Painting Tips From a Blue Collar Guy - Posted by Tony Colella
Posted by Tony Colella on April 20, 2006 at 21:36:16:
I have never loved painting walls, houses, decks, etc. but I have learned a few tips on how to paint trailers faster and ?good enough? for section 8 inspectors etc.
For those who don?t know much about section 8, there isn?t much to know. They have a general standard of livability they look for in all facets of the home and from there they determine what they believe is the highest market rent that particular tenant?s benefit merits. This does vary by each tenant?s particular benefit amount but if the basics are Not covered you (the investor) get nothing.
Now paint is not a standard of living (other than something needs to be on the walls with no holes showing), but let?s face it, we are marketing a product to the public at large (regardless if they are section 8 tenants or not). If the product does not appeal to a good prospect we aren?t going to be in business long.
The reason I mention the section 8 program is this; it has a standard approved by an independent party. Let?s face it. Our homes need to fall somewhere above slum and somewhere below presidential suit.
I endeavor to have all of my affordable housing units meet or exceed section 8?s reasonable standards. Oddly enough this has actually distinguished my properties (as it has others who follow that standard). I am amazed that basic, safe housing standards should be so unique.
Back to painting. Now painting can be taught to pretty much anyone. Skill levels will range from 1st grader finger painter to town drunk, to expert to?? well me, a blue collar type painter. Not white, multicolored collar (from all the jobs that week) type collar a pro wears but not the type of painter who falls below my min, section 8 standard.
Although I no longer paint all of my homes, I do still get white knuckles and forearms from time to time either to get the job done or to teach a promising handyperson.
While I still learn new trick each day, here is the blue collar painting approach that I have arrived at that gets the job done as quickly as possible with the least trained help, for the least amount of money that still meets my (and section 8) standards. First…
Painting Stinks!
Answer. Buy the largest, commercial grade fan on the market. They run about $23 bucks and ventilate a home like a hurricane. Use them while painting.
Paint with Kilz Oil based paint. I used latex for many years (while in denial) and finally had to admit it costs 1/3 more per bucket and still takes 2-3 more coats of paint not to mention the labor and time that translates to.
Unfortunately Kilz is not produced ?odor free? in 5 gallon buckets. I repeat, ?painting stinks!? so I now buy the stinky stuff and provide the commercial fan (which, when you are stuck painting the inside of a tin can in the blazing sun creates a refreshing breeze while ventilating said can of un-odor free paint fumes).
I HATE PAINTING CORNERS !!!
I have learned that you can paint a wall with a deep, ¾ inch nap roller and fill every cut, crevasse, scratch, ding, etc. in one shot and look like a pro but when you get to the corner you make a terrible mess. So you break out a paint brush or smaller roller. The smaller roller makes a smaller mess and the paint brush leaves see-through-paint!
BLUE COLLAR ANSWER ?
Oil Based Kilz ?.. SPRAY PAINT !
The time saved was amazing. One coat and done. Roll on from there and it looks like a pro got paid by some mobile home investor to paint the corners!
THE BLUE COLLAR PAINTER’S NEXT BEST FRIEND??BLUE TAPE !!!
I cannot begin to tell you how many times I pealed paint down a wall trying to pull the old, tan shaded scotch tape off the trim. The paint would stick to it and then pull off the wall below (or above) like some kind of evil latex monster.
Problem no more ! Enter the blue tape superhero. Buy it, use it. Peal it off and your good to go. Nuff? said.
Roll on,
Tony
