Home Painting Answers

  Smoke/nicotine stains are a challenge for even the most experienced painter. So as a do it yourself project be prepared. This will not be fun or easy.   First things first. If the wall you are painting have a "flat" finish, washing the walls before priming is a waste of time and money. You will only spread around the nicotine and soak it deeper into the paint that is on the walls now.  If the walls have an "eggshell" or "satin" or "semi-gloss" finish washing can be helpful to a small extent. Areas you should concentrate on is where the stains are the heaviest. This is most often where pictures were on the walls and corners.  Do not invest a lot of time in this step. Just get the heaviest stains removed as best you can.  MATERIALS   You will need a (stain blocking) primer. This is critical as a standard primers will not do the job properly.   This type of primer is most effective if it is oil based. Some brands offer a latex stain block

   Like many people your looking to reduce your electric bill by replacing your standard incandescent bulbs will LED or florescent lights.   Some think you should consider first. You invested a lot of time and expense in the paint on your walls. Changing you light from incandescent to florescent or LED. Can change the appearance of the color you walls are painted.  The standard incident light put out a light that has a yellow/gold color. Many florescent bulbs will put out a light pink color. LED light are a more white light than the incident or the florescent bulbs.    Changing to a florescent light in a room that is painted in a pastel or an off white wall color can change the appearance of that color drastically. The typical off white color will pick up a pink hue to it. A pastel color (especial light grays) will look purple.  The LED bulb will wash out a pastel color making it look several shades lighter in color.    Keep this in mind if and when you elect to switch you lig