[cainj]

This is more of a verification, but I was hired to help with painting in the apartments where I live at. I do pretty well (can cut razor sharp even w/o tape ).
My question is I ran into a nice apartment - not the first time - but it is white, but its a primer white - or feels chalky. As usual, the complex owner bought 2 gal (for a 1bdr) and off I went.
Im finding it tricky to do it in one coat. It is an "egg shell" color, so goes on really dark against that "white" but dries very nice looking.

Once dry you can see some "see through" spots, and on some spots roller skids.. they are not at all obvious, but I can see them - i am my worst critic. Boss says it looks fine.. i don't like it.

I am in no way a pro, but people like my work, and I am always looking for tips.
Could be my roller as well.
So when in doubt I ask. This is the 2nd time in 2yrs I ran into this where the boss buys for a single coat, but it looks like it should be two. no matter how slow I go, it looks nice wet, when it drys - the evil arrives

Can you confirm that if you are painting with a different color, that it is usually best to do two coats? Or am I just not laying it down right?

thank you for any tips! I love painting.. I find I can do it well and fast, and nice escape because no one is around to bug you LOL!:thumbup:

 

[joecaption]

#1 Egg shell is a sheen not a color.
If your trying to get by with those cheap green rollers that would do it.
Any time your changing colors your going to have to apply 2 coats.
Use a 1/2 nap roller.

 

[cainj]

thanks for the fast reply...

OK, no trolls please..

i use these from "do it best". I have a charge account at the local hardware store (its their card) so I can pretty much choose what I need. But they can be - lets say "conservative" on all aspects of the building - politically correct.
For the most part they are fine. As mentioned above, I run into issues when repainting back to original (different color) or a new wall that has yet to be painted.

Please feel free to link a better style brush.. I know these are cheap.

 

[joecaption]

Those will be ok but step up to a 1/2 nap. They hold more paint.

 

[Mr. Paint]

The units may have been painted with the cheapest paint possible, which will be unevenly porous and will feel chalky. I would recommend a coat of a quality wall sealer/primer such as Zinsser 1-2-3. This will give a sound foundation for your eggshell sheen finish, producing even results.

 

[ToolSeeker]

Welcome to my world. You know it needs prime and 2 coats but cheap owner says looks fine. That's why a lot of painters won't do apts and flips. The owner wants cheap and they don't want to put their name on it. And yes a good quality brush and roller cover make a lot of difference Purdy and Wooster are both good brands and easy to find. And if cleaned properly will last a long time. Good luck and use this as a learning experience for later in life.

 

[jsheridan]

Guys, he's saying "eggshell" color, not sheen, and contrasting it against white. Mr. Paint has it, it's cheap a$$ contractors flat that you're going over. You'd be having more problems than you're discussing with eggshell over chalk. Don't sweat what the owner doesn't care about. Apartment repaints are cheap, cheap, cheap. Did I say cheap? In case you missed it, they're on the cheap. A lesson I've always struggled with, and a quality I always admired in others. Your bigger problem might be the quantity of paint he gave you, sounds short to me.
The skippers you see are normal to a degree on the first coat, especially on a color change. My advice would be to donate those rollers to a charity of your choice, no offense. Those, combined with rolling too dry, are going to increase your skippers. Spend 4-6 dollars on a pro cover, you'll work less hard. Wet a new roller cover, put on the roller handle, go into the bathroom and spin in out in the tub using your open palm until it's just damp. Keep the roller wet with paint and do one and one half roller widths floor to ceiling with each dip. Move to the next, methodically, from one corner to the next. For about the first ten minutes, do a smaller area until the nap saturates with paint, wetting the cover speeds that process up. If you don't break it in and you work it too hard too fast you'll crush the cover and make the job much harder. Never press the cover, just let it glide along the surface. On one coat, to avoid the skippers, you might add an additional up and down to each section to be sure you're getting coverage, but it's going to add time to your job. Cover the same square area, one and one half roller widths, every time. Don't roll until the roller runs out. Thin the paint a bit, check the label for thinning instructions. Sight your work, step back and look at the work from the side and look for uniform wet sheen. And don't sweat what the owner doesn't care about. To someone who doesn't care you're as much a liability as someone who doesn't care is to a boss who does sweat the little stuff.

 

[Gymschu]

..........and to add......as long as the walls look CLEAN it doesn't matter if there are some "see through" spots, etc. In the end, it's just an apt. and the walls will be thrashed again in a month's time......at least that's how the manager/owner looks at it.

 

[cainj]

thank you guys for your input - all excellent points. all correct. Im the blacksheep. Not so much a perfectionist, as I see painting (along with the other maint. i do here) as an art form. And yes it has my name on it - and I have a lot of pride in my work. If i keep up the good work, someone that moves out my want to hire me for some small stuff. Fortunately the "boss" lets me do what I want and when. His attitude is very nice. while he is ok with the "just-get-by" attitude, he supports me 100% if i want to make it look right. I think he is used to the duct-tape-n-spit prior maint people that just do it for a paycheck they used to have here. I don't.

So thicker roller, trash the cheapy I use, about 1.5 roller widt per dip, and don't run it dry (I do that.. and press harder, so as time goes by, it holds less - this is just so i can stretch the paint he gives) He told me today that if i need more paint to let him know.

thanks again all. very helpful!!

 

[jsheridan]

You got it Cain. The roller doesn't hold much because it's crushed when you roll it dry and press hard, it can't hold paint. If you want to browse the links in my signature line there are a couple of articles on working with roller covers and rolling walls.

 

[cainj]

cant do it yet.. net 10 posts LOL...

 

[jsheridan]

cant do it yet.. net 10 posts LOL...

??????

 

[chrisn]

cant do it yet.. net 10 posts LOL...

just click on the links in his posts, here

DiyPaintingGuide.org
J.A. Sheridan Painting
DIY Painting Articles
And, more DIY Painting Articles

 

[jsheridan]

Thanks for promoting my link farm :thumbsup:

 

[cainj]

??????

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 5 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 5 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 5 posts.


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 5 posts.

THAT is what your signature looks like to me.
but i see chrisn posted them in the body of the message (vs a signature which is where your links are, and thus why I am unable to view them

thanks again to both

btw, changed up to a 1/2 nap and worked perfectly - uses more paint, but owner says what ever I need.