Decorating advice

[Lancs Jag Boy]

I don't decorate, just never have. But we have just moved house and we're skint. The room I was planning on using as my office is fairly horrific, with line green and orange painted walls. So it needs some attention and soon.

However, on closer inspection it’s a very plain vinyl wall paper and the paint work looks ok. So, I’m thinking quick rub down of the paint work and lots of emulsion on the walls. What I want to know is:

a) Do I paint the walls with coat No1 or do the paint-work with under coat first; which allows the quickest get the next coat on either one option/dripping on the paint....err think you no what I mean
b) How many coats on the deep colours should I expect to get back to a plain cream/off-white colour?

Thanks for the people

[B17NNS]

Strip the paper off first and clean the walls with a sugar soap solution. Depending on what condition the plaster is underneath you might want to fill any holes and cracks and give the entire surface a fine rub down.

Like anything in life, the better the prep, the better the final finish.

Once you are happy with the walls give them a couple of coats of quality emulsion. A roller gives a nice even finish. I always recommend vinyl matt because I prefer the finish and it also hides a multitude of sins that silk pain highlights.

Rub down your woodwork lightly to provide a key. Undercoat and once dry coat with gloss. You may find the non drip versions easier to use.

Coverage and number of coats will depend on quality of paint and what you are trying to cover. I prefer to use a Dulux trade paint, bit more expensive but less coats (less time) plus a more durable finish.

[sparkythecat]

OP said he's skint so if the wallpaper's OK I can't see any point in him taking it off. If the walls aren't brilliant, he may end up dragging off plaster which will cost time and money to fix - money he hasn't got.

The paper has been painted over at least once, so a quick wash down and a couple of coats of emulsion will do the trick. He might even find some paint FOC on freecycle. Then, in a couple of years when it's careworn and he's not skint, he can pull the paper off and do what you propose

I'd do it in this order
1. Wash and paint ceiling if necessary
2. Lightly sand woodwoork
3. Wash down walls and woodwork.
4. Apply first coat of emulsion.
5. Undercoat wood work
6. Apply second, and if necessary third, coat of emulsion
7 Inspect woodwork, clean off drips and spills, sand if necessary
8. Gloss woodwork

Edited by sparkythecat on Wednesday 19th May 10:05

[Busamav]

Lancs Jag Boy said:

I don't decorate, just never have.

no disrespect to professional decorators ,

but word on building sites is " if you can piss you can paint "

It is all in the preperation

[GreenDog]

Busamav said:

Lancs Jag Boy said:

I don't decorate, just never have.

no disrespect to professional decorators ,

but word on building sites is " if you can piss you can paint "

It is all in the preperation

There's a world of difference between and painter and a professional decorator though

[Busamav]

GreenDog said:

Busamav said:

Lancs Jag Boy said:

I don't decorate, just never have.

no disrespect to professional decorators ,

but word on building sites is " if you can piss you can paint "

It is all in the preperation

There's a world of difference between and painter and a professional decorator though

absolutely , I did try to differentiate

[Duke Thrust]

My wife's brother is a professional painter and decorator and the quality of finish and speed which he can do never ceases to amaze me - doing it well is a real skill.