Painting an apartment

CantGetNoSleep

I've just got a new two bed duplex flat (85m2) that needs painting (walls and ceilings). I'm completely new to this but have gotten a couple of excessive quotes so I'm looking to do it myself. The building is about 10 years old and the existing paint isn't that bad. The previous tenant smoked so there are some bits which are a bit discoloured. The skirting is wooden so I will ask the person redoing my floorboards to do this.

I'm completely new to DIY so apologies for the dumb questions.

• Do I need to wash down walls first? Any particular product I should use here?
  
• Does it all need to be done in daylight & how long might it take?
  
• Any particular type or brand of paint I need (all white)? How much would such a job take?
  
• Do I need a ladder for ceilings or can I use a roller with an extended handle? (not possible to reach all of them with a chair)
  
• Any tutorials or places to start learning what to do?
  

Thank you in advance

kerry bhoy

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

I've just got a new two bed duplex flat (85m2) that needs painting (walls and ceilings). I'm completely new to this but have gotten a couple of excessive quotes so I'm looking to do it myself. The building is about 10 years old and the existing paint isn't that bad. The previous tenant smoked so there are some bits which are a bit discoloured. The skirting is wooden so I will ask the person redoing my floorboards to do this.

I'm completely new to DIY so apologies for the dumb questions.

• Do I need to wash down walls first? Any particular product I should use here?
  
• Does it all need to be done in daylight & how long might it take?
  
• Any particular type or brand of paint I need (all white)? How much would such a job take?
  
• Do I need a ladder for ceilings or can I use a roller with an extended handle? (not possible to reach all of them with a chair)
  
• Any tutorials or places to start learning what to do?
  

Thank you in advance

Hello, if ceilings and walls are stained then wash down with sugar soap, it's a great product.

Don't understand 2ND question but you can paint anytime you want.length of job depends on how fast you paint and how many coats it needs.

Colour trend is the Best paint out there but it's also the most expensive.dulux New diamond range is also very good it's not as expensive as colour trend but it's still quite pricey.there is cheaper paint out there but personally don't think they are worth the money.it's hard to call a Price.

Use a roller with a long range handle, it's much easier. Use a rolling bucket not a tray, buy some decent brushes.
Loads of clips on YouTube for you to look at.start on ceilings and work down.take you time and you will pick it up in no time.

CantGetNoSleep

Thank you for your reply, very helpful

looksee

If you are using sugar soap - which is good - wear rubber gloves.

I would try and do it in daylight if you can, it can be hard to see where you have already painted, or there are thin bits, in artificial light.

Sort out a set of painting clothes, including shoes, to work in, don't think, 'I can just do this bit' in good clothes

If it matters what you look like at work, wear something to cover your hair as well. If you wear glasses check them for spots and splashes when you have done.

Cover the floors and anything else that will not be painted with plastic - putting down a dust sheet on top makes moving round easier. Don't just rely on fabric, paint will go through. Don't walk out of the room in your painting shoes onto uncovered floors in any other room.

Try and work on a dry day and have some windows open.

Try and avoid working on a ladder, except for touching up corners and edges. If a long roller will reach, that is the best.

Paint the ceiling first, then the walls. If the walls are a light colour you will probably be able to do it with two coats. I agree with the opinions on paint in kerry bhoy's post.

Use masking tape to protect places adjacent to paint.

Between painting bouts wrap the roller thoroughly in cling film and put it in a plastic bag. Don't leave it for more than 12 to 24 hours between use.

Take your time to get properly organised before starting, it will pay off in the end!

goz83

My opinion of painting ceilings and walls is that it's a souk sucking task and where possible, left to the professionals.

You also have to factor in the cost of painting supplies.

But, if you want to DIY, then I would just hammer home the PREPARATION part. Prep everything in the room before the paint is opened. Mask off and cover everything that coukd get paint on it. Tiny little speckles can go everywhere, especially when a roller is used, even when taking your time. My method is to first paint all the awkward spots first. So, do ceiling first, then paint the top of the walls, around light switches, sockets, the skirting board line and any other area that would slow me down. After that, it's a lot easier to fly through the rest.

