Dan’s decorating tips

Posted by Dan Holgate on May 16th, 2007

I thought I’d share some hints and tips that I’ve picked up over the last few years. If you have any gems that I’ve missed, please let us know!

1. Before opening tins of paint, wipe the lid with a damp cloth. Otherwise any dust and bits often end up in the paint.

2. Always always always stir thoroughly all paints and varnishes. They often separate in consistency and colour.

3. Pour emulsion through an old sieve to take the bits out of previously used paint. The sieve can be washed out again and again if used with water based paint.

4. ‘Bag’ your roller and tray in a plastic sack at the end of the day to keep rollers and brushes soft for tomorrow. Turn the bag inside out to use again. (if used the same way round again, the dried paint falls off the bag into your clean paint making it bitty). Or wrap brushes and roller sleeves in clingfilm.

5. Before painting doors or architraves (the moulded door frame), wipe the tops of them with a damp cloth. There’s always dust and fluff up there that you often miss in the preparation stages, which your brush picks up and spreads when painting.

6. If you have to use old-school smelly solvent-based paints, leave a cut onion in the room after painting. It absorbs much of the smell (and doesn’t give your home onion-breath!).

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