Julian Cassell's DIY Blog

Doing a paint roller review has been on my “must do” list for a while now, and having walked around my local big DIY outlet at the weekend, I thought yes, I really, really must do a guide to buying a paint roller. Seldom have I seen, in my opinion, so much poor quality product stacked on row after row of shelving, and seldom have I imagined, so vividly, the problems that people will have when they try and paint their houses with this stuff.

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The Guardian, Saturday 5 March 2011

We have some old, white laminated chipboard bookshelves we want to paint. The laminated surface is smooth and shiny. What paints and process would ensure a good coverage of paint that will not peel off or mark the books?

“There are different melamine/laminate primers on the market,” says our DIY guru, Julian Cassell, “but I use Zinnser BIN primer sealer (£13.95/1 litre, decoratingwarehouse.co.uk). Give the surfaces a light sand and remove any dust with a damp cloth before applying the primer direct to the shelves. It dries very quickly, so you can get on and apply your chosen decorative coats. Use a hardwearing option for shelving, so continue with two coats of oil-based eggshell for a matt finish or at least one undercoat and a gloss for a shinier finish. To ensure that the paint won’t peel off or be marked by the books, leave the final coat to dry for a few days before loading the shelves with books.”

Buying paint brushes will almost certainly be an undertaking for every DIY enthusiast, and choosing the right options can often be a little tricky because of the vast array of options on the market. Pure bristle or synthetic? Are cheap brushes OK? Do I need loads of sizes? These are just some of the questions I get asked about the nation’s favourite DIY tool, and to be honest, my advice is fairly straightforward. Below are what I consider to be the most important points when buying paint brushes. read more »

Oil provides a natural finish to bare wood, and is similar to wax in that it is a deep penetrating option that can be buffed up to a smooth mid sheen finish. Wood must be totally stripped of any previous coatings before application. Unlike wax, oil can be used outside if specified by the manufacturer, but it does need regular re-coating in order to maintain the colour of the wood. Oil is most commonly used on hardwoods. read more »

Wax provides another option for finishing bare wood in the home. The products available range from the natural waxes through to synthetic varieties, and there are also a number of different colours to suit different tastes. Traditionally, wax is applied with a cloth, but it is now possible to buy types designed to be applied by brush. Wood surfaces must be completely stripped of all other coatings before wax is applied. read more »