How do you paint a room?

[fastfredracing]

What order?, where do you start? cut first ? then walls?

[Gogar]

Ceiling first, Walls second, trim last.

I roll first and then cut in, but I don't know if it matters or not.

[Noah930]

If you're doing the floor, don't start at the corner near the door.

[stomachmonkey]

I pull all trim and molding if possible otherwise tape.

Remove switch and outlet covers.

Remove any hardware like hinges, door knobs.

Tape where needed.

Ceiling.

Cut in floor, ceiling, corners, and around Windows.

Roll.

Like any paint it's in the prep.

More time spent up front the better the end result.

[Craig T]

I always trim first. I'm decent at trimming, bit still tape as well.

[pksystems]

https://youtu.be/T9MAmWnOznI

[GH85Carrera]

Pick up the phone?

[biosurfer1]

like Mr. Bean:

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

I pull all trim and molding if possible otherwise tape.

Remove switch and outlet covers.

Remove any hardware like hinges, door knobs.

Tape where needed.

I wish my painters were like that.

[IS300]

cut in first.... then roll her

[Gogar]

I hired a guy to paint my new living room,

I must admit I did a great job of calling him. Didn't mess up any of my clothes, either.

[look 171]

Roll cut-in or vice verse really doesn't matter. My opinion is to roll first then cut in. My painter seem to like it that way also but then, there are four of them. Two will roll the other two follows. Don't like the paint and primer in one paint. Doesn't cover that well over trim or really smooth surfaces. No tape.

[aigel]

I cut first, roll ceiling, then roll walls from top to bottom. I guess it makes more sense to roll first and then cut, because you only have to cover where you didn't hit it with the roller, but I like to go over brush marks with a roller, so that's why I cut first.

I hired a painter for the first time in my life a few weeks back to do my garage floor. I think I may pay him to paint for me in the future. It is a pretty thankless job. There are other DIY where I can make more money, I think. I.e. wrenching.

G

[look 171]

George, you are absolutely correct about cutting in the corners first. Since I am kinda dumb, I always associate cutting in with molding, casing and base boards. All the usual woodwork that not too many people like to do. BTW, I hate painting. I painted the interior of my house three times since I owned it. Painting is no fun.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

1. Roll first
2. Decide is wife likes the color
3. Cut last

[drcoastline]

If you have natural wood trim remove or tape off if you don't have a steady hand.

If you have painted trim, caulk all the seams, joints and butts. As well as the mating surface of the trim and wall or ceiling. The trim will expand and contract so caulking will keep the gap closed.

Paint all the trim first lapping the paint slightly (1/4" or so) onto the walls or ceiling, if you have crown molding. Feather the edge of the trim paint on the wall or ceiling surface.

Cut the ceiling in first covering the feathered edge of the trim paint that is on your flat surface. Finishing where the trim meets the wall. This will give you a sharp line. Then go back and roll the field. BTW- I use regular wall paint for my ceilings. It's more expensive but it covers better.

Follow the same process for the walls. Trim ,feather the paint onto the wall. Cut in the walls roll the field.

I have found that using a mini roller around the edges to cover the cut in is more controllable than a regular size roller and keeps from accidently hitting the trim or ceiling. I then use a regular roller to paint the larger surfaces. It may be extra work but I think yields a better result.

[911SauCy]

I love how many variations of technique there are to paint a room.

Between myself and 2 others, I recently booked about 350 hours of paper removal, wall prep, and painting in my new house.

Depending on your comfort level and steadiness of hand, tape. But tape well or else you'll have a serious mess. I refuse to tape.

My approach on a room that needs everything:
As mentioned, remove everything affixed to or contacting painting surfaces.
1: Roll the ceilings and with a large brush ensure all edges are covered, making light overlap onto the walls.
2: Paint the trim, get at it, overlap onto the walls around windows, doors, and above the baseboard and the overlap gives a nice canvas for a perfectly cut edge.
3: Get a really nice brush, 2-2.5" max width and cut everything in. I take a putty knife and run it along the ceiling/wall seam to create a tool mark. I then peripherally reference it as I cut and it makes for dead straight lines. On baseboard, around jambs and windows, same thing.

Oh yea, depending on the viscosity of the paint you use, this will either be much easier or dramatically more difficult.

Good luck

[mgatepi]

First off listen to wife bitc-- about me putting off the paint job
Second, spend hours listening to her debate paint colors
Third, Going to Home Depot to buy paint
Second, come home and learn the approved paint color was not the correct paint color
Forth, back to Home depot for new paint color.
Fifth, paint room while being constantly monitored by wife.
Sixth, listen to wife debate the color for several days after painting said room.
Lastly, listen to wife discuss the entire project with her girl friends.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by mgatepi

First off listen to wife bitc-- about me putting off the paint job
Second, spend hours listening to her debate paint colors
Third, Going to Home Depot to buy paint
Second, come home and learn the approved paint color was not the correct paint color
Forth, back to Home depot for new paint color.
Fifth, paint room while being constantly monitored by wife.
Sixth, listen to wife debate the color for several days after painting said room.
Lastly, listen to wife discuss the entire project with her girl friends.

This. Is great.

[1990C4S]

I do all the brushwork first and then roll over as much as possible to keep a similar surface finish.

I do a final topcoat on the wood trim last.