DIYbanter - View Single Post - Is tinted primer + one coat of paint enough for repainting walls?

wrote:
Do I wait for the first coat of paint to completely dry before I put on
the second coat? Would this take a few hours, or should I wait a day?

I'd separate the first and second coats by at least a half
day, if it's dry outside and the humidity is low. Open a
window and let some air in to speed things up. If you have
three rooms to paint anyway, just move on to the next room.
What has not been said is that you should use a 1/4" nap
roller or even a foam one if the walls are smooth. The
shorter the nap, the better coverage you'll have. I'd not
fool with a tinted primer- use two coats of paint. Figure
about 400-500 sf per gallon for the two coats. You'll
probably use a bit more on the first coat and less on the
second.

If you're a novice, mask off the important stuff. Use the
blue tape and remove it while the second coat is fresh. If
the paint sticks a tad, use a razor knife to get a clean
"cut edge" against the tape as you peel it off. I also
recommend getting many of the cheap, disposable 9 X 12
Visqueen drops and taping them down to keep spatters off the
floor, radiators, cabinets etc. It's cheap, and you'll
thank yourself. Painting is 25% of the job, the rest is
preparation. For goodness sake, remove the cover plates
from the plugs and switches and tape over the switch and
receptacles. It's also a good time to buy new cover plates-
it really makes a job look spiffy.

And when I'm applying the second coat, do I cut in around the edges and
walls first with a brush, like I'm planning to do with the first coat
of paint?

Yes- cut in first with a brush for each coat, then roll out
the rest. Don't fiddle around with a "pump-type" roller.
Just get a good 12" roller and pan from the paint store.
The roller cover is most important, so get a good one with
the shortest nap that will fill any voids. With the high
ceilings, you'll also thank yourself if you get a roller
extension handle. It's also time to invest in a 6' step
ladder, if you don't have one. Keep a lot of paint in the
roller and roll SLOWLY to reduce spatter. With a full
roller, roll about a foot beyond the last paint, then blend
it back into the wet paint. Finally, roll out everything
for about 3' again- slowly and avoid any lines of paint
build-up by rolling again when the roller is out of paint.

Or should I just use a roller the second time around and
paint as close to the edges as possible (would that cause lines to
appear between the first and second coats around the edges because I
didn't cut in)?

Don't do that. Do it right- cut in each coat and roll out
the rest. When you cut in, I never use less than a 3" brush
and generally use a good 4" one- except for tight spaces.
Use a good tipped and flagged artificial bristle brush with
a water based paint. My typical cut-in is about 3" or more.
Be aware of how your roller will "fit" into the corner,
around the window and down around the baseboard.

Apologies for the ignorant novice questions; I've never painted before.
I tried asking the sales clerk at the paint store for advice about
these details, but he more or less doesn't know (and unfortunately,
doesn't care, either).

That's a shame. If you're paying $42 a gallon for BM paint,
you should expect to get good advice at the store.

Mark