Home Makeover Diva

Home Design Makeover Ideas

How To Calculate Paint Quantity For Any Project

02.27.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Quick and Easy Tip: How to calculate paint for any project!

When it comes to painting projects, how do you figure out how much paint you’ll need? Most of us probably ask the clerk at the paint desk how much we should get. And normally this is fine, but what if the clerk is new to the paint department? Even worse, what if they don’t care and happen to mutter the first random thought that comes to mind?  My experience at most home improvement stores is that it’s really the luck of draw as to whether you get someone who truly cares about helping you with your project, or whether they’re just watching the clock until it’s time to go home! That said, why not stop relying on someone else and find out how to do the math yourself!

Get your tape measure ready! First thing you’ll need to do is measure the area you are painting.  Because you aren’t measuring for blinds or tile, you don’t have to be exact. Say your walls measure 8 feet and 5 inches, I’d just round-up to nine and call it good. This way you are less likely to short yourself.  Getting back to the act of measuring, if all the walls are the same height than you only need to measure one. Because odds are pretty good that you’ll just come up with the same number. If you’ve got a half wall or something not square you’ll want to measure all the “odd” walls as well.  Now that you’ve got the height down, it’s time to measure the width of all your walls. Once again I’d continue to round-up to the nearest foot when marking your measurements.

Do the Math! Once you’ve got the measurements of the areas you want to paint it is time to do the math.  If you are painting one area a different color than another then you will want to separate the measurements by color.  First you start out by converting each wall into square feet. For example: let’s say you’ve got a wall that is 10 feet wide by 8 feet tall. This would equal out as 8ft x 10ft = 80ft.  The next wall is 15ft wide and is the same height. Therefore, this comes out to 15ft x 8ft  for a total of 120sf.  Wait, there’s one last step! If you add the two separate areas together, you get a grand total of 200 square feet that you’re looking to paint.

How To Calculate Paint Quantity For Any ProjectMultiple coats? Okay, so you’ve got the measurements, now what?  Well, you’ll need to determine if you need to paint more than one coat of paint on each surface.  I would say as a general rule, expect to paint two coats of anything that isn’t considered a really light color when painting over a white wall surface. So even though you have only 200 square feet of wall, you’ll need to double that footage calculation because you’re painting two coats. The two coats of paint breaks down as follows: 200 square feet x 2 = 400 square feet.

Width X Height = Square Feet X 2 (for multiple coats) = the amount of wall space you will need to cover.

Now that you know how much paint you need for your project, how do you know how much paint to actually buy?  Well, the easiest way is to look at the back of the paint can itself and see what the recommended coverage is according to the paint company. If this doesn’t make you comfortable, then instead you could use the general painter’s rule that one gallon of paint will cover up to 400 square feet. One quart of paint on the other hand, will cover up to 100 square feet. Please understand  that “I say up to” because it depends on the paint as to how well it covers. Therefore, this is where reading the back of the paint can comes in handy. Just remember though, the manufacturer’s recommendations and your actual painting project results may vary.

Speaking for myself, I usually try to error on the side of caution and purchase more paint than I think I’ll need.  This works well for me because I often have additional projects I want to tackle and the extra paint comes in handy. Also, if you do the math and find that you need exactly one gallon and two quarts, I would consider just purchasing two gallons. Often times it costs just as much for two quarts as it does for an entire gallon!

Categories // Paint-n-Trim Tags // house paint, How To Calculate Paint Quantity For Any Project, Interior Paint, paint projects, Paint-n-Trim, painting

Wall Edge Painting Tips

02.26.2015 by Amanda Hartley //

Today Eddie writes:

Help! I always mess up on the edges when I’m painting. Do you have any painting tips that could help me out? Any advice is appreciated.

Eddie, as you well know, painting is not as easy as it appears on home improvement shows. But that’s probably just because we don’t have a highly trained team of painters to come in and do the work for us when the cameras aren’t rolling! That said, I do have three-time tested edge painting tips to help you out of your current crisis!

First of all, never trust that painters tape is going to work without any special help from you. I don’t care what color it is, either. The painters tape could be the old standby known as blue tape or the newer green Frogtape and you’ll still have very similar results with either. Especially if your wall is textured. A wall with even a minuscule texture such as orange peel will leave blemishes in your straight line. This is because the tape doesn’t settle down into all the ridges of the texture. Even if you spend extra time rubbing the tape into every crevice, you will no doubt miss a few spots and have some bleed through with the paint.

The best tip I’ve found to combat this is paint grade caulking. I prefer the kitchen and bath kind in white, but that is just because it’s what I usually have handy. Spread the caulking on the edge of the tape that you’ll be painting over. I usually only spread a bead of about 6 inches long at a time and then use my fingers to smooth it into the edge and spread it further down the line. It is very important to make sure that you are spreading the caulking over the edge of the tape in a direction that keeps the tape edge smooth. Otherwise you’ll just be raising the edge and causing more problems for yourself. Make sure that as you spread the caulking you are keeping it smooth. You don’t want to cause any high spots that will cause a noticeable blemish on your wall. Once you’ve spread the caulking over the entire area, wait until it is fully dry before painting over the area.

