2019 Fall Home & Garden

Page 22 2019 Fall Home & Garden Video Magazine Lincoln Daily News Sept. 26, 2019 Professional painters suggest putting a plastic drop cloth down first. Tape the plastic drop cloth around the edges of the room and over furniture or counter tops. This extra layer of protection is the only way to guarantee against accident seepage that may occur during painting. Cover the plastic drop cloth with a canvas drop cloth. A canvas drop cloth is easier to place in the proper position and move around the room, as needed. It is less slippery for the ladder and the painter. More durable than plastic, a canvas drop cloth will last longer and can even be washed for the next job. It is easier to clean up the drop cloth than replace what spilled or splattered paint has damaged. Be sure your shoes are clean before stepping off the drop cloth. Pick up all paint supplies and allow the drop cloth to dry before folding it up and put away for the next use. Roll up the plastic drop cloth and throw it away as they are cheap enough to buy new for the next paint project. How to paint a house : How to lay drop cloth inside Putty knife/scraper: The putty knife is a versatile tool that comes in several variations and is handy for prepping a paint job. A small flexible putty knife is useful when preparing the walls and trim for new paint. A putty knife can be used to fill nail holes with spackling compound or open joints in molding and frames with wood putty. It is also useful to press tape around the windows and trim to be sure there is no seepage around the edges. A larger putty knife can be used as a painting shield when painting along molding, ceilings, and around doors and windows. A putty knife with a rigid blade, sometimes called a scraper, can be used to remove old paint and apply wall compound to large areas. These putty knives usually have an angled edge instead of flat to help get under the paint, dried putty, or other residue the homeowner is trying to remove. Sand block and sandpaper: Choosing the right sand block can make any DIY project easier. Sand blocks can be found in different sizes constructed of various materials. It does not have to be an expensive tool but necessary since it does not leave the “waves” created by unsupported sandpaper. Sanding is used to prepare the imperfections of the object being painted. It can also be used to promote adhesion between coats of paint or to get rid of paint imperfections like drips. When sanding with a block use alternating, crisscross, or circular strokes using the broad edge of the sanding block on the surface. A rigid sanding block is used with more coarse sandpaper for initial work. A semi-rigid block Continued n