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Painting my New Construction Home

Posted on 9/5/19 at 11:57 am
Posted by Vacherie
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2017
438 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 11:57 am
I'm doing the work myself. The exterior is complete. Interior ceilings and crown is complete. Getting ready to roll the walls and am facing the task of cutting in every window, door, floor boards and crown moulding. Any tips to making cutting in easier? I have a Graco power roller so rolling will go quickly once I cut in all the rooms. Any help would be appreciated.
Posted by Breric
Member since Oct 2007
517 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 12:01 pm to
Just painted my entire house and tried finding any possible way to avoid taping and came to the conclusion that taping really is best. You can use a wide metal paint guide but that would take up both hands.
Posted by The Nino
Member since Jan 2010
21519 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 12:13 pm to
I’ve tried a majority of the one-off painting tools for cutting. None work as well as taping
Posted by fishfighter
RIP
Member since Apr 2008
40026 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 12:21 pm to
quote:

I’ve tried a majority of the one-off painting tools for cutting. None work as well as taping


This and invest a shite load into tape. Also buy one of those short 3" wide rollers. Cut in with a GOOD brush and come back and used the small roller to roll out the paint. That takes out brush stroke marks.
Posted by Sheepdog1833
Member since Feb 2019
684 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 12:58 pm to
Good paint. Good angled brush. If you must tape and with enough practice, only tape the base boards. Everything that you bring the paint “up” to won’t require taping (ceilings, windows) if that makes sense.
For instance, when painting the wall at the ceiling, have your brush at a 45 degree angle starting a couple inches below the joint and work your way “up” to the joint. When you run out of paint on the brush, refill and start back where the wet paint left off. You should only be cutting in with the tip of your angled brush.
I’m sure this won’t help, because it’s rambling. But with practice you don’t need nearly as much taping as you think.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
20376 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 1:09 pm to
I've done a lot of painting and I suck at it. I don't think I have the patience honestly. Every time I start feeling confident cutting in, I frick it up and then get pissed then its a struggle for awhile.

Good luck, I'm no help.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
14968 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 1:36 pm to
Buy yourself a good 3 inch sash brush----the ones with the bristles cut on a slight slant. You can cut in real good with one of those and get good clean lines. Plus, at 3 inches wide, it holds a good bit of paint to cut in corners and such.

Personally, I use a 4 inch regular latex brush for all my cutting in, but you sound like you're not all that familiar with it. Pro tip----don't drink a lot of coffee prior to cutting in.

I can't stress enough the importance of getting a good brush to begin with, AND learning how to clean them properly when done for the day. I've got some paint brushes that are several years old and still do a great job.

Cut one wall in at a time, go from corner to corner and roll that wall out. Then proceed around the room one wall at a time.

Paint tape is for rookies----and it has it's place, but you'd not find many pro painters who use it as it takes a lot of time to put up and tape everything off when they could be spreading paint.
This post was edited on 9/5/19 at 3:02 pm
Posted by RedBeardBaw
Member since Feb 2017
370 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 1:51 pm to
If you do tape, make sure you get quality tape because they are NOT all made equal. I skimped on a cheaper tape when painting my outdoor kitchen recently and regretted it as paint bled through/line's weren't sharp and I had to touch up a good bit...The blue painter's tape was worth its weight in gold.
Posted by lsutiger2010
Member since Aug 2008
14790 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 2:00 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 10/19/21 at 11:41 am
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
14968 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 2:02 pm to
quote:

If you do tape, make sure you get quality tape because they are NOT all made equal.


And to expand on this just a bit. DO NOT get so cheap that you decide to use masking tape or freezer tape to do the job. I've seen people do this and they left it on for several days as they dicked around painting and that stuff stuck like glue to the woodwork.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
14968 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 2:03 pm to
quote:

Installed trim before painting?


Of course you do. If you paint, then install the trim, you will still need to caulk it in to make for real clean lines and a better look. Then you'd have to come back and touch up the paint.

ETA: Let me expand on this so it's clear. I always paint my trims before installing. Once installed, I'll putty any nail holes and caulk the trim to the walls and ceilings if doing crown. Then touch up the paint on the trims. Then paint the ceilings and walls.
This post was edited on 9/5/19 at 2:06 pm
Posted by PSU2LSU
Oxford MS
Member since Apr 2011
3144 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 2:30 pm to
I agree forgo the taping. Like others have said, get a good brush and go from there. But I would like to add to always keep a wet rag in your back pocket. If you mess up you just have to take the rag and wipe the wet paint.
Posted by Coon
La 56 Southbound
Member since Feb 2005
18492 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 2:40 pm to
To all the people asking if Vacherie is my alter, it’s not.
Posted by idlewatcher
County Jail
Member since Jan 2012
78824 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 2:51 pm to
quote:

You can use a wide metal paint guide but that would take up both hands.




My brother and I did that in his house last month. I just followed him around with his paint gun and held the guide b/c it was too late in the night to tape everything. Came out pretty well too
Posted by Vacherie
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2017
438 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 2:58 pm to
Yes. Installed trim before painting
Posted by Aristo
Colorado
Member since Jan 2007
13292 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 4:01 pm to
Get an angled brush and go slowly.
Posted by WPBTiger
Parts Unknown
Member since Nov 2011
30833 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 7:29 pm to
quote:

I agree forgo the taping. Like others have said, get a good brush and go from there. But I would like to add to always keep a wet rag in your back pocket. If you mess up you just have to take the rag and wipe the wet paint.


This is my method
Posted by LNCHBOX
70448
Member since Jun 2009
84039 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 9:15 pm to
quote:

Just painted my entire house and tried finding any possible way to avoid taping and came to the conclusion that taping really is best. You can use a wide metal paint guide but that would take up both hands.


Total opposite for me. Taped the first room, then said frick all that because of how long it took. Just learn how to cut. It's not hard and looks better than taped IMO. The time saved is a bonus.
This post was edited on 9/5/19 at 10:58 pm
Posted by diat150
Louisiana
Member since Jun 2005
43442 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 10:12 pm to
Pay a pro. Nothing worse than a shitty paint job on a new construction.
Posted by sleepytime
Member since Feb 2014
3565 posts
Posted on 9/5/19 at 10:13 pm to
Here’s a few tips from someone that’s did it a few times and learned the hard way:

Make sure you have really good lightning.

Tape surfaces that are porous and paint would be really hard to clean off, cut in everything else.

Watch a few YouTube videos on technique and practice, this one is good LINK.

Use good angled tip brushes with stiff bristles, stiff bristles help hold a straighter line. These brushes work as good as the $40 oval Purdy brushes and are way cheaper. I prefer oval cut in brushes because they hold more paint, but they make standard cut brushes too.
LINK

If you haven’t caulked yet, use big stretch caulk instead of dap. It goes farther, tools better, cleans up easier, dries slick, doesn’t stink and will stretch instead of separate. Amazon is the cheapest place to buy it.
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