Paint is a very interesting material. It reminds me of a show I used to watch on television as a child. A friendly witch would twitch her nose and presto, something would change (usually for the better)! Paint isn't as fast, but it can really transform an object, room or set of cabinets.

What's more, if you incorporate multiple colors, stenciling or specialized painting techniques, you can really accomplish some inexpensive redecorating.

Common Complaints

Painting cabinets can lead to problems. There are two primary reasons for this: surface contamination and previous gloss or slick surfaces.

Surface contamination (a fancy term for dirt, cooking grease, old food, dust, etc.) interferes with the ability of paint to hold onto the new surface. If you paint a dirty surface, the paint sticks to the dirt, not the surface below the dirt. Peeling paint is a reality. I have seen it happen many times.

Previously painted or stained kitchen cabinets almost always have a slick or glossy surface. Why? Because this makes them easier to clean. A glossy surface doesn't have those microscopic grooves that trap dirt. This is great for cleaning, but bad for paint! Paint needs lots of tiny grooves or scratches to grab onto.

Successful paint jobs are based on thorough preparation. Clean, sand, fill all holes, caulk where necessary and your paint job will really look professional.

This popular column was shared in my December 29, 2010 Newsletter.

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Painting a Toilet - Color Photos and Tips

You can paint toilets! But I don't want you to paint the inside of the bowl! In fact, just two days ago I was at a delightful plumbing supply house in my city - Keidel Supply - and saw a new painted toilet by Kohler. It had a humming bird on the tank front and tank lid. It was gorgeous. You could feel the paint or decal or whatever as you rubbed your hand over the surface.

Oil Paint

High gloss oil paint sticks very well to glazed china surfaces. You don't have to do any preparation work other than cleaning the surface and making sure it is dry.

Painting a scene is only to be done by a person who has talent. If you want stick people on your toilet, give me a call! I have zero artistic talent with respect to scenes, forms, etc. I can do two dimensional drawings, but not proportioned 3D paintings.

Coordination

If you decide to paint your toilet or some other china object, use scenes from wallpaper or a magazine to inspire you. Yes, you can give the artist some latitude, but you want the final painted product to blend with the surroundings. Keep in mind that you can strip off the paint down the road if you grow to dislike the look. Regular paint strippers will readily remove the paint without harming the china.

Always have the artist do a quick sketch before you proceed to the final project. Be sure the proportions are right and the look is what you want.

Painting Photos

This photo should help you get a feel for what is possible when you decide to paint a toilet or any other piece of glazed china. Look at the detail on the canisters! The artist who painted them used a fine brush and a steady hand to create the random look of the ferns. The black lettering was also done free hand with black paint. The paint job is over 20 years old and looks as good as the day it was completed.

The seaside border is in the bathroom where I have a plain white toilet. My oldest daughter is going to take elements from the border and paint them on the tank face and the tank lid. She has not yet decided what she is going to do. But I can assure you it will be spectacular. Keep in mind that if you have to hire an artist, they can take the toilet tank off and keep it in their studio. They don't have to paint it in place!

Related Column:

Paint a Toilet? Sure!

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Special Gray Primers

I thought about this analogy after I wrote my column about the new special gray primers: If you are above the age of 50, you very likely are somewhat familiar with black and white photography. Think about it, many younger people have never really seen black and white photos! Color photos today are as common as just about anything routine in your life. I can remember years ago when color photos from the drug store were special. But think about black and white photos - say ones you might see in the newspaper. The objects in the photos were a variety of colors, yet in the photos they come out various shades of gray. In modern computer graphics and television production, this is called gray-scale. There is a complimentary shade of gray for each and every unique color on the color palette.

It then goes without saying that if you determine the complimentary gray color for each color, then that color of gray will act as a unique and powerful primer that will not affect the final finish color that is applied over the special gray tone. This is the basic technology or thinking behind this new system. It works and it works well. I actually viewed test panels that were painted with the gray primers and the final color. They actually looked better than test panels that had two or three coats of just the colored paint!

You may get weird looks when you walk into a paint store and talk about these primers. This is cutting edge technology in the paint industry even though the concept behind it has been around for years. It simply was not applied to the paint industry. The two places where you should be welcomed if you ask about the special gray primers are listed below:

Sears Stores

Simply go to their paint department and ask about the new Bob Vila line of paints. Look at the brochures describing this new paint system.

Sherwin Williams Paint Stores

They also offer the new gray primer system. They may only offer several shades of gray, but that's OK. The shades they offer work with every color that you will find on their paint chips.

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Equipment

Consider purchasing fiberglass extension poles if you use paint rollers. With a little practice, you won t be jumping on and off a ladder to do those ceilings and high spots on walls. They really work well. Also, when using a pole, you don't get all those little sprinkles in your eyes!

