Helpful Hints

Make sure your start with the right equipment for the job.

Build the ultimate base for a great result.

Everything you need to know to paint like a pro.

Perfect your technique to ensure a superb finish.

Make light work of painting and protecting your woodwork.

Keep it safe and in good condition

Like a lot of things in life, when it comes to painting it’s worth spending a little to get the basic tools that will help you get the job done properly. For more assistance, Bunnings Warehouse team members are always more than happy to give the best possible advice.

Ladders

A good step ladder is an absolute must. Aluminium ladders are lightest, but they can also be the most expensive. Steel and wooden ladders will do the job. Try finding one with a flat top or clip tray which will help hold tools and paint cans, giving you an extra hand to hold on with.

Drop Sheets

Light canvas or calico sheets are the easiest to work with and will also last the longest. Light plastic sheets are inexpensive and should only be used for covering furniture as they are slippery and don’t absorb paint.

Rags

The right rags can sometimes be as important as the brush and paint you’re using, and a good supply of rags will help you clean up as you go. For water based paints keep a damp rag handy, for oil based paints make sure you moisten your rag with turps.

Scrapers & Knives

A quick look around your local Bunnings Warehouse will show you a huge range of scrapers. Here’s some info on a few things to look out for when shopping for your project.

Putty Knife

A small bladed knife that makes filling cracks and small holes easier.

Shave Hook

A triangular scraper blade with a handle, that’s often available in either straight or curved blades. Good for curved moldings and energetic stripping. If you're doing exterior work you will also need sugar soap, a brass wire brush and/or a stiff bristle brush.

Preparation is essential to getting a lasting result that you'll not only be proud of but will also stand the test of time. Paint shouldn’t be used to cover holes and cracks, and a poorly prepared surface is often the major cause of poor results.

Protect unpainted surfaces and furniture

• Move all furniture out of the room. If you don't have a lot of space, move it into the middle of the room and cover with a cloth or drop sheet.
• Lay down a drop sheet to protect your flooring. Try not to use old sheets, they are too absorbent and the paint will often soak through.
• Mask skirting boards and trims with suitable masking tape.
• Mask electrical switches instead of removing them. This is much safer and will reduce your workload.
• Mask the corner when painting adjacent walls with different colours. This will help to protect your already painting wall and make it easier when cutting in.

Prepare the surface

• Remove all loose, flaking or powdery paint from previously painted surfaces.
• Wash dirty or greasy surfaces with Selley's Sugar Soap, as any dust and dirt will prevent paint from sticking.
• Patch any cracks and holes with a suitable filler or sealant.
• Sand down to a smooth level surface and dust off.
• For bare surfaces apply a coat of British Paints All In One Sealer Primer Undercoat. Remember to use either oil or acrylic All In One, depending on the surface you are painting. For additional information check the product label.

• With brushes, as with most tools, there is no substitute for quality. Avoid cheap brushes with short, sparse bristles.
• Before using a brush, remove any loose bristles by giving it a good tease with your fingers. It's a good idea to moisten the brush with the same liquid that's in your paint. For example; water for water based paints, and turps for oil based paints.
• Water based paints are best applied with a long bristled, full bodied brush.
• Oil based paints, undercoats and primers require a medium bristle length, solidly packed for effective control.
• Rough wood, brickwork and cement render may be more practically painted with a synthetic fibre brush.
• Fill the brush by dipping in up to half the length of the bristles. This is very important as it stops the paint getting back into the top of the bristles, from where it will harden the bristles.
• If you are painting a larger area by brush, apply the paint in vertical or diagonal strips until the brush runs out of paint. Then brush horizontally until the area is evenly covered. Finally finish off with very light vertical strokes using the tip of the brush, this is called ‘laying off'.
• If you are using a brush and a roller, the first step is to paint the edges of the area you are going to paint. This is known as ‘cutting in'. The aim is to paint a strip about 5cm wide around any flat areas on which you can use the roller. Don't do too much of your cutting in at once. Try to roll the open or wet areas before the brushed out paint dries to minimise ‘picture framing' or ridging around the edges.

• Rolling walls and ceilings can be a great way to achieve fast, smooth results. Make sure you have the right roller sleeve for the job. Rota Cota offers a full range for every application. An extension pole – which can be either fixed, wooden or telescopic aluminium – can make painting ceilings and floors a lot easier.
• Fit the roller sleeve to the frame and slightly dampen it with water (for acrylic paint only) to prime and to remove any lint or dust. Pour paint from the can into the reservoir at the end of the roller tray. Dip the roller lightly into the paint, then roll it gently backwards and forwards on the ramp to evenly distribute the paint on the sleeve.
• Roll the paint onto the wall in a series of close zig-zag strokes. To minimise spattering paint all over yourself and the rest of the room, make sure you do this slowly. Never leave a paint-covered roller exposed to the air for any length of time. Either wrap it in plastic cling wrap or stand it in turps or water until it is time for final cleaning.

• As with all painting, try to start at the top and work down, painting with light, even strokes and feathering the edge of the wet paint as the brush empties. Recharge the brush and work back into the wet edge.
• Never try to paint over an area that has partially dried, as the brush will leave unattractive marks on the surface. The base of skirting boards can be a trap. Always use a shield – a bricklayer's bolster or piece of metal or stiff cardboard works well. Hold the shield into the base of the skirting and paint down to it, moving it along as you go. Even if you have no carpet to protect, it will stop the brush picking up dust and grit from the floor.

Paint Brushes

• Wash and dry the brush by following the instructions on the packaging.
• Store paint brushes by wrapping the bristles in newspaper and store flat, out of direct sunlight. Alternatively, you can hang the brushes by their handles.

Roller Cover

• Wash the roller cover according to the instructions on the packaging or for a quick, simple and easy job, use the Rota Cota Rolla Cleana which saves water too.
• After washing, string roller on rope or dowel to dry.
• Don't store a roller cover on its side as it will flatten the pile, so stand it upright in a cabinet or box.

Paint

• Mark the can with colour and date or paint the sides so that you know what colour is in the can.
• Ensure the lid has a tight seal.
• Store in a dry area.