Save Money on Simple Paint Jobs with These DIY Tips

Painting is a necessity for any landlord. A fresh coat of paint boosts a property’s appeal, while some areas will need maintenance. Hiring a professional to do simple paint jobs may be the easiest solution, but taking on the task yourself could save you a considerable amount of money.

Painting equipment

You should have on hand: brushes, rollers, empty buckets, and ladders. Some items also worth acquiring are drop cloths, scrapers, knives, wire brushes, a palm sander, masking tape and paper, solvents, and work lights. An airless sprayer is good to have around for walls, decks, and lattice fences.

Paint

The higher the indicated PVC or Pigment Volume Concentration, the more colour it contains and the flatter the sheen. Any paint with 40 percent or greater PVC will have a dry to flat sheen, while a PVC close to 15 percent will have a gloss finish. Flat paints are richer in colour, but are less resistant to soiling and scratches. For rentals, it’s best to choose a gloss or semi-gloss (less than 25 percent PVC) for the kitchen and bathrooms, and semi-gloss or satin (less than 40 percent PVC) for the living area and bedrooms.

Techniques

A few points to tick off before you paint are: clean the surface with soap and water, scrape loose paint and sand the base, apply primer to bare wood and drywall, and place drop cloths for any drips and splatters. Know what brushes to use–synthetic bristles are good for latex paints, while natural bristle brushes work best with oil-based paints. When painting, masking tape is your friend, but paint can still seep under, so you’ll want to go in with a steady hand and a paintbrush for sharper lines. More often than not, you will apply two coats, so evenly spread the paint.