What to Do with Old Paint

Not sure what to do with old paint cans cluttering up your basement or garage? Follow this action plan to either condense or dispose of your surplus—and win back some valuable floor and shelf space in the bargain.

Paint Roller or Paint Brush

A roller covers these locations a lot more than two times as fast as a paint brush and requires much less talent and work.

How to Clean Plastic Paint Trays

Wooden paint trays have been utilized by professional artists for centuries. However, difficulties cleaning the wood surface of the paint trays often lead some painters to abandon the idea of cleaning altogether. The manufacture of plastic paint trays has made tough palette cleanups a thing of the past. Most plastic paint trays are made of a smooth, durable resin that does not require heavy scraping and scrubbing to remove wet or dried on paint.

Front Porch Painting On An Old House

Many homes feature a wood porch area at the front door, and on older homes it is usually covered in many layers of paint from years of maintenance. It takes certain methods to do a good job of porch painting, and you must treat and prepare the old paint well if you want a long lasting and appealing finish.

Tools You Need for a Basic Paint Project

Painting tools come in various shapes and sizes; however, you only really need the following tools for a basic paint project. If you decide that you plan to do a lot of painting, you can start to look at specialty tools.

How to Choose the Right Brush

It's surprising to see how often people buy top-quality paint (and spend countless hours on careful prep) then jeopardize the end result by trying to save a few pennies on brushes. There's almost no better example of 'penny wise and pound foolish,' especially since the right brush will also save time and be less hassle because it holds more paint and will give you better control. In the end, you'll get a smoother finish with fewer visible brush strokes and you're far less likely to find pesky brush hairs dried into the finish. Of course, quality costs a little more--you can expect to pay at least $12 or so for a decent 2 1/2-inch trim brush--but a good brush will last for years, if it's properly cared for.

How to Change the Cover on a Paint Roller

A paint roller is a vital piece of equipment which you will need to keep fresh for large painting jobs. This means regularly changing the cover of a roller. This is not a difficult or time-consuming job and is an easy way to help keep your paintwork looking good.