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FixKit: Paint a Room
What You'll NeedWhere to Buy
Home DepotLowe'sAce Hardware
Tape measure
Stir sticks (Usually free with paint purchase)
Primer
Paint
Paint can opener
Paint rollers
Roller covers (A 3/8-inch nap is best for most projects)
Paint brushes
Paint trays
Painter’s tape
Rags
Ladder
Step stool
Dropcloth or tarp
Wall patch or putty
Sandpaper
Optional
Paint tray liners
Extension pole
Spout attachment for paint can
Utility knife
How Much Time Will It Take?
Approximately 5-6 hours total for a 13 x 13 room, not including 2-4 hours drying time between coats
Estimate .75 minutes per square foot (perimeter x ceiling height – e.g. for a 13 sq. ft. room with an 8 ft. ceiling height: 13 + 13 + 13 + 13 = 52 x 8 = 416 sq. ft. x .75 = 312 minutes = 5.2 hours)
Time Breakdown
Prep: 1 - 1.5 hours
Edging/Cutting In: 1.5 - 2.5 hours
Painting Walls: 1.5 hours
Cleanup: .5 hours
The Basics
1.     Measure the walls to determine how much paint to buy. One gallon of paint or primer covers 400 sq. ft. with one coat.
2.     Remove the furniture and anything else you don’t want paint to get on.
3.     Clean walls and patch small holes.
4.     Sand any patchwork smooth, and wipe away dust with a damp rag.
5.     Tape off the ceiling (and trim if you prefer).
6.     Lay down plastic or tarps.
7.     Stir paint well, and pour some into a small, easy-to-carry container for cutting in or edge work on corners and around trim.
8.     Pour paint into trays with or without liners.
9.     Roll paint onto walls in 3 ft. x 3 ft. areas in a W pattern, filling in the W and blending with previous areas as you go.
10.  Allow the first coat to dry for 2-4 hours.
11.  Repeat cutting in and edge work.
12.  Repeat painting the walls.
13.  Clean brushes and rollers.
14.  Remove the tape immediately once paint is dry to the touch.
Our Favorite Tips
1.     Don’t skip prep work. Sand loose or peeling paint; remove light switch and outlet covers; protect anything you don’t want painted. Time spent here will save you time later.
2.     Keep a bucket of water or damp rags handy for cleaning spatters or mistakes.
3.     Primer – Some people say always prime before painting. Others say it is only necessary on bare drywall, stained walls and going from a darker color to a lighter one or going from gloss to flat paint. Our tip: Priming is never a bad idea, and may be the difference between a decent paint job and a great one.
4.     Paint from top to bottom. If the paint drips a little when you’re painting the top, you’ll cover it when you move lower.
5.     Remove the painter’s tape when the paint is dry to the touch, but don’t wait too long, or it will take paint off with it. If the paint starts to lift with the tape, score it with a utility knife.
Our Favorite How-To Videos
Home Depot
Lowe's
Behr
BuzzFeed Nifty