If you are planning a do-it -yourself painting venture you should prepare for it by putting together a painting kit. A usual painting kit includes patching paste, drop cloth, a putty knife, and plastic gloves, paint thinner, primer and a paint-can opener. Added to this, other necessary items in a painting kit would be plenty of masking tape, assorted paintbrushes and a paint roller and roller cover.

Essentials for a painting kit

An extension bar for the paint rollers will help you reach the ceiling and will allow you to stand away from the wall to prevent getting spatters on your clothes. Your kit should also contain a paint tray with a disposable liner. If you are going to paint a big area, include a bucket with a screen grid for removing excess paint from the roller. No paint kit would be complete without a multipurpose paint tool, which can be used to clean caulk, apply putty or glaze, pull nails, scrape paint; clean rollers covers and drive nails.

Preparing the walls for a DIY painting project

Now comes the tough part: prepping or preparing the walls. Preparing the wall for a coat of paint can be the most difficult part. You might have to remove the last coat of paint or just paint over it. It is always advisable to sandpaper the wall and fill in any cracks with patching paste. Allow the paste to dry for a couple of hours and sand paper it once. After the patching past has dried apply a coat of primer, usually white cement mixed with water to form a freely flowing fluid makes a good primer. Once this is done, you could try a few short strokes to test the fluidity of the paint and continue with applying the first coat of paint. You can use the same brush for the primer and the paint.

How to ensure the best paint effects

Choose nylon or synthetic-bristle brushes for use with latex paint and natural-bristle brushes for oil-based paints, stains and varnishes. Instead of dipping your paintbrush directly into the paint can, use a paint pot, which is wider than a standard paint can. When wetting the brush with paint, dip only half the length of its bristles into the paint. Tap the brush against the side of the pot to remove excess paint. As you apply the paint to the wall, the friction will draw paint from the brush.
The DIY kits available these days with the instructions can allow even an amateur to do a professional paint job.

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