Saving a load of money by painting my own home inside and out

Ikarus1

Avtomat Krishna-kov
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I guess I have always been used to painting interior and exterior of my own home. I never realized how much money it saved, until I priced out a recent painting job in anticipation of my home being appraised.

To say I had sticker shock is putting it mildly. $3500 to paint 3 rooms downstairs (1200 total sq ft) in a single color with semigloss white trim is getting darn near rediculous. Not to mention I have a 22ft foyer area and about 500 sq ft of additional paint. I didn't even bother pricing it out. So of course, my wife and I tackled it ourselves.

1. Shop around for paint. Walmart sold/sells Glidden, which is a division of PPG (as is Olympic, Sikkens, and Flood) and I'm pretty sure they know how to make good paint. Most Walmart Supercenters have a paint mixing employee somewhere in the building, so get to know them as well as you know the person who works the ammo counter. Walmart likes to put those huge 5 gal pails of interior paint on clearance from time to time. I suggest you BUY THEM. I got 5 gallons of Interior Eggshell base for $40 on clearance. If you bought this in Home Depot or Lowes you would pay around $150. You can always have them color mixed later, but wrestling a 5 gallon container of paint from someone with a tyvek suit and nametag that indicates that they're a house painting 'pro' means you're on the right track.

2. Never skimp on supplies. I like to buy real canvas dropclothes and not plastic, so the next stop is Harbor Freight. They sell canvas dropclothes probably cheaper than most big box stores pay wholesale for them. Get some big ones and at least one 'runner' type for hallways. I also prefer real horsehair brushes from Linzer, and I like to use 1/2" nap roller covers inside and 3/4" outside. Always nice to have an extra roller tray (or use liners!) and an extension handle of at least 5ft. I like to use wood and not metal in case of lightning. After a few painting jobs, and good care and cleaning, you'll accumulate enough painting supplies to open your own paint business.

3. Ladders aren't cheap. Extension ladders run in the hundreds of dollars now. So borrow one if you can. Do not stop on the interstate to get a ladder that has fallen off a truck. Pretty sure that's the #1 reason for illegal immigrant death in the Carolinas (maybe drowning). It's not WORTH IT. DO NOT PLAY LADDER FROGGER in real life!

4. Any color change (from cool to warm colors or vice versa) will require a primer. If you do not use a hiding primer, you will not be happy with the result. Bite the bullet, and buy the Kilz. Or Valspar. Or Linzer 1-2-3. They all will make your colors brighter and the topcoat will not peel.

Now repeat after me: I am NOT skeered of HEIGHTS, I WILL NOT FALL. Keep repeating this in your head, and use a radio.

Just think of all that money you will save to blow on guns, cars, boats, motorcycles, or jewelry :D
 
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Pics of this weeks activities (plus a Cam-eo by my son)


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Prep is half the work. Raking light to look for them pops and dumples. I’d also suggest ditching the “painters” tape and just practice cutting in by hand, the tape is expensive.
 
TAPE??? You used TAPE??? And you roll from a tray??? Pro's roll from the 5 gallon bucket with a screen.......Your an amateur....
Yeah. My wife insists on taping the trim. Its also cheap at HFT. However, I can cut a line. I did the ceiling in the foyer by hand. And that's primer from a tray because 2 gal buckets don't have a screen. Never said I was a pro anything except pro-gun ;)

But I know Mexicans with pro equipment and sprayers still do a crappy job.
No way I would pay anybody to spray interior of a home that I lived in.
 
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I agree, I painted our 3200 sq ft home in Fla, both inside and out when I was married.
I just painted my 1600 sq ft brick homes inside this past year.
Prep work makes the results so must better.
 
I agree, I painted our 3200 sq ft home in Fla, both inside and out when I was married.
I just painted my 1600 sq ft brick homes inside this past year.
Prep work makes the results so must better.
Downsizing also saves a lot of money :)

Once my oldest moves out, 3 bedroom single story is in the near future. No more $200 electric bills
 
We have done all our painting. Including faux finishes in the Master bed and bath. At a former job I did some serious faux finishing, including a marble floor and painting stuff into the bookcase so they didn't have to fill it all up and it still looked good. I hate white walls.
 
