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Painting and Finishing

At its most fundamental level, painting hasn’t changed much in the last century. The painter uses a simple tool — basically a stick with some animal hair attached to one end — to spread a liquid finish over the target surface. That’s still true for many homeowners who do their own painting. Pros, however, may use spray equipment instead of a brush, and the paints and stains available today are sophisticated blends of waterborne pigments and binders rather than lead-based formulations. In other words, painting is deceptively simple: It sort of looks like what Gramps might have done, except it isn’t.

However you tackle it, painting consists of a few well-defined steps: paint and equipment selection, surface prep, application, and cleanup. The basics should be fairly easy to master. If the surface is carefully prepped (paint really doesn’t hide much) and the paint is carefully applied, the result should be everything you expect.

Where Fine Homebuilding’s experienced pros can help is with what’s not so obvious. How, for example, do you refinish that once-beautiful, and expensive, entry door with hand-mixed stain and a new coat of varnish? How do you restore your hardwood floors so they glow again? Is spray equipment something that’s worth renting?

Painting, whether it’s indoors or out, is a powerful home decorating tool. Finishes also preserve and protect metal, wood, and other materials exposed to weather and sunlight.  Not everyone is destined to become a world-class painter or finisher, and you may very well want to call a professional. But going beyond the basics is well worth the effort.

  • lime paint

    Luxurious Lime Paint

    This line of mineral-based paint refracts light to create a luminous glow with a rich matte texture.

  • The Slow Evolution of Paint

    The Slow Evolution of Paint

    As manufacturers tinker with chemistry to improve durability, ease of application, and hide, the distinction between water- and oil-based paints is blurred­—for the better

  • Quickly Clean Paint Rollers

    Quickly Clean Paint Rollers

    This PVC pipe-and-hose assembly forces water through the nap to thoroughly clean a paint-covered roller.

  • Refinishing Old Oak

    Cleaning, sanding, and finishing with an oil-based varnish brings new life to old wood.

  • Podcast 280: PRO TALK With Brooke Cambridge

    In this Pro-Talk podcast, Patrick talks to Brooke Cambridge, a painting contractor from Salem, Mass.

  • Getting Surfaces Ready for Wallpaper

    Surface prep determines how well wallcoverings adhere, how good the job looks, and how long it lasts.

  • Lead-Safe Remodeling

    If the house you're working on was built before 1978, follow these abatement guidelines to minimize the health risks caused by sanding or scraping lead paint.

  • Get a Perfect Paint Job on Trim, Windows, Doors, and Cabinets

    Here's a myriad of tips for prep, paint selection, and application techniques for a quality finish.

  • Tools for Wallpapering

    You’ll need some special tools and work surfaces to apply your wallcovering.

  • Faux-Painted Walls

    Create a layered, textured finish with stippling brush and sponge.

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