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 Day 
$50 - $100 
Easy to Moderate





Prepare the walls for painting; apply the base coat and let dry. In separate containers, mix one part of each top coat
color with one part water and one part latex glaze. 





To create this wet-on-wet technique (i.e. working on a wet surface), dampen a comfortable-sized area of the wall with
the damp cheesecloth, and add a squiggle of the desired paint mixture. Use the damp (not wet) sheepskin and
rounded movements to move the paint around, keeping the edges thinly fanned. This creates the soft look.

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Use a dry brush to gently disperse the paint in darker areas, working until you can't see any brush lines. Repeat until
the entire project is done. Feel free to colorwash with more than one color, but keep them in the same tonality (the
two featured colors work well together).

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Make sure the wall is completely dry before tackling touchups. Lap lines happen when you work too closely to an
already painted area. To fix them, dilute eight parts of the base coat paint with one part water. Lightly brush the
mixture across the lap lines, and then diffuse the color throughout the area with a dry brush. Let dry.

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Use the sheepskin to dab on either colored paint mixture in any areas that need more color. Fan the paint out using a
dry brush.
 
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 Weekend 
$100 - $250 
Moderate

   
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u Prep room by taping windows, doors and moldings with painter¶s tape. Place drop cloth on the floor.
u Apply latex eggshell base coat in the same color family as top coat.

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u Mix 3 different top coat glazes: Mix one part latex eggshell paint with 3 parts glaze, then mix the latex-glaze
mixture with ¼ part metallic glaze and ½ part water.
u Apply glazes generously in a random pattern, using a small roller in sections (Image 1).
u Before glazes dry, blend them with a sea sponge (Image 2).

 
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u After wall dries, apply a small amount of bronze metallic glaze to sea sponge and rub over wall.
u Top coat glazes used in this demonstration:
u Sari Suit (KM3534-2) latex eggshell paint with metallic glaze in gold. Mix latex-glaze mixture with glazing
liquid and water.
u Sari Supreme Bean (KM4030-2) latex eggshell paint with metallic glaze in bronze. Mix latex-glaze mixture
with glazing liquid and water.
u Sari Amber Autumn (KM3591-2) latex eggshell paint with metallic glaze in copper. Mix latex-glaze mixture
with glazing liquid and water.
 HOW TO STAIN A HARDWOOD FLOOR
 Weekend 
$500 - $1,000 
Moderate to Hard

 


Sand the floor completely and vacuum thoroughly to remove all sawdust.

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Use a method called ³water popping´ in which you run a wet mop or cloth over the newly-sanded floor to
raise the grain; this will cause the wood to better accept the stain. Allow approximately 30 minutes drying
time before staining.

 
 

Dip rag or sponge into stain and apply stain to floor, going with the grain rather than against. Work from
one side of the room to the other, frequently wringing out rag or sponge so coverage is even and stain
doesn't pool on floor.

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After 5 or 10 minutes, vigorously wipe to remove excess stain. The amount of time you allow stain to soak
into wood will determine the darkness of the final product.

 

 

Following manufacturers' instructions, allow time for stain to fully dry then brush on a coat of polyurethane
for a durable finish.

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 HOW TO STAIN A GARAGE FLOOR
 Weekend 
$100 - $250 
Easy to Moderate

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Sprinkle a few drops of water on your floor to determine whether a sealant has been applied to it. The
water will soak quickly into the concrete if the floor isn't sealed. If the floor is sealed, water will bead up,
and you won't be able to stain it. You may be able to find chemicals to remove sealant at your home-
improvement center.

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u Sweep and vacuum the floor thoroughly, then wash it with a strong degreaser. Rinse the floor,
and allow the concrete to dry.
u Use an etching cleaner to clean the entire floor. It will remove stubborn dirt and open the pores of
the concrete so the stain can penetrate. Mix one quart of solution with three quarts of water. Then
dampen the concrete with water, and begin spreading the etching solution. Pour the solution in a
10' by 10' area (Image 1), and work it into the concrete with a stiff-bristle brush (Image 2). Keep
the floor wet while you clean the concrete, and be careful not to over-clean any areas. If you do,
the stain could soak into the concrete unevenly. Wear eye protection as well as clothing that will
protect your skin from the harsh etching solution.
u Rinse the floor thoroughly with water, and allow the concrete to dry for 24 hours.

