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doorframes and wider still for doors . Your widest brush is best saved for walls and ceilings ; rollers are a great option for these high coverage areas too .
Here are Cass ’ steps for a successful paint job :
● Remove as much furniture as possible . The clearer the space , the less chance there is of anything getting damaged , and you ’ ll find it easier to move around .
● Take down pictures and remove the hooks , even if they ’ ll be going back up in the same places . You ’ ll get a clean finish and the option to change your mind . Take down curtains rails and remove door handles too .
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● If the carpet ’ s going , cut it away from the skirting to a depth of around 10 centimetres ( 4 inches ). That way you ’ ll be able to sand and paint right down to the bottom of the skirting boards , giving a clean finish when the new carpet goes down .
● If the carpet is staying , cover it and everything else left in the room with dust sheets .
● Scrape off any loose paint from the walls and woodwork before filling holes and cracks ; use powder filler for the walls and flexible mastic wherever wood meets walls .
● Sand everything down — walls as well as woodwork , even if you ’ re painting over wallpaper . That way you ’ re providing a good adhesive surface for the coats of paint you ’ ll put on .
● Wash everything down with sugar soap , then rinse off with a wet sponge .
● Once your surfaces are spotless , paint any bare plaster or wood with a coat of suitable primer .
● Paint your surfaces with the appropriate products , starting with the ceiling and finishing with the woodwork .
● Finally , step back and admire the results of your hard work .
Rachel Halliwell is a Cheshire-based freelance journalist .
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Painting a radiator
Costco supplier Harris Brushes has the following tips for sprucing up a room ’ s radiator :
● Turn the radiator off . While the radiator cools , tape off the wall behind it to protect it from splashes .
● Lightly sand the radiator in long , sweeping motions to remove flaking paint and bumps .
● Wipe down the radiator with a damp cloth , then paint it with metal primer .
● Once the radiator is dry , paint over the topcoat .
● Turn the radiator back on while the paint ’ s still wet — the heat will cause the paint to run slightly , producing a better finish .— RH
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