Once you’ve got all your equipment and paint together, it’s not going to be much good to you unless you know how to use it properly!
Using a brush
Hanging onto the brush incorrectly can quickly tire your hand. For best results hold the handle between thumb and first finger, with fingertips resting at the top. Dip only half the bristles in paint, and wipe on the side of the can to remove excess.
There are a couple of alternate grips that are useful for different applications. For control and precision using long sash brushes a pencil grip is best. Simply hold the brush with the thumb and index finger pinching the handle like a pencil. For wide handles, a handshake grip is effective. This one works by holding the handle with your hand spanning it, with your thumb on the topside like a handshake.
Using a roller
Pour paint into the tray, dip in the roller and push it back and forth on the shallow part for even coverage. Avoid applying paint too heavily as it may splatter, and use an extension pole on your roller when applying to the ceiling to save yourself time, money and effort.
With a roller it’s best to start near the ceiling rolling upwards, drawing a big ‘M’ one metre below the ceiling in a square metre. Next randomly roll strips across it with even strokes, finishing in one direction. Following that, begin the next area a metre down, lapping into the wet edge. To smooth and blend it’s good to overlap the strokes while rolling back over the painted area with light pressure, at the same time moving across and making sure the roller always slightly overlaps the previous stroke, continuing across the wall.
When near the floor roll without reloading, smoothing paint along with long, horizontal strokes, getting as close as possible to the taped edges. Around skirting as well as frames and trim it’s advisable to apply with long, horizontal strokes, then smooth the paint with short, vertical strokes to match the texture of the wall.
Using a spray gun
As well as following the preparations tips mentioned earlier, cover the surfaces not being sprayed with newspaper. Next secure the spray attachment to the gun, then do a test spray on a piece of cardboard. Other than that, you can dilute the paint with 10% water for smooth spray consistency.
When spraying, start at a corner and use cardboard as a screen to catch overspray. For best results hold the gun 250mm from the wall at a 90 degree angle, and don’t stop until the entire wall is covered to avoid patchiness.