Getting your house painted? Take note of these tips

Many people complaint that painting jobs at their houses are quite messy. For some, rearranging the furniture and other objects is a strenuous job while others find the odour of the paints uncomfortable and nauseating.

Besides these, it is the expenses which prompt many to decide against giving their home a new look with a nice coat of paint. While painting new houses or re-painting the old ones, the attractive hues can be maintained for longer periods by taking care of certain things.

• A coat of white cement or primer should be applied only after the plastering has dried well.

• The putty, which closes the small pores on the cemented surface, could be applied after the primer is done. Another coat of primer could be applied after the putty gets dried. The emulsion paint could be applied only after the putty and primer have dried completely.

• Before applying each coat of paint, make sure that the previous coat has dried thoroughly. This makes the paint stay on for longer periods of time.

• It is better to paint the ceiling in white hue. The white color amazingly reflects the natural light that enters the house and illuminates the interiors in a better way.

• Cool shades could be chosen to make the bedrooms unique and attractive. Shades of blue, green, rose and yellow or a combination of these would make the rooms look pleasant. Highlighting a wall with a darker shade while painting the rest of walls with lighter shades is the latest trend.

• High quality emulsion paints, which can be easily cleaned, should be applied in the kitchen and work area. This would prevent the paint from coming off the walls in patches due to heat or smoke.

• Before repainting, the old coats of paint should be scraped off and cleaned well. A fresh coat of primer should be applied.

• If moisture is found on the walls while repainting old houses, it should be cleared before the area is painted. Water seeps through the walls from the cracks on the roofs. The wall should be painted only after blocking the leakage by waterproofing the roof.

• Painting the furniture and shelves in the same shade as the polish applied on doors and windows would add to the overall look of the interiors.

• Putty is used to give a finished look to the wall plastered with cement. Exterior putty should be applied on the exterior walls and interior putty should be used inside the house. Putty is available in both powder and paste forms. A 20 kilo sack of interior putty costs between Rs 550-650; a 40 kilo sack of exterior putty costs up to Rs 1000-1100.

Information courtesy: Sreekant Pangapad