Art Effektan independent magazine about home renovation and interiors

An independent magazine about home renovation and interiors. Not a company website and not connected with the former site on this domain; we do not provide services. Electrics, gas and load-bearing structures are for professionals only.

How-to

How-to guides

Many finishing jobs are well within reach of a careful person with no experience: painting a wall, hanging wallpaper, replacing a skirting board. The key is not to rush, to prepare the surface well and to follow the material manufacturer's instructions. Work involving electricity, gas and the structure of the building, however, stays with professionals.

Preparation takes longer than the painting itself, and that is normal. It is what decides how the wall will look.

— Editor's note

How this section works: we describe the general order of simple jobs, without coverage figures, layer thicknesses or drying times. These vary for each material and are given by the manufacturer in the technical documentation and on the packaging. Wear protective equipment and ventilate the room.

How to paint a wall

  1. Clear and protect the room

    Move the furniture out or to the centre and cover it with plastic sheeting. Cover the floor, remove socket and switch plates with the circuit switched off, and mask skirting boards, door frames and window reveals with masking tape.

  2. Inspect the wall

    Check the surface in raking light: it shows cracks, chips and bumps. Remove flaking old paint, treat mould with a suitable product and wash off greasy marks.

  3. Fill and sand

    Fill cracks and holes with filler and sand them once dry. Wear safety glasses and a respirator: sanding dust is fine and easily gets into eyes and lungs.

  4. Prime

    Primer evens out how absorbent the surface is, so the paint goes on evenly. Choose a primer compatible with your paint and allow the drying time given in the instructions.

  5. Cut in corners and edges

    Use a brush on the corners, the line with the ceiling and around openings — places a roller cannot reach. Do this before painting the main area so the edges do not have time to dry.

  6. Apply paint with a roller

    Work in sections from top to bottom, overlapping neighbouring strips while the edge is still wet. Do not load too much paint: thin, even coats look better than one thick one.

  7. Apply a second coat and remove the tape

    Apply the second coat once the first has dried, as the manufacturer requires. Peel off the masking tape carefully without waiting for the paint at its edge to harden completely, or the edge may tear away.

How to prepare a surface for wallpaper

  1. Remove the old finish

    Strip the old wallpaper, wetting it with water or a special stripper if needed. Wash off any remaining paste and paper: new wallpaper will not stick well to them. Switch off the power to sockets and switches on that wall before you start.

  2. Check the base is sound

    Tap the wall and run a scraper over it. Remove crumbling plaster and loose areas back to a sound layer, or the wallpaper will come away together with them.

  3. Level the wall

    Fill cracks and holes and smooth out larger irregularities with filler. Thin and light-coloured wallpapers show defects especially clearly; heavy and textured ones are more forgiving.

  4. Sand and remove dust

    Once the filler has dried, sand the surface and remove the dust with a brush or vacuum cleaner. Dust prevents the primer and paste from bonding to the wall.

  5. Prime

    Apply a primer suited to the base and the type of wallpaper. Let it dry according to the manufacturer's instructions and only then start hanging.

  • Tools

    A basic tool kit for home renovation, organised by task — no brands — plus personal protective equipment.

  • Materials

    Paints, decorative plasters, tiles, wallpaper, flooring and ceilings: types and properties in general terms. The article catalogue lives here too.

  • Planning

    The order of renovation works, an estimate without figures, a contract with a contractor, handover and what the law says about alterations.

Sources

  • Manufacturers' technical documentation
  • EMERCOM of Russia — safety leaflets
  • Housing Code of the Russian Federation (Chapter 4)

Information on materials and works is given in general terms, based on manufacturers' technical documentation, the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, EMERCOM of Russia safety leaflets and encyclopaedic sources. Coverage, application conditions and drying times for a specific product are set by its manufacturer — always check the packaging and instructions.