 
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u Mix one gallon of stain with one pint of water.
u Apply the first coat of stain to the concrete floor.

 


Use a paintbrush to stain the floor near corners (Image 1), then roll paint onto the floor with a short-
napped roller (Image 2). Work in 3' sections, and be careful not to paint yourself into a corner. Allow the
first coat to dry for 2 hours, then apply a second coat of undiluted stain.

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Make sure no one walks on the floor for at least 24 hours, and avoid parking on the floor for three days.
 HOW TO STAIN WOOD CABINETS
 Weekend 
$1 - $50 
Easy

  
When you buy your unfinished cabinets, you will most likely buy either birch, or oak. Birch cabinets have
a fine grain. Often times, these are painted...but stain looks great on them. If you put a cherry stain on,
the birch will look like cherry.
Regardless of birch or oak, make sure you prepare the wood properly. Begin by lightly sanding the wood
with a 120-grit sand paper. Work in the same direction as the grain or you¶ll get scratches.
Do a second sanding using a 220-grit sandpaper. This is finer and designed to remove any scratches
from the 120. It will also give the wood a smooth finish. Your final finish is only as smooth as the top of
the wood.

 
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Remove any dust and apply a coat of conditioner (Image 1). This acts as a sealer that helps the stain go
on evenly. Let this dry.


 
 
Begin applying the stain. Go in a circular motion to let the stain go deep in the wood. Make a final pass
going with the grain of the wood for a final even finish.


 
 
Remember, stain is for the color of the cabinets. It does not protect the wood. You need to put on a finish.
If you use an oil-based stain, use an oil-based polyurethane for a finish. Apply two coats ² this will
ensure your wood¶s protection.
 HOW TO APPLY CONCRETE STAIN
 Under Half Day 
$250 - $500 
Easy to Moderate

 

Pressure wash the area. Before applying the stain, the surface must be completely dry and free of all
paints, wax, grease, dirt and other contaminants. Wrap plastic around the walls to protect the brickwork.

 
 

Fill an all-plastic garden sprayer half way with water and then slowly add stain, careful to avoid splashing.
Apply the stain with an all-plastic garden sprayer. Start in the corner and randomly spray the mixture,
holding the nozzle of the wand approximately 18 inches from the floor. Apply the mixture generously,
allowing it to fully coat the concrete...just short of puddling.


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Once the floor is completely dry, repeat the same procedure by applying a second coat of stain. Allow the
floor to dry thoroughly before hosing down the area and mopping off any remaining residue.


 


Use a gloss finish water-based sealer. Using either a roller or a pump-up garden sprayer, start in the
corner and apply two light coats rather than one heavy one. Make sure there is ample drying time
between the two coats. Once dry, apply the final coat of sealer.
 HOW TO STAIN WOOD FURNITURE
 Under Half Day 
$50 - $100 
Easy to Moderate

 

Prepare the wood by sanding it with coarse sandpaper (lower numbers indicate a coarser grit). Then sand
with medium- or finer-grit sandpaper (higher numbers indicate a finer grit).

Sand until the wood is smooth and even to the touch. Sand with, not against, the grain of the wood.
Between sanding, use a tack cloth to remove dust.
Clean the wood with mineral spirits, applied with a rag or a sponge. This helps bring out color variation in
the wood.

Apply the wood conditioner. This will help a soft wood absorb stain more evenly.

  

Use a rag, a soft sponge or a brush to apply the stain. Move with the grain, not against it. The longer you
leave the stain on, the darker the finish.

   
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 HOW TO PREP WALLS AND TRIM
 Two Days 
$100 - $250 
Moderate

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If possible, move all the furniture out of the room. If there are items that can't be moved out of the room,
push them to the center of the room and cover them with a tarp or drop cloth in order to protect them from
paint.

