how important is it to sand between coats of paint? i ask as without
sanding between coats, the paint coverage isnt very good, it just
seems to sit on the surface and its hard to put on a thick coat. i'm
using water-based paint which might be part of the cause. i got this
paint as i dont really like having to clean brushes in white spirit
and not being able to wipe up spills easily.

benpost wrote:
how important is it to sand between coats of paint? i ask as without
sanding between coats, the paint coverage isnt very good, it just
seems to sit on the surface and its hard to put on a thick coat. i'm
using water-based paint which might be part of the cause. i got this
paint as i dont really like having to clean brushes in white spirit
and not being able to wipe up spills easily.

benpost,

1 Sanding between coats gives a 'key' for the next coat to 'grip' along
with removing any lumps - therefore it's an important procedure.

2 You shouldn't put on a single 'thick' coat of paint. Thick coats cause
runs and are difficult to finish evenly (along with several other
problems) - several thin coats are far better. My procedure (on new work
and using thin coats) is a coat of primer, two of undercoat and two of gloss
(all rubbed down between coats)

3 Water based paint isn't the problem, it's your method of work causing
the trouble.

4 Try using less paint on the brush and the 'spills' will all but
disappear - and you'll get a far superior finish on your work.


Tanner-'op

thanks tanner , it sure is a long winded procedure , i only have the
one tin of paint because all the wood was already painted and i have
just sanded once then hoovered/wiped and started with the paint. as
you said i should sand between coats then wipe up the dust before the
next coat. you really do have to be organised and plan your tasks
when decorating dont you? its no good half finishing jobs coz then you
end up forgetting where you were and getting totally confused and
frustrated!

benpost wrote:
thanks tanner , it sure is a long winded procedure , i only have the
one tin of paint because all the wood was already painted and i have
just sanded once then hoovered/wiped and started with the paint. as
you said i should sand between coats then wipe up the dust before the
next coat. you really do have to be organised and plan your tasks
when decorating dont you? its no good half finishing jobs coz then you
end up forgetting where you were and getting totally confused and
frustrated!

benpost,

'tis true that its a "long winded procedure" but using that method, I get
minimal drips and runs to clean up and sort out - and I know that I really
don't need to repaint anything for at least 5 years.

By the way, I really do hate painting, that's why I use that method so that
I have to do it as little as possible!

As a matter of interest, the *only* time I use a water-based paint is as a
primer/undercoat on *internal* works (with a spirit-based gloss finish) - I
*never* use the stuff externally.

If you get 'confused' about the coats etc, just simply use a slightly
different colour for each coat (apart from the top coat).

I won't comment on the "one tin of paint" (says me shuddering). :-)

Tanner-'op

you really do have to be organised and plan your tasks
when decorating dont you?

It is not just decorating. many DIY tasks benefit from planning! Having
everything available sure makes a difference!

In an ideal world....

On 15 Sep, 09:01, stuart noble wrote:
you really do have to be organised and plan your tasks
when decorating dont you?

It is not just decorating. many DIY tasks benefit from planning! Having
everything available sure makes a difference!

In an ideal world....

well thanks for the posts, really informative, if i am going to do the
job properly then i will need:

water based undercoat, oil based topcoat, white spirit

dont need primer as the skirting etc has been painted before, and a
couple of new bits i have are already white, which i assume is primer
or undercoat?

the cheap option is just use the water based paint i have lots left
and sand between coats and hope for the best

i now wish i delayed the carpet til i'd completely finished the
skirting as thats another problem now trying to avoid getting paint on
the carpet

well i'm determined to get a reasonable finish on my skirting.. masked
off the carpet and tore up a magazine stuck pages under the tape all
the way round the room. sanded drips and the big imperfections with
rubber block and 60 grit paper, then sanded the whole lot with a 60
sanding sponge. vacuumed along the masking tape then wiped the
skirting with a damp cloth. done a first coat, applying a bit more
liberally than i usually do, i think often i brush too much and don't
let much paint settle. its definitely taking more paint , due to
sanding.

also, a big difference is the way i've been holding the brush. i am
now applying strokes like a pen, with the brush turned sideways
instead of flat (if you understand me?). it seems to leave no brush
marks, which the old way did. also seems to apply better.

well any comments are welcomed. i'm letting it dry til about 7/8 then
sanding with 180 grit sponge, wiping and painting the final coat later.

im pretty sure turning the brush so im holding it like a pen has made
a huge difference... before i was painting flat side down and just
didnt seem to be applying it well

On 16 Sep, 12:09, Huge wrote:
On 2008-09-14, benpost wrote:

how important is it to sand between coats of paint?

Very. Otherwise the next layer falls off, as SWMBO has discovered.


Surely this is only a problem if the previous coat was done 5 years
ago (or even 5 months ago). If it was done this morning as the OP is
suggesting then there should be no problem with adhesion. I would
still give it a quick rub just to remove any dust particles though.

Andrew