you don't have access to a trade only merchant then Dulux consumer from B&Q always has offers on it and IMO it's far better than any other consumer paint.

For woodwork, the Leyland Acrylic primer from Screwfix is a great first coat.
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Someone did mention Screwfix, I thought they were trade only?
 
I'm utterly hopeless at painting and gave it up years ago. However, I've just found out that I can get an evening class on painting and decorating for £80 locally and I think this may be money well spent. Worth checking for something similar near you?
 
Peter B said:
I'm utterly hopeless at painting and gave it up years ago. However, I've just found out that I can get an evening class on painting and decorating for £80 locally and I think this may be money well spent. Worth checking for something similar near you?
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Painting is something I would do reluctantly, certainly don't fancy taking classes in it ;).
 
Peter B said:
I'm utterly hopeless at painting and gave it up years ago. However, I've just found out that I can get an evening class on painting and decorating for £80 locally and I think this may be money well spent. Worth checking for something similar near you?
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You don't need to pay for a course, there's a saying about painting I've come across on building sites, "If you can p*ss, you can paint" :)
 
Harder to paint WELL but yes, if you can p***, you can paint!
 
Cartus said:
You don't need to pay for a course, there's a saying about painting I've come across on building sites, "If you can p*ss, you can paint" :)
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Nod said:
Harder to paint WELL but yes, if you can p***, you can paint!
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OK then, I can't make a presentable job of it, and believe me I've tried!
 
jonbeeza said:
Someone did mention Screwfix, I thought they were trade only?
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Nah - just back from mine ;) Even on weekday mornings they let anybody in. Mind you for most painting and decorating stuff, Toolstation is about 10% cheaper. Just not for paint.
 
JonathanRyan said:
Nah - just back from mine ;) Even on weekday mornings they let anybody in. Mind you for most painting and decorating stuff, Toolstation is about 10% cheaper. Just not for paint.
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Thanks for that :).
 
I always use Leyland trade white from screwfix. I have been known to mix it rather than buy expensive colour paint but I'm a cheapskate:)
 
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rjbell said:
I always use Leyland trade white from screwfix. I have been known to mix it rather than by expensive colour paint but I'm a cheapskate:)
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This brings up another point... If you're using a particular colour, especially one that's mixed in store, mix as much as you need to do the whole room since different tins will differ slightly (but visibly to your wife!!!) in colour when they dry. If you can't manage that, make sure each wall is painted from one bucketful and cut in down the corners.

If you'll be using the same brush in the same colour and finish on consecutive days, wrap the brush up in cligfilm rather than cleaning it out completely after each day. Same with rollers, Oil based paint brushes can be left in a jar of water, although after a (long) while the ferrule might rust!
 
Im in the midst of finishing our living room after having the walls skimmed.
I used Leyland trade paint for the base coat and top coat on 3 walls and used Dulux Matt for the feature wall.
Skirtings, door frames and doors are painted using Dulux quick dry eggshell.
I dont use gloss anymore as i hate when the oil in the paint goes off and the paint goes yellow. I also find the eggshell to be a nice finish.

I hate decorating though as im anal whem it comes to detail so it takes me an age to do it:D
 
Nod said:
Been a while since I was a decorator but back then, we always used Dulux Trade emulsions. Better coverage than the cheaper ones meaning fewer coats = less time spent painting! It was a bit more expensive but still worked out cheaper for customers since the labour was always much more than the materials. For the woodwork, I would suggest an undercoat and gloss (or whatever finish you want) rather than a 1 coat solution and proper preparation is key to a good finish.
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This - all day long!

Skimp on paint quality and spend double in labor One coat gimmicks are just that! You get to know when the knots start showing 3 or 4 months later.

neil_g said:
If you're renting then just get your landlord to get a man in.
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IF the property is of good enough quality to start with then why should the LL repaint it to your liking - ?
 
I recently had my living room redcorated, 1st time in 44yrs of marraige Ive ever got a proper painter & decorator in, i always thought i did a reasonable job but the tradesmans work was like night & day compared to my efforts. Maybe worth getting a quote to see if it would be worth your while. will be getting this guy to do other rooms.
 
Nod said:
This brings up another point... If you're using a particular colour, especially one that's mixed in store, mix as much as you need to do the whole room since different tins will differ slightly (but visibly to your wife!!!) in colour when they dry. If you can't manage that, make sure each wall is painted from one bucketful and cut in down the corners.

If you'll be using the same brush in the same colour and finish on consecutive days, wrap the brush up in cligfilm rather than cleaning it out completely after each day. Same with rollers, Oil based paint brushes can be left in a jar of water, although after a (long) while the ferrule might rust!
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Some pretty good advice, ta.

Will let the missus pick the colours, just hope she sticks to ready available stuff. I was going to go the paint brush route, but missus insists I should go with rollers. She reckons it is easier, I thought rollers uses more paint. But I am no painter and decorator.
 
neil_g said:
If you're renting then just get your landlord to get a man in.
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LASTOLITE said:
IF the property is of good enough quality to start with then why should the LL repaint it to your liking - ?
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We are renting from a housing association, the decor is down to us. It is in good nick, just a tired and wacky colour scheme. I could live with it, but missus has other ideas :).
 
