Sixth Saturday - Trim and Painting

"A man paints with his brains and not with his hands." - Michelangelo

I missed the introduction to trim because I was late getting to class. I had scheduled a canoe ride at Aiken State Park for Saturday, which conflicted with the Lowe's class. I thought I knew how to get to the park, but it turns out I was wrong. By the time I realized I was going the wrong way, the canoes had already shoved off. I turned out and drove to Lowe's instead.

What can be said about painting? It's easy, but it's easy to get wrong too if you forget a few steps. First, after the wall has been sanded smooth where joint compound and tape has been applied, wipe down the wall with either a dry paintbrush or damp cloth. If you don't, your paint finish won't be smooth at all because all that dust will be trapped beneath the layers of paint.

Second, prime first. This we did not do to save ourselves a step in the class. But you always, always want to prime first. The joint compound and tape could easily be seen through our first coat of paint, which, as Robin said, is why so many customers begrudgingly stomp back into Lowe's after buying only a can of paint and not primer.

Third (and I picked up on this in the last class) always wash new rollers before you paint with them. If you don't, the roller material (I don't know if it's fur or what) will stick to your wall with the paint.

Our wall Saturday was this putrid pink color, what Robin affectionately called Pepto-Bismol. I can handle pink, but only in small doses. This was a large dose.

After using painter's tape to protest our crisp, white trim, we were given a roller, a paintbrush and two painting tools that help with your paint line along trim then in corners. The one I picked up had two rollers on the bottom and after dipping it in the paint you drag it straight along the trim line. It gave nice coverage. I liked it.

That was our last training class. The next time I see these ladies who have become part of my Saturday routine, it will be at the job site when we break ground on the house.

Keep checking this blog for my write-up of the Habitat for Humanity house groundbreaking.