Edge Painting TipsSecond, use an angled paint brush when cutting in. An angled paint brush will help you cut in on places where walls meet. For me an angled brush is especially helpful when painting the top edge of the wall where it meets the ceiling. If you hold the paint brush so that the width of the bristles are parallel to where the wall and ceiling meet you can glide the paint brush across easily. It helps to make sure that you have just the right amount of paint on the bristles. You don’t want to overload the brush, as that will cause you to get paint on the ceiling.

You can also use an angled brush when cutting in around door frames and where walls meet. In this instance it is easier to use just the angled edge of the brush instead of using the entire width. Once again though it is best not to load the brush down with too much paint, otherwise you’ll get paint the door frame or opposite wall.

And lastly, have a paint rag ready. It never hurts to be prepared. That’s why I purchase painters rags in bulk and always have a few nearby when I’m painting. This is especially helpful when painting around doors and trim.  I always keep a rag or two sticking out of my pants pockets, so that I can grab one as needed.  Keeping one handy will make it easier to wipe off your hands or wipe down a door or baseboard quickly. A paint rag will keep you clean and it will help keep an accident from ruining your new paint job.

Eddie, these three tips are ones that I’ve learned over the years to just help make painting easier on me. Use them or adapt them to something that works best for you, just know that there are things you can do to make painting edges easier!  Also one last thing to mention, I don’t care how many of those edge painting tools are designed, I’ve never found one that worked as effortlessly and easily as was claimed. In fact most of the time they seemed to make more work for me.  It seems nothing beats experience when it comes to painting edges.

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe (diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog.

Categories // Paint-n-Trim Tags // angled paint brush, Edge Painting Tips, Frogtape, interior painting, Paint-n-Trim, painting, Wall Edge Painting Tips

Cheap Home Decorating Ideas

06.27.2011 by Amanda Hartley //

Everyone dreams big when it comes to making over their home. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! But if your budget is limited, you may want to consider some cheap home decorating ideas that can still make a big difference and be light on your budget. This way you don’t have to feel like you settled and you still get to makeover your home. Here are three very simple and very budget friendly projects that can help you achieve this.

The easiest and most cost-effective way to change the feel of any room is to add a new coat of paint. Maybe you’ve always wanted a different color scheme or maybe your walls are just looking dingy? Either way a new coat of paint will do the trick. This is your chance to freshen up your space or add a new twist. If you don’t know what you want, spend some time looking through some magazines or online to find a color scheme that appeals to you. Not only can a new coat of paint revitalize a space, but it can also do wonders for you! Maybe that blue that’s been up for years is bringing your down? Why not go with a brighter color and see if you can’t cheer yourself up! Plus one gallon of paint only costs around $2o (keep in mind though painting supplies will cost approximately $15-$30 more if you don’t already have them).

Cheap Home Decorating Ideas

New window treatments or curtains will also make a huge difference. Maybe the blinds you’ve got up now hardly let any light in? Bring in some shears or 2″ faux wood blinds and see how much difference natural light makes. Perhaps the opposite is your problem? If you work at night and need to sleep during the day, how about getting some light blocking privacy panel curtains or some room darkening cellular shades. Either of these options is sure to help you sleep more during the day and give you the energy you need to keep you up all night long. On top of that, you’re finally getting the sleep you need and you can also get colors that will coordinate your new paint color and help with personality in your space. Depending on what style you choose and the size of your window, new window treatments start as low as $10 for in stock selections at home improvement stores. But they can get costly quickly going upwards of $300.

Hang some new art or photos on the walls. If you don’t have any art work or personal touches on your wall, it probably feels like a hotel room or apartment. Make your house a home by adding some personality. Check out websites like Etsy.com to find some good deals on original artwork. Then frame them yourself by shopping at discount stores and craft outlets. These stores are also a good place to look for frames and matting supplies for your own photos or scrapbook pages. Last year I found three prints that worked perfectly in my newly decorated kitchen for $10 each. I then went to a local craft store and found frames that were 40% off and cost me only $7. At under $60 for three pieces; it was definitely a cheap home decorating idea!

No matter what your vision or your budget you can decorate your home without breaking the bank! Sometimes it just takes a little additional work to make your space into your dream home, even when you can’t afford it. So try these three projects out for size and then think of other ways you can redefine your home on the cheap!

 

Categories // Paint-n-Trim Tags // artwork, Cheap Home Decorating Ideas, Paint-n-Trim, shades

Tips For Painting Stripes

06.10.2011 by Amanda Hartley //

Today, Violet writes:

I really need some tips for painting stripes in my living room. I’ve seen it done and it looks fabulous, but I am scared to do it myself! It looks like a lot of work, is there an easy way to paint stripes on a wall?