I only use brushes for cutting in an trim.
Walls get rollered for speed.
 
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LASTOLITE said:
IF the property is of good enough quality to start with then why should the LL repaint it to your liking - ?
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It wasn't clear from the op whether it was to freshen up or not. Even so it's just a pain painting rented accommodation as you generally have to return it to the original paint scheme upon leaving.

jonbeeza said:
We are renting from a housing association, the decor is down to us. It is in good nick, just a tired and wacky colour scheme. I could live with it, but missus has other ideas :).
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Fair enough :)
 
jonbeeza said:
I am all for getting chores done quickly, wonder if rollers use a lot more paint?
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Depends how much you load the roller up.
I did 4 coats of leyland trade matt white on the walls and 2 coats on the ceiling from a 10L tub and still have a dribble left in the tub.
Our living room measures 3.7m x 4.6m
 
Not a lot more and the time saved makes the slight extra you'll spend on paint seem a bargain!

As for letting your wife choose the colours, get her final decision in writing and triplicate...

Have to say that I'm a fan of white top and bottom (ceilings and woodwork) with magnolia walls. Paint's cheaper than other colours and while magnolia's considered "boring", it leaves a blank canvas for pretty much any wall hangings (and people are often surprised to find out that our walls are magnolia rather than primrose white or similar!)
 
stupar said:
Depends how much you load the roller up.
I did 4 coats of leyland trade matt white on the walls and 2 coats on the ceiling from a 10L tub and still have a dribble left in the tub.
Our living room measures 3.7m x 4.6m
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4 coats? What colour were you covering?
 
jonbeeza said:
Just settling into our new bungalow ( rented ) , been three weeks now. Not had time to do anything, not even come on TP, had no internet for ages.
Got to do all the painting, and I hate painting. Last time I painted, was probably about twenty years ago. No idea how much pain costs, or even the best place to get it from :thinking:.
Last time I bought emulsion, it was about £1.99 for a massive tub, probably about twenty quid by now.

Ceilings look OK, just walls and skirting boards, got to paint over some anaglypta. Keeping things simple, and going for emulsion and vinyl silk.

I do not think the place needs painting, missus does not agree :(.
Click to expand...

You do seem to be ruled by your wife.
 
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Nod said:
4 coats? What colour were you covering?
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I was covering skimmed plaster work.
1st coat was a mist coat, 2nd 3rd & 4th were to build up on the base coat as even the 2nd coat was soaking in to the fresh plaster a little.
 
Dulux do/did a Supermatt for fresh plaster and that would cover (properly) with 3 coats. As you say, the first needs to be knocked down to nearly 50/50 but the 2nd and 3rd were only knocked back as much as for normal work.
 
stupar said:
Depends how much you load the roller up.
I did 4 coats of leyland trade matt white on the walls and 2 coats on the ceiling from a 10L tub and still have a dribble left in the tub.
Our living room measures 3.7m x 4.6m
Click to expand...
I have been given rollers and brushes by relative, for when I start the painting. I may give the roller a try, depends on how I feel on the day :).
Nod said:
Not a lot more and the time saved makes the slight extra you'll spend on paint seem a bargain!

As for letting your wife choose the colours, get her final decision in writing and triplicate...

Have to say that I'm a fan of white top and bottom (ceilings and woodwork) with magnolia walls. Paint's cheaper than other colours and while magnolia's considered "boring", it leaves a blank canvas for pretty much any wall hangings (and people are often surprised to find out that our walls are magnolia rather than primrose white or similar!)
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She has changed her ideas on colour twice already, I will ask in another day or so, and pin her down on colour ;).
Ricardodaforce said:
You do seem to be ruled by your wife.
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No, I am a gonna sort of person, while the missus prompts me to move my backside :).
 
You should just get someone to make a small sob story on your behalf to "60 minute makeover" - they will come and do a cracking job of destroying the place! :naughty:
 
stupar said:
You should just get someone to make a small sob story on your behalf to "60 minute makeover" - they will come and do a cracking job of destroying the place! :naughty:
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But having the cameras around, would mean I have to clean up :).
 
I earn most of my money painting so know a little about it.. Go to a local decorating shop, do not buy paint from a shed (b&q etc). Buy decent brushes and roller covers. The job is already half done. Dilute the first coat by about 10-15% and then apply it as evenly as you can - don't rush. This will give make the second coat easy. Cut in with your 2 or 3 inch brush first, then roll keeping a wet edge - should take about an hour and a half to do a room, and the second coat can go on 2/3 hours later. A quick sand on the woodwork then wipe with meths to degrease then apply whatever water-based paint your shop sells - Johnstones is good, Dulux is rarely used by many tradesmen due to recent mistakes they have made but their diamond satin is ok. If it was me doing it I would use a bridging primer (Zinsser 123) then 2 coats of satin. Again a small splash of water helps it flow - you will be able to feel when it is right. Lots of good advice in previous replies (Nods tip about cling film in particular) If you want to ask me anything pm me - I am driving home after a long week away working but will reply later today if I can.
 
One of my mates is in the building trade, and he uses Valspar, Leyland and Dulux, usually water based acrylics.
 
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