We do dang near everything ourselves. Finished the basement, which included framing a pony wall, wiring, sheet rock and mud. Only thing I paid for wad texture, so it matched the house.

Then we painted our 12x24 shed, 2 coats paint and primer all brushed on.

Now we're working on stripping and restaining the decks.
 
Be sure to have a good sash brush, great for cutting in as well as trim and sash painting.
After using one for a room you will never need to tape up.
Never use plastic drop cloths, you will trip and fall or tear them.
When you load up the brush, go in about 1/2 way, no more, then gently tap
the sides of the brush on the container or paint tray, this forces the paint into the bristles,
otherwise most will run the brush on the side of the container and that wipes the paint off so
you are 'starving' the brush and will have brush marks.
Watch a painter at the mall, they do it so fast, quick wrist action, you can take your time.

Clean the brush and hang it to dry, don't let your wife borrow it.

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The paint crew will show up at your bank looking to cash that $3K check,
my neighbor had two guys paint the outside, they did a nice job but her bank
was on the phone with her asking if it was OK to cash the $6K check.
 
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I opened this thread because I was curious what color you were painting yourself.

I don't feel so bad now knowing that I wasn't the only person who had the same thought vis-a-vis the title ;). I immediately thought of this fellow from DRAGNET:


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TAPE??? You used TAPE??? And you roll from a tray??? Pro's roll from the 5 gallon bucket with a screen.......Your an amateur....
You're.....

Fixed it for ya.....lol

[emoji6]

DS

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
 
I really respect a DIY thread and the member who starts it. It really can save you money by doing a big project yourself and you also receive a sense of accomplishment as a reward as well. That said, I once painted my first house, about 1200 square ft., on the inside and outside, back in the late '90's. I'll never do it again. Nope. Never. I hate painting anything and almost hate cutting and hanging acoustic ceiling tile just as much.:)
 
Well I am also blessed to have a good woman who is also an avid DIYer. Sometimes shes too zealous....I came home to this wonderful project today just as the inside painting winds down and I get to tackle the outside before the roofers get here on Monday. Joy!
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Good post, good thread!

Next upin Windiniville: interior paint and acoustical ceiling tiles in the last stages of 100-year old house remodel.

If memory serves me right, I've seen some pics of your work, and all I can say is this: You are way above my skill level and the OP of this thread is as well. I still hate painting and hanging acoustical ceiling tiles however.:D
 
Well I am also blessed to have a good woman who is also an avid DIYer. Sometimes shes too zealous....I came home to this wonderful project today just as the inside painting winds down and I get to tackle the outside before the roofers get here on Monday. Joy!
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:D:D
 
If memory serves me right, I've seen some pics of your work, and all I can say is this: You are way above my skill level and the OP of this thread is as well. I still hate painting and hanging acoustical ceiling tiles however.:D
:) Aw, shucks!!

I will be painting & doing ceiling tiles... but I won't be liking doing it!
 
I did’t see any beer or liquor in the budget? I thought that was a requirement for painting.

I am like qball I will do it to save money cause I am cheap but I do not like it and can appreciate those that have patience to do it well.
 
I did’t see any beer or liquor in the budget? I thought that was a requirement for painting.

I am like qball I will do it to save money cause I am cheap but I do not like it and can appreciate those that have patience to do it well.
that's for afterwards. Alcohol and ladders don't mix.

Anyhow here's today's progress, and that fine woman painting the shudders didn't even ask for money today ;)

I had to break out the 30-06 'structural caulk' on some cedar siding. What a pain in the ass. Next time hardyboard
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Seafoam green goes away today
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left to right, Behr grey covers in one coat
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pulled some fascia board since the end was rotten when the roofers didn't connect the flashing to the gutter...:(

And subsequently found a hidden wasp nest. One hit me on the neck but I managed not to fall off the ladder.

They all got a brake cleaner bath!

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AND caulk in a tube??? Lord have mercy and bless his soul, he knows not what the sins are.....
Because at auction these were about a quarter a piece....I also flipped boards on the deck instead of paying $15 a board.
This ain't my forever home, but it can be yours for the low low price of $275K
 
I'm thankful my mom and granddad owned a painting business.....I hate...hate painting.


If you need sealant look at NP1
 
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