There aren’t any easy tips for painting stripes on a wall, but there are things you can do to make your job easier.  What I mean is that I can’t suggest a tool or method that will make it happen for you, but I can suggest some tips for painting stripes that will help keep you sane and make the project go smoother!

First of all, you can save time by using a laser level instead of a level to draw the lines on the wall.  I like using a laser level because it eliminates the need for me to draw the line up the entire wall. Instead I set the level back far enough that the line goes up the entire wall and then I place my painters tape. This only works though if you can stand on one side of the line.  If you are forced to stand in the middle of the line, you’ll block the laser and won’t be able to effectively place the tape.  In that case you’ll have to either use a pencil and mark off the line or go back to a regular level and a straight edge.

Second, use paintable caulking to seal the edges of the tape.  If your wall has any texture to it, even though you’ve put down good painter’s tape, the paint still bleeds through and causes and a blurry edge. To avoid this almost completely, use paintable caulking to seal the edge. Just grab a squeeze tube of caulking,but not the kind that goes in a caulking gun. The squeeze tube will allow you better control with how much caulking comes out.  All you have to do is squeeze a little bit on your finger and then spread that on the edges of the tape.  Make sure you smear the caulk evenly, so you don’t have any areas that are high or low. This will show up as an imperfection once you remove the tape.

Tips For Painting Stripes

Lastly, paint the wall the lightest stripe color. Don’t try to paint individual stripe lines one at time. Take the lightest color and paint a “base coat.”  If you make sure you always paint the lighter color first, then you won’t have to use primer on any newly painted oops spots. Trust me on this one, it happens more than people admit. If the stripes are thin, tape off the sections you want to remain that color. If the stripes are wide, tape off sections you want to stay that color and then paint the remainder the other color(s).

As I said before, these tips for painting stripes won’t make the job easy, but they should help make the project go a lot easier. Painting stripes can certainly be more work than just painting a solid color on the wall, but in the end it will be well worth it.  Painting, like any other home makeover project can seem overwhelming at first, but once it’s finished you’ll appreciate all the hard work you put into it, as you enjoy it for years to come!

Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (window blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe (diva(at)homemakeoverdiva.com) and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Home Makeover Diva Blog!

 

Categories // Paint-n-Trim Tags // base coat of paint, caulking, laser level, Paint-n-Trim, paintable caulking, painting a wall, painting imperfection, taping off a wall, Tips For Painting Stripes

Get Your Weekend Back

04.08.2011 by Amanda Hartley //

Today’s original guest post is provided by Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware’s home expert.

Spring is finally here and inevitably that means it’s time to start thinking about projects that can spruce up your home inside and out. The great news is that with the right resources and a strategic plan, you can tackle your to-do’s and then move on to the things that matter most, like enjoying your weekend and the warmer weather!

The first step to getting your weekend back is to have a plan. Whether you want to plant flowers, refinish the deck or paint a bedroom, prioritize what it is you want to get done by making a list and determining what you’ll need to complete the project.

Get Your Weekend Back

If you keep yourself organized with the right tools and a structured plan, you’ll be able to accomplish your home maintenance projects quickly – and you may even have some fun along the way! Not to mention the immense pride you’ll feel when you’ve taken charge to finish the job.

Let’s look at an example – painting a room. Below is a list of how to paint a room, from start to finish:

1. Choose the colors and get the paint mixed at your local hardware store (Remember that one gallon of paint covers about 300 square feet).

2. Gather all of the tools needed to complete the job. This includes: paint brushes, roller covers, roller frames and roller pans, painters tape, drop cloths, painting buckets, rags, sand paper, spackle and primer. If you’re painting high areas or ceilings make sure you have the appropriate ladder or scaffolding.

3. Remove everything from the room and tape off all of the areas you do not want to paint, such as molding, trim, windows and doors. Don’t forget about furniture, carpet, window coverings and switch plates that you don’t want to accidentally cover with paint. Make arrangements to remove these items from the room and make sure you have enough fabric to cover them.

4. Fix any spots on the walls and trim that need repair by using spackle and a putty knife. Sand down the surfaces slightly, as paint will stick better to rough surfaces than to smooth ones. Remember that a good paint job is 90 percent prep-work.

5. When painting an entire room, you should follow this order: ceiling, walls and then any windows, doors and finally trim.

6. Don’t forget to paint the walls with two coats of paint.

Now wasn’t that easy? With an organized plan and the right tools, you can have the best of both worlds; a well maintained home and an enjoyable weekend.

You can learn more about these tips and projects at your local Ace Hardware store and by visiting www.AceHardware.com.

Categories // Paint-n-Trim Tags // Get Your Weekend Back, ladder, Paint-n-Trim, painting, switch plates

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