Three rules for interior painting

Sequence for painting a room is from top to bottom: Ceiling first, then walls, then windows, doors and finally baseboards.

Great interior painting is as easy as one-two-three

There are many reasons why interior painting is the nation's most popular home improvement project.

Painting can quickly and dramatically transform the appearance of a room, an apartment or an entire home; it's personally rewarding; it's inexpensive; and it's fun .

Moreover, interior painting is easy. Even novices can often get professional painting results by following just three simple rules

Rule number one: Prepare the surface properly

• Good paint performance depends on good paint adhesion, and paint adheres best to surfaces that are clean and sound. Before picking up a brush or roller, it's important to make sure the surface is "inviting" to the paint.
  
  
• Accumulated dirt, dust and grime should be removed from walls, ceilings and trim with a detergent-water solution. After washing, the surfaces should be thoroughly rinsed with water and allowed to dry completely.
  
• Next, a putty knife should be used to fill cracks, holes and other surface imperfections with either spackling compound or a quality acrylic caulk. If spackling is used, after it is dry it should be sanded smooth and flush with the surface; caulk should be smoothed and feathered as it is applied.
  
• Finally, if walls or ceilings have water stains or other serious discol-oration, then before painting, it may be necessary to coat them with a latex or oil-based stain-blocking primer to prevent the stains from bleeding through the new paint.

Rule number two: Use only top quality paint

• Compared with ordinary interior paints, top quality finishes are much easier to work with and offer superior long-term performance.
  
  
• In terms of application benefits, top quality paints won't spatter or tend to show brush marks. And since they hide better than ordinary paints, a single coat is often sufficient to give a great looking paint job and save on time, labor and cost.
  
  
• Top quality interior paints also are tougher and more durable than ordinary interior paints, according to experts at the Paint Quality Institute. They resist fading, yellowing and staining. And even if they do get spotted or stained, discoloration can often be washed off without damaging the finish.

Rule number three: Invest in quality tools

• To get the most from top quality interior paint, it should be applied with high quality brushes and rollers. Not only will they apply the paint more evenly, but they will also make the job more effortless
  
  
• The best brushes tend to be well balanced, hold a lot of paint and apply the paint evenly. Look for brushes with tightly packed bristles and test them for springiness. And be sure they don't fan too much.
  
  
• When applying the more popular latex or water-based interior paints, it's important to use brushes and rollers with synthetic bristles and covers. They'll maintain the proper stiffness and keep their shape regardless of the amount of water they're exposed to.
  Most oil-based or alkyd paints can be applied with brushes and rollers made either of synthetic or natural materials.
  Remember. interior painting can be as simple as one-two-three. But there are no shortcuts. Good surface preparation, top quality paint and high quality tools are all essential to get the best