Professional Painters Share Tips and Secrets

(NAPSI)-If you are planning a home painting project, you have a lot of company. Experts say painting is now the number-one home-improvement project tackled by Americans. So how do you ensure professional results?

"A painter is only as good as the tools he or she uses to complete a project," said professional painting contractor, Nick Stolarski.

To make things roll along more smoothly, you may want to brush up on equipment and supplies that can make the job easier and provide a more professional result.

• Seal any cracks and gaps around windows and baseboards with a water-based, paintable caulk, such as Polyseamseal® All-Purpose Adhesive Caulk.Water-based sealants are low odor and clean up easily with soap and water, while the fast-drying formula helps minimize preparation time.

• Sand over walls and baseboards to create a smooth surface to ensure paint will adhere effectively and evenly. A durable aluminum oxide, A-weight paper with 100- to 150-grit is suitable for most general-purpose sanding jobs.

• Use painter's-grade masking tape to protect any areas not to be painted. Using a dispenser such as the Duck brand Turbo Masker™ masking-tape dispenser allows for quick, easy and accurate application of painting tapes so you can spend less time taping and increase the efficiency of painting projects.

When covering delicate surfaces such as wallpaper, treated woodwork and drywall, be sure to use a low-tack adhesive masking tape, such as Duck® brand Perfect Release Plus® Painter's Tape, to ensure that delicate surfaces will not be damaged when removing the tape.

• Protecting floors is necessary on any job. While cloth drops are more expensive, they work best, especially over carpets. There are also plastic drop cloths that feature a pre-taped top edge of professional-grade masking tape to make installation easier and help keep them in place.

• A quality brush makes it easier to apply paint evenly. A one- to two-inch, high-quality, nylon/polyester, angled brush can be used with all coatings, will hold paint better and provide better brush control.

• For most indoor applications, latex interior paints can be useful since they are designed for durability and stain resistance, splatter resistance and easy touch-up.

With the proper products, homeowners can get a head start on achieving a great-looking paint job without professional costs.

To learn more, visit www.duck products.com and www.polyseam seal.com.

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