Myths about painting abound. Some have to do with prepping the wall, others about the effect light or dark colors have on a room and still others about when and when not to paint. We’re going to bust ten of those myths for you right now! Learn these important home painting methods to avoid.
1. The myth: You don’t always have to use primer.
The reality: Primer may seem like an unnecessary extra step, but the truth is, primer helps paint stick to the surface. It also helps the paint go on smoother so the finished product looks more professional. You will definitely want to use primer if you are going from a darker to a lighter color.
2. The myth: Always use painter’s tape.
The reality: If you are painting stripes or need a perfectly straight line, then yes, painter’s tape is a staple for those jobs. Using it to prep around trim is optional. If you feel confident about your painting and have a steady hand, you can get away without using it. Where trim is concerned, the tape is used to keep surfaces you don’t want painted clear from accidental drips or brush marks. If you don’t need to use it then don’t.
3. The myth: Dark colors make the room seem smaller.
The reality: They don’t always have that effect. If the room gets plenty of sunshine and if the trim is in a lighter color, the room could actually feel lighter. With lighter colored furniture, the effect could make the room feel more expansive and a bold color can give a room more personality.
4. The myth: You always need two coats of paint.
The reality: Sometimes you will, sometimes you may even need three, but there are times when you can get the job done in one coat. If you use a primer, chances are you won’t need that second coat.
5. The myth: As long as it’s a good quality, any paint will work in the bathroom. The reality: Bathrooms are special environments. They have a lot of humidity. That much moisture tends to break the chemical bonds of paint. If you’ve seen yellow streaks on bathroom walls that’s why; surfactants leach out, causing stains and mildew that is more likely to be a problem. Look for a high-performance paint with Mildewcide included for your bathrooms.
The reality: Primer may seem like an unnecessary extra step, but the truth is, primer helps paint stick to the surface. It also helps the paint go on smoother so the finished product looks more professional. You will definitely want to use primer if you are going from a darker to a lighter color.
2. The myth: Always use painter’s tape.
The reality: If you are painting stripes or need a perfectly straight line, then yes, painter’s tape is a staple for those jobs. Using it to prep around trim is optional. If you feel confident about your painting and have a steady hand, you can get away without using it. Where trim is concerned, the tape is used to keep surfaces you don’t want painted clear from accidental drips or brush marks. If you don’t need to use it then don’t.
3. The myth: Dark colors make the room seem smaller.
The reality: They don’t always have that effect. If the room gets plenty of sunshine and if the trim is in a lighter color, the room could actually feel lighter. With lighter colored furniture, the effect could make the room feel more expansive and a bold color can give a room more personality.
4. The myth: You always need two coats of paint.
The reality: Sometimes you will, sometimes you may even need three, but there are times when you can get the job done in one coat. If you use a primer, chances are you won’t need that second coat.
5. The myth: As long as it’s a good quality, any paint will work in the bathroom. The reality: Bathrooms are special environments. They have a lot of humidity. That much moisture tends to break the chemical bonds of paint. If you’ve seen yellow streaks on bathroom walls that’s why; surfactants leach out, causing stains and mildew that is more likely to be a problem. Look for a high-performance paint with Mildewcide included for your bathrooms.
6. The myth: If my exterior walls are pretty clean there’s no reason to power wash before painting.
The reality: While those exterior walls may look clean, there are mildew spores all over which can’t be seen. For longevity of your exterior paint, you should do power washing with a Mildewcide cleaner. Be sure to clean the eaves and soffits well, also.
7. The myth: If you paint one wall you need to paint all of them.
The reality: If you have one wall that gets more than its share of attention in the way of dirt and grime, you can paint it as needed. Matching paint isn’t that difficult, so you should be able to get a color very close to the color you need.
8. The myth: White walls are uninteresting and boring.
The reality: There is a vast range of shades of white. Stark white, straight from the can, may look institutional; however, you can get white in shades that add energy or create a cozy sense of warmth. Look at the creamy off-whites or those with a hint of yellow or blue. You’ll find a shade of white that suits the mood of the room you’re painting.
9. The myth: Don’t bother painting if you’re selling your home.
The reality: Unless your home is a definite fixer-upper that’s going to require extensive remodeling, freshening it up with paint will help its marketability. People look forward to moving into a home that doesn’t require a lot of work to make it homey. A new paint job is also a quick way to add a little value to your home.
10. The myth: If you want it to look nice, hire professionals to do the job.
The reality: Professional painters will do a great job and you will have less stress and more time to spare. On the other hand, for people who can do a decent job, doing the painting yourself can be enjoyable. With the formulations of paint these days, it is easy to do a good job as an amateur and, of course, it’s cheaper too!
The reality: While those exterior walls may look clean, there are mildew spores all over which can’t be seen. For longevity of your exterior paint, you should do power washing with a Mildewcide cleaner. Be sure to clean the eaves and soffits well, also.
7. The myth: If you paint one wall you need to paint all of them.
The reality: If you have one wall that gets more than its share of attention in the way of dirt and grime, you can paint it as needed. Matching paint isn’t that difficult, so you should be able to get a color very close to the color you need.
8. The myth: White walls are uninteresting and boring.
The reality: There is a vast range of shades of white. Stark white, straight from the can, may look institutional; however, you can get white in shades that add energy or create a cozy sense of warmth. Look at the creamy off-whites or those with a hint of yellow or blue. You’ll find a shade of white that suits the mood of the room you’re painting.
9. The myth: Don’t bother painting if you’re selling your home.
The reality: Unless your home is a definite fixer-upper that’s going to require extensive remodeling, freshening it up with paint will help its marketability. People look forward to moving into a home that doesn’t require a lot of work to make it homey. A new paint job is also a quick way to add a little value to your home.
10. The myth: If you want it to look nice, hire professionals to do the job.
The reality: Professional painters will do a great job and you will have less stress and more time to spare. On the other hand, for people who can do a decent job, doing the painting yourself can be enjoyable. With the formulations of paint these days, it is easy to do a good job as an amateur and, of course, it’s cheaper too!
You can make painting your home a terrific bonding time. Create a playlist, get your painting partners and supplies then paint away. There’s nothing more satisfying at the end of the day than to kick back, relax and admire a job well done.
Author
Joanne Aubuchon
Joanne is a writer for SERVIZ, home services company offering Plumbing repairs to Carpet Cleaning across the US. Joanne is a writer by day and reader by night. Joanne likes writing about money saving, rearing children and improving others lives. When not writing, she trys out new recipes, plays ball, or cheers in the stands at soccer games.
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