Silly interior painting question

[hawker1986]

Hi all,

Probably a stupid question from me but after some advice.

My wife and I are looking to paint some of the interior walls in our first home and we have no experience! Our house is a new build and about 5 years old, it’s never been painted beyond how we received it with the standard magnolia/almond colour.

So, my question is: do I need to primer before top coating or am I fine to paint straight onto what is already there? I had presumed it would be ok to just go for it but thought it was best to seek some advice before just diving in and getting it wrong!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Maccapacca]

Fine

Use Johnstone’s covaplus and save the work in the coats

 

[Toothy1911]

Just go straight on with your paint. Should only need a couple of coats as it's great neutral colour that wont show through.
It's a good idea to clean the walls with sugar soap, but I never bother unless they're really grubby, like in a kitchen.

 

[hawker1986]

Great, I was planning to make sure they’re good and clean first!

 

[BigBoy]

Buy decent tools, don't cheap out on brushes or rollers, either spend money and take care of the tools or waste money on cheap gear that will always leave you wanting to do it again! (Voice of experience BTW).

Prepare, prepare, prepare. The prep is key to a good finish.

If you are re coating the woodwork and radiators the please use the correct paint type and always make sure you rub down with sand paper first and wipe/wash down before painting. Always use a kettle or paint tray never paint directly from a tin as all you will do is add debris to the tin.

Watch some YouTube videos on how to decorate,. There is a very specific nack to cutting in around the edges of a room that can either come naturally or be learnt.

My order of doing things,

Sand wood work, and wash down.
Paint ceiling and lip down the wall a half inch or so.
Paint wood work first coat or undercoat/primer of needed.
Shake paint tins, I store my paint upside down so.you don't get a skin/film on the top but it's always a good idea to thoroughly shake the paint tin making sure the lid is firmly attached. (I don't stir as it can add debris to the can).
Paint walls, usually 2 coats depending on colours.
Topcoat the woodwork.

My brother is a professional painter and decorator for some stately homes out this way, I've worked with him several times and we work to the same methods..

 

[hawker1986]

Buy decent tools, don't cheap out on brushes or rollers, either spend money and take care of the tools or waste money on cheap gear that will always leave you wanting to do it again! (Voice of experience BTW).

Prepare, prepare, prepare. The prep is key to a good finish.

If you are re coating the woodwork and radiators the please use the correct paint type and always make sure you rub down with sand paper first and wipe/wash down before painting. Always use a kettle or paint tray never paint directly from a tin as all you will do is add debris to the tin.

Watch some YouTube videos on how to decorate,. There is a very specific nack to cutting in around the edges of a room that can either come naturally or be learnt.

My order of doing things,

Sand wood work, and wash down.
Paint ceiling and lip down the wall a half inch or so.
Paint wood work first coat or undercoat/primer of needed.
Shake paint tins, I store my paint upside down so.you don't get a skin/film on the top but it's always a good idea to thoroughly shake the paint tin making sure the lid is firmly attached. (I don't stir as it can add debris to the can).
Paint walls, usually 2 coats depending on colours.
Topcoat the woodwork.

My brother is a professional painter and decorator for some stately homes out this way, I've worked with him several times and we work to the same methods..

Thanks very much, that’s all really helpful. We’re pretty well prepared I think! got a set of decent brushes and rollers along with trays. Also got painters tape and stuff to cover the radiators etc
We’re not planning to do ceilings or woodwork except if it needs touching up but that’s great to know

 

[Toothy1911]

You can use cling film to line your roller trays so you don't need to wash them out afterwards.

 

[hawker1986]

You can use cling film to line your roller trays so you don't need to wash them out afterwards.

Thanks thats a great idea - ive got disposable inserts for one of the roller trays but will definitely do this on the other one

 

[Maccapacca]

Rollers wrap in clingfilm overnight use again then sling, life’s too short to wash out rollers.

 

[BigBoy]

Rollers wrap in clingfilm overnight use again then sling, life’s too short to wash out rollers.

Wash them out under the Tap then put them in the washing machine on a 15min quick wash with low spin makes them like new again

 

[fobose]

Wash them out under the Tao then put them in the washing machine on a 15min quick wash with low spin makes them like new again

I will give this a go next time! I always cling film mine then wash them out when I am done but it takes bloody ages.

 

[Toothy1911]

Never tried the washing machine either. Maybe I should tumble dry them after too!

 

[the shadow]

Never tried the washing machine either. Maybe I should tumble dry them after too!

what would Greta say?