Application Tips

• Begin with ceilings and remember, they don't have to be white!
• A dry day with low humidity is ideal for painting, even when inside.
• Make sure you have sufficient ventilation.
• For easier application, dampen brushes and rollers before painting.
• Missed a spot? You can often cover small missed spots by taking a clean brush or roller and working the already-applied wet paint back into the missed spot.
• To prevent stuck windows, move painted windows up and down several times while they are drying.

Finishing Tips

• If you need to re-use stored paint, pour the paint through cheese cloth to strain out any dried paint bits.
• Need to stop painting before the job is done? Tightly wrap brushes and rollers in clear plastic and store in a cool place until you're ready to paint again.
• Storing paint is easy--cover can with plastic wrap before replacing lid securely. Make sure it's sealed and then store it upside down!

Weather Tips

• Refrain from painting when the temperature drops below 50 degrees.
• Avoid threatening weather – rain can ruin a fresh coat of paint.

How to Progress

• When starting a painting project, begin on the side of the house that will remain in the shade until you finish. Direct sunlight can cause paint to dry too quickly, and can cause lap marks and blistering.
• Work from the top down, painting gutters and eaves first if you want them to match the color of your siding.

Clapboard Surfaces

• With clapboard surfaces, work from side to side. Minimize lap marks by painting four to five boards across the house until you finish.
• On clapboard siding, begin your painting in the area where two boards overlap. Use the narrow side of the brush and force paint up under the lap.
• Coat as much of a board as you can comfortably reach, then flip to the wider portion of the brush and coat the surface of the board.

Caring for Your Brushes and Supplies

• When you take a break, wrap your brushes, rollers, and paint trays with plastic to keep paint from hardening or developing a skin. Be sure to replace the lids on any open paint cans.
• Eliminate excess paint by dragging the heel of the brush occasionally over the lip of the can. This helps prevent paint from building up on the brush heel.