Interior: Product Application FAQs

Q: How can I avoid overlap marks when I'm painting?

  • A: Try not to paint too large of an area at one time. Overlapping occurs when a freshly painted section begins to dry before you start painting the adjoining area.

Q: When touching up a wall painted with latex semi-gloss, how do I avoid shiners, halos and outlines without repainting the entire wall?

  • A: Repair the defects first. Then scuff sand the area around the patched area and apply a drywall primer. Stay away from the primer/sealers used for problem areas. For painting, reduce some of the original paint about 25 percent. Then apply the paint to the center of the patched area, using the original application method, and work it away from the patch. By "feathering" the touchup out from the patch, the difference in film build and appearance should be minimized since you will be blending it into the surrounding areas. If the repaired areas are still noticeable, you may have to paint the entire wall.

Q: What is the best method of touch-up?

  • A: To achieve acceptable touch-up results, it's important to apply touch-up by the same method as the original application, if possible, to avoid having any difference in sheen or texture. Be sure to use paint from the original batch, reduced 25 to 50 percent, and only apply a thin coat. It's also best to apply the touch-up paint under similar temperature and humidity conditions as the original.

Q: I'm going to be painting the interior of a 1200 square foot home. Can you list some pros and cons of air sprayer vs. roll-on and brush painting?

  • A: A lot depends on whether the house is new or already occupied. If new, spray painting is a much faster way to get the paint on the wall, especially if the trim isn't in place yet. Everything that you have to move, mask, or cover (furniture, trim, doors, windows, carpet) will slow the process down. You'll get a lot of "bounce-off" with an airless sprayer, that usually falls to the floor. You will need to cover anything that you don't want paint to fall on. Rolling, while usually slower, does not require as much covering and masking. You can also have several people in the house rolling at the same time, which cuts your total job time.

Q: What happens to paint that is applied during summer, when it is really hot and humid?

  • A: Extremely high temperatures (over 100° F) could cause a paint film to dry before it has had a chance to properly adhere to the surface. This can cause it to peel in the future.

Q: With the days getting shorter in the fall and winter months, how late in the day can I paint?

  • A: When painting with alkyd - or latex-based house paints, you should allow three to four hours of drying time at recommended drying temperatures before dark. This will normally be sufficient to prevent any problems caused by moisture getting on the paint film before it has dried sufficiently.