The Pro House Painter: Masking and Protecting

One of the keys to successful house painting is not letting paint go where it isn't supposed to. This is straightforward enough, but as in most things, experience and knowing the right methods to do this can improve efficiency and make painting projects easier. We will discuss some of the better ways to protect landscapes and interior floors and furniture from paint splatter and over-spray.

Drop cloths are the painters best friend, and the more you have the easier it is to do a job. House painters should keep an arsenal of drop sheets for interiors, and have another smaller supply for exterior work; this is because the latter will get dirty and  house painters Auckland you don't want to risk laying these on some fine furniture indoors! Painting a typical house can require quite a few drop cloths, especially if you need to paint quickly. It is not unusual to need 20+ of various sizes to adequately mask an interior, and with more cloths you can have several rooms set up for work, and minimize the need to move the cloths around mid-project. Ideally you want to lay the drop sheets down in a room once, and not pick them up until the room is finished. Drop cloths come in various sizes, including 4 x 12, 8 by 12, and large 12 by 14-foot standards. To maximize the use of these, you need to think spatially and use the right size for a floor area or piece of furniture; try to avoid having to fold them over.

Plastic sheeting can also be useful. These are best used for covering furniture; they are not durable enough or practical for walking on, so not recommended for floors. Sometimes it is beneficial to use clear plastic so that you can see the furniture being covered when painting indoors, as it will make it easier to navigate when painting ceilings, or if you have to move something again. After painting is completed you do have to pick the plastic sheeting up carefully, as paint splatter on them does not absorb and dry quickly as with cloth sheets. Plastic is also great for sealing off doorways to contain dust from sanding.

Exterior masking is a trickier business, and involves dealing with gardens, shrubbery, and wind. To protect flours and fragile gardens, you should use lightweight cloths or plastic, and may need to prop them up with some wooden stakes. Again, clear plastic allows you to see the plants, and makes it easier to avoid damaging them. Wind can cause paint splatter to travel as much as 50 feet from 2nd story working heights, so protecting the landscape as well as vertical surfaces know more may be necessary. The trick is to be mindful of the direction of wind, and lay drop cloths over critical areas, such as the driveway or stonework, as opposed to soil or grass. You also need to cover roofs of bay windows if painting above, and securing the drop sheet can be done using clips or strong tape, or sometimes by tucking it into the metal flashing. It is certainly worth taking this precaution as opposed to having to clean roof shingles later.