I recommend protecting yourself too. Wear a hat, gloves, eye protection and a disposable breathing mask. My cousin paints and when he doesn't wear a mask, he gets wheezy after a couple of hours. Open windows if it's not raining as you'll want some fresh air circulating, helping the paint to dry and clearing the fumes.

Calahonda52

do the painting before the floor boards and skirting.
As above for the process, planning and prep are key.
When using the sugar soap, start at the bottom and work up as otherwise, especially for dirty pieces, it will streak and very hard to get out, will even be visible under first coat of paint

Bigus

Pure white is very harsh for walls , consider one of the many slightly off whites, to soften the tone.

Buy dear paint because it's the cheapest part of a labour intensive job, I'd recommend to go to a http://www.mcdonnellpaints.ie shop for the best products and advice

and ask for a deal.

Start on the smallest area first to see are you cut out for it.

CantGetNoSleep

Thank you to everyone who has replied - I'll take the preparation into account. I would have just bought paint and a brush and tore into it.

I'll be sanding and varnishing the floors after the painting - still necessary to cover everything?

Calahonda52

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Thank you to everyone who has replied - I'll take the preparation into account. I would have just bought paint and a brush and tore into it.

I'll be sanding and varnishing the floors after the painting - still necessary to cover everything?

Yes re covering because if you walk on the blobs.......
Good luck with the project: patience and planning and prep will get you a really nice job

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

CantGetNoSleep

Cheers - I'm going to live there so don't need to deduct labour from my taxes

goz83

You'll understand the high quotes halfway through the job and will notice every little mark on the walls after :pac:

shaunr68

Bigus wrote: »

Buy dear paint because it's the cheapest part of a labour intensive job.

Some great advice here, not much to add but I would echo this comment. Many years ago I bought some budget emulsion, quite pleased with myself until I found it was like water and needed about 6 coats. Never again. I always buy decent brand paint.

One more thing to add. Painting isn't difficult, but is time consuming and can be tedious. Put the radio on. Rope in a loved one, friend or relative for a bit of banter.

Good luck!

looksee

Would you really advise painting before sanding? Sanding dust gets everywhere and will coat the newly painted walls very quickly.

Edit: I am referring to sanding the floor. I would finish the floor, cover it really well, then paint. Even if you decide to paint first you need to cover the floor as paint splashes are harder to sand off than you would imagine.

cbyrd

Day 1, Wash down your ceilings and walls with sugar soap solution.
Fill any nail holes or scratches with filler, fill gaps between walls and skirting/sills/doorframes with flexible filler (painters mate in the tube)

Day 2, sand the excess filler and Hoover the room. Put down your floor cover and mask you skirting and window frames and sills. Get a low tack masking tape.

Start with your cutting in on the ceiling.
Then roll with a long handle roller. Give it about 2 hours and do the second coat. (i would start the low cutting in on the wall while waiting for the ceiling to dry but that's just impatient me) you will need a ladder it's safer when you have a paint brush and a paint kettle/tub, you need somewhere to put the container and rags for wiping.
I always use exterior paint. You get better coverage and instead of having to repaint in 2 or 3 years you can wash it down. It can be scrubbed without the paint coming off and leaving patches. They cost roughly E60 for a 10 litre bucket and any colour can be mixed usually about E15 extra.

Painting is time consuming and boring as hell. If you get impatient with jobs then hire the painter. Attention to detail is very important. Things like coming down onto the wall with the ceiling paint are important to be able to get straight lines for the wall paint. You will know where every mistake is and it will drive you bonkers. The prep work is very important to do well.. scrimp here and it makes the job harder. It's so rewarding when it's finished though. You can paint out a room in a day if you start early enough.
Good luck with it.

gandalf

Painting as everyone says is a time consuming affair but if you do the prep it is easy enough. I tend to give the walls a coat of white as a base/undercoat first to get things going especially if they haven't been painted for a while. The wall soaks up paint so you might as well use the white to soak in rather than the expensive colour, a good quality 10 litre tub is actually a very good price and it will do the ceilings as well. I would reiterate what others have said. Don't bother using cheap paint you will need more coats of it and that will take way more of your time.

If you are painting at night make sure you have good lighting available as well.