Brushes and rollers: Simply put, buy the best that you can. There is a big difference in quality. A good brush, taken care of and cleaned properly, will last for years. Not only that, the finish will look much, much better. Good rollers don't shed their nap on your walls and ceiling. Nothing is more annoying!

Cleaning brushes and rollers to maintain them is easy. Consider buying a spinner. This is a cool tool that spins a roller cover. The cover slides onto the spinner and you push and pull a handle that makes the spinner operate. Once the roller is wet, it spins out the paint like a washing machine spins clothes. With some practice you can completely clean a roller cover in less than 90 seconds. One trick is to use a curved tool to scrape out excess paint from the roller before you start to spin it.

Do your white walls need some color? Find the professional painters by using my Interior Painting & Staining Checklist or my Exterior Painting & Staining Checklist. I offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee.

You can clean brushes with a spinner too but I prefer to clean them in an empty paint can. I swish the brush back and forth rapidly in warm soapy water. Don't mash the bristles down on the bottom of the can nor hold the brush upside down in a stream of water. You can permanently damage the bristles doing this.

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Priming

Painting new wood? Shifting from an oil painted surface to latex or water based paints? New drywall? If so, you must use primers, sealers or a combination of the two. These paints are specially formulated. They help even out textures and equalize porosity. Without them, the best finish paint will look lousy. I spoke about these primer paints in this linked article.

Applying Wall Paint

Most rookie painters make the same mistake. They simply put on too little paint. Many paint manufacturers recommend a minimum coverage for their products. They do this because they know that when first applied, a paint looks like it is covering well. But, an hour or two later, after the water or solvent has evaporated, the coverage looks horrible. You, the homeowner, then blame the paint. Well, it's your fault, not the paint's!

Do your white walls need some color? Find the professional painters by using my Interior Painting & Staining Checklist. I offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee.

This happened to me recently at my daughter's school. I test painted a wall that was previously light blue. We were changing to a wall paint that was almost white. I primed the wall and got good coverage on the first coat. After it dried, here and there you could see the blue through the paint. I knew this would happen. The next night some volunteers painted the other walls in the room while I was helping elsewhere. I specifically showed them the wall I had primed. It was made clear to them that they must not over-roll (apply too thinly) the paint. I even showed them how thick I was applying the paint. Oh well, what a waste of time! I came back into the room one hour later and it looked as if they had poured five gallons of water into one gallon of paint. The paint was applied so thinly that we had to paint everything they did an additional time. Don't let this happen on your job!

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So you want your upcoming paint job to really be first class? Well, who doesn't? Painting always seems so easy, yet when completed the results are not often the greatest.

Prep Work - - It's the Key!

By far the most unglamorous part of painting is the work you should do before you pop the top to the paint can. In the trade it's called prep work. There is so much to do to achieve that really professional look. Surely you don't think it happens by accident?

First, you need to always start with clean surfaces. Invariably it says this on a paint can, but few people go to the trouble to wash walls. Remember, paints are simply glues. They stick to things.

Filling holes and patching cracks: The paint can only do so much. In fact, many people think that paint can fill or bridge small cracks, because they see how thick the paint is. Well, I can understand where this comes from. Paint companies know that much of the vehicle - the component of paint that makes it a liquid - in the paint evaporates into the air as the paint dries. This is why they recommend applying paint three times thicker - referred to as mil thickness - than the finished dry mil thickness. More on this in a moment. Take the time to fill all holes and cracks. The best time to do this, believe it or not, is at night time. Holes and lines show up much more when sunlight is not pouring through a window or door. Try this yourself, and see if I'm not telling you the truth!

Do your white walls need some color? Find the professional painters by using my Interior Painting & Staining Checklist. I offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee.

Caulking

This is where most people miss the boat. The pros use caulk like a runner drinks water. Lots of it. Each and every crack between woodwork and wall and woodwork and woodwork must be filled for that first class appearance. I always recommend priming the areas which are to be painted first. This way, the cracks always seem to be better defined.

Caulking is an art. For interior purposes, I recommend using an acrylic caulk, matched closely in color to what you are painting. Cut the end of the tube close to the size of the cracks you are caulking. Apply the caulk, 2 feet at a time. Wipe the bead with your finger to smooth the joint and to press it into the crack. Then *now here is the important part* wipe the part you just caulked with a damp sponge. This removes excess caulk from the areas adjacent to the crack. This step is often overlooked by the novice.

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DEAR TIM:

I have a question about changing the color of a fiberglass exterior door. I purchased a mahogany fiberglass door for the front of my house. My shutters are black and I want to know if I can paint the door black? What would be your advice? Thanks!

Pam

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DEAR PAM:

If the door gets lots of direct sunlight, it could be a huge mistake. The black paint can absorb a tremendous amount of heat and there may be an issue with the paint bubbling. But, if the door is shaded by a nice roof or faces north, you will be just fine. Be sure you use a paint that has a blend of acrylic and urethane resins.

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