Are flaking paint and stains on your painted walls getting to you? We’ve got your paint problems covered.
(image: Lifestyle Yahoo, Australia)
STAINS AND SPLOTCHES ON YOUR WALLS
Usually caused by grease or mildew, these stains can be removed by first wiping the area with a damp cloth. After its dry, sand down the area a little and paint over the stain with a primer. Leave it to dry and cover it with a coat of paint.
DRIPS AND SPILLS
This problem usually occurs when you overload the brush with too much paint. If the drips are new, quickly wipe it off and brush on a second coat. But if it has dried, scrape it off with a chisel or razor blade, then prime and touch up the area.
TIP! Stretch a tight rubber band across the top of the paint can. Use the rubber band to scrape off excess paint from the paintbrush to give you an even application.
WRINKLED, FLAKING PAINT
A common problem in old houses, this requires a bit more work. Strip the area of paint with paint remover or a hot-air gun, then sand it down till it’s smooth. Prime it and cover it with coats of paint.
REPAINTED, BUT WALL STILL LOOKS SPLOTCHY?
Unfortunately, some touch-up can result in visible patches and obvious spots of new paint, but there are some ways to fix this.
- WAIT FOR IT TO DULL: If you’ve painted over a wall that faces direct sunlight, the paint in that area has probably dulled over time. Wait a few months and the colour of your new coat should have dulled to match.
- THIN THE PAINT: A thinner mixture should help the new paint blend better into the existing paint job for a seamless finish.
- SAND THE AREA: Sand the area you’ve touched up very lightly to buff the paint so it blends with the rest of the walls.
TIP! Proper patching of cracks is necessary before you paint over them. Purchase caulking compound from a hardware store and apply a thin bead over the crack. Smooth it out with a chisel and wipe away the excess with some rubbing alcohol. Prime the area and then touch it up with a coat of paint.