PROPERTY NEWS - With spring in the air, now is the perfect time to start thinking about refreshing your home with paint.

Here are a few tips to ensure the smoothest finish for your next painting project:

Great gutter refurb tips
Remove all peeling paint and sand the sheen off the remaining paint. Feather out the edges. If it's adhering well, you don't need to remove it completely, but it could prevent new paint from sticking. 

Clean guttering, using a scouring pad and a general purpose cleaner, and then rinse with clean water. For new gutters, wash with a multi-surface etch cleaner and apply a coat of galvanized iron primer. 

It's best to remove the downpipes so you can repaint all the way around.

No more gouging
Round off the corners of your scraper so it won't gouge the ceiling and leave you with dozens of ceiling wounds to repair. Whether it's a wide putty knife or drywall taping knife, you can use a file, sander or an electric grinder to taper the edges.

Tone-on-tone stencilling
Instead of a full wall, try stencilling just a section. A tone-on-tone pattern, like herringbone, is subtle but striking, and creates interest on an otherwise flat wall.

Overbrushing
For the smoothest possible finish when you're painting woodwork, doors or cabinets, avoid too much brushwork. Load the brush and quickly cover an area with paint. Then use a stroke or two to level it off. Brushing over the same area, especially after the paint has started to dry, will cause brush marks and ridges.

Source: www.all4women.co.za

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