Paint woodwork
Painting wood and metal with a brush
- Ensure the bristles are dry and clean.
- If using Berger Non-Drip Gloss, do not stir. Berger Liquid Gloss, Berger Undercoat and Berger Universal Primer should be stirred thoroughly.
- Dip up to one-third of the bristles in the paint to load the brush.
- The wrist should be free to allow strokes to be made in either direction.
- Change direction of the brush strokes to give an even spread of the paint.
- Always finish off with a vertical brush stroke.
- Berger Non-Drip Gloss is designed to cover in one liberal coat and should not be brushed out too much.
Doors
Doors should be painted in a strict sequence. First wedge the door open and remove all door handles, latches etc.
Flush Doors
Start at the top and work down in sections. Lay the paint on by making two or three separate down strokes. Without reloading the brush, fill in by cross brushing. Still without reloading, lay off with vertical strokes, then finish and smooth out with very light upward strokes.
Panelled Doors
These should be painted in the following order:
- Mouldings
- Panels
- Centre upright
- Horizontals, top and bottom
- Side verticals
- Edges
- Frame
Windows
Mask off glass with tape before painting or use a paint shield.
Remove masking tape as soon as the work is dry, otherwise it may be difficult to remove later.
Stairs
When painting stairs, work from the top down. Painting sequence:
- Spindle
- Newel Post
- Handrail
- Treads and risers
- String
- Stair panel
- Central tread
If you are putting in a stair carpet you only need to paint the areas that will show. However, allow the paint to extend at least 50mm under carpet on each side.
Radiators
Allow the radiator to cool completely before painting. Use a coloured paint to obscure any discolouration which sometimes occurs with white paint when the radiator heats up. Keep bleed valves clear of paint.
Skirting Boards
- Clean the boards and surrounding floor, rolling back the carpet if possible. Cover the floor and mask the carpet edge with wide masking tape.
- Holding a small brush like a pencil, with your little finger resting on the floor to keep a steady line, paint smoothly along the skirting board.
- Begin in a corner of a room, covering a metre at a time.
- Remove masking tape when dry.