Before you paint.

The traditional three-coat indoor paint method consists of a lead-free primer,with undercoat and topcoat. Buy,if you can,from a store with a fast turnover of paint;pigment settles during storage ,so the fresher the paint the easier it is to mix. If in doubt,stand the tin upside down for a day or so before using it,to help loosen settled pigment.

   Prise off the lid by levering at several points around the rim,being careful to avoid distorting the tin.If the lid is not airtight,any remaining paint stored in the tin will for a skin.(Any skin in an old tin should be lifted out in one piece by running a stick around the edge;otherwise the skin will break up and leave bits on the paintwork.If necessary,strain the paint through a piece of muslin or old nylon stocking to remove lumps and other debris).When you have finished pouring paint from any tin,hammer the lid back on to provide an airtight seal.A block of wood big enough to cover the whole lid make the best hammer;a carpenter’s hammer will sometimes distort the lid and prevent it from closing properly.

  Always mix paint throughly ,with a circle-and-up movement,so that all constituents are evenly distributed.If using a thinner,do so sparingly;too much can spoil both the depth of colour and the gloss.A newly opened tin of paint normally needs no thinners at all.

  Before you begin work,check the light.Daylight is far the best,but if you must work at night,try to pick the brightest place –the kitchen,probably-in the house.Under  poor artificial light it is easy,particularly when using a white gloss finish to leave unnoticed ‘thin’ patches and spoil the job.

    Next,protect the floor with newspaper or dustsheets.Never wear woollen clothes,as loose fibres will settle on the paint.Remove fittings,such as knobs or handles,from the unit.Remove the drawers and stand these on end;it is easier to paint a horizontal than a vertical surface,since there is less risk of’runs’or’curtaining’.

  Now fix wooden blocks under the base of the unit to lift it clear of the floor.This will prevent your brush from picking up dirt from  your newspaper,or fluff from your dustsheets.Vacuum clean the unit to get rid of any dust.

 

 

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London Painters and Decorators