Home Painting Answers

  Building a new wood deck this spring/summer? If so you have a decision to make not long after you finish construction. Paint or stain for the finish? This could help.    Advantages of stain;                                                                   Advantages of paint;                                                                    Easer application.                                                                 More durable than stain. 5 to 7 years.  ...

  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 b...