Julian Cassell's DIY Blog

Using a paint pad provides an alternative to using a roller when painting a room, as a paint pad, like a roller, is designed to paint large areas quickly. As with a roller, pads can be attached to extension poles making it easier to paint ceilings for example, and you can also get small paint pads for more detailed work such as for painting skirting boards. read more »

Using a paint roller is by far the easiest, quickest, and best way of painting wall and ceiling surfaces (lovers of paint pads may disagree with me here!). Although many manufacturers say that rollers can be used for oil-based paints, I only tend to use them for water-based paints (emulsions) – the exception being with mini-rollers, which can provide a good finish when applying an oil-based paint to flush doors for example. read more »

Using a paintbrush correctly is the key to achieving the best paint finish. Never use cheap brushes and ideally have a good size selection in your toolbox. Even though you can now use rollers or paint pads, you will always need brushes for cutting in around edges and for the more detailed work. With wood, brushes are still by far the best option for giving a good finish. The main differences when using a brush is dependent on whether the paint you are using is oil-based (solvent-based) or water-based (acrylic). read more »

Removing mould from surfaces is vital before any decorating may be carried out. Commonly, you find mould growing in bathrooms where poor ventilation has allowed condensation to occur on wall surfaces – an ideal condition for mould growth. The easiest way of removing mould is to used a mould killer which is simply applied to the area in order to kill off any growth. read more »

Sealing damp stains is essential before applying any paint or wallpaper to your wall surfaces. Patches of damp can appear for a number of reasons – burst or dripping pipes, weeping radiator valves, leaking waste pipes or a broken roof tile are all possibilities. Investigate the cause and get it fixed before dealing with the decorative aspect of the repair. Damp stained areas can only be redecorated successfully if the cause of the damp has been eradicated. read more »