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Next, remove hardware such as faceplates on electrical sockets and light switches using a screwdriver. It
is possible to tape these off and paint around them, but the quality of the paint job will suffer. Depending
on the area to be painted it may also be a good idea to remove doorknobs, hinges, and handles.

    

Survey the room. Look at the walls and identify areas of damage or dirt. A clean, well-repaired surface
provides the best foundation for a good paint job. Louis removes lead lugs left over from an old shelving
unit from the wall, using a putty knife to pry them out.
Use painter¶s caulk to fill the holes and a putty knife to smooth over the caulk and create a smooth, flat
wall surface.

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Once the obstacles are removed and the walls are clean and smooth, the room is ready to be masked.
Use low-tack masking tape to tape around fixtures that can¶t be removed like wall sconces and phone
jacks. If the floors are to be painted as well, you will not need to lay down a drop cloth or mask off the
floor.

  


In many cases it takes a full day or more to adequately prepare an area to paint. Pour the paint into a tray
and roll with a sheepskin roller several times in order to soak up an ample amount of paint. Roll the paint
slowly onto the wall; the roller will apply more paint in one coat than if you quickly run the roller up and
down the wall. If the walls have texture, it is important to run the roller in a "W" pattern in order to make
sure all sides of the texture receive paint.
Using the big roller, cover the major area of the walls and ceilings fairly quickly. Then, go back with the
small roller to paint the hard-to-reach areas. Let the paint dry before going back to apply a second coat.

/"*     
Once the main color is complete, prep work begins again. Mask off all the areas that touch the trim to
protect them from the paint. It is imperative to watch carefully while taping to make sure the paint line will
be straight and crisp. A utility knife can be useful to cut the tape so that it fits tightly around trim obstacles.

0  

Once everything is taped off, paint the trim. A small roller can be used to paint most of the trim while a
small trim brush can be used to paint the tight spots.
 EXTERIOR PAINT SELECTION
Painting the exterior of your house may seem like a job for professionals, but if you've got the motivation
and some basic knowledge of paints, it's a job you may want to tackle yourself. It could save you a lot of
cash. Latex exterior paints have undergone improvements, and some can be as durable as oil-based.

Below are some tips on selecting exterior paint, from home-improvement specialist James Young. There
are two basic types of exterior paint to choose from: oil-based and the more commonly used latex.

u Oil-based paints are very durable and water-resistant. They result in hard finish and are often
used by professional painters. Use an oil-based if the surface you are painting has already
been painted with oil-based paint.
u Stir oil-based paint frequently, as the oil in these types of paint tend to separate quickly.
u If using oil-based paint, be sure to use a brush or roller specifically designed for use with oil-
based paint.
u Latex exterior paints have undergone many improvements, and some can be as durable as oil-
based. They are also considerably easier to work with. Be sure, however, that you select an
exterior latex for use on the outside of your home, not the same latex used on interior walls.

 Here's how to determine whether you have acrylic or oil-based paint on your home now. Peel off a
large paint-chip. If the chip bends slightly before cracking, it's probably latex. Oil-paint chips tend to snap
easily. If this test doesn't work for you, take a paint-chip sample to your local paint store or home center
and have them test it.

u Latex is easy to apply, dries quickly, is durable and is resistant to the effects of direct sunlight.
Cleanup is easy, and just requires water.
u Acrylic latex is the highest-quality latex paint. It will cover just about any building material
including masonry and properly primed metal.
u Important: Never put a new coat of latex over an old coat of oil-based paint. It will almost certainly
peel.
 EXTERIOR PAINTING PREPARATION
Painting the exterior of a house can be a demanding job. But you can save yourself a lot of work by
preparing properly for the project.

First, decide how much of the exterior will be painted. Only the shutters or trim may need to be painted
rather than the entire house. Next, determine the colors and the types of paint you want to use. Many
companies now provide recommended color combinations with their sample books to show you what
colors look good together.

If you're having a hard time making up your mind, purchase a quart of each of the colors you like, and use
the paint to create larger samples for easier comparison. Keep in mind the color you choose should fit in
with the rest of the houses in your neighborhood.

Most likely a latex paint would be better because latex is easier to clean and lasts at least as long as oil-
based paints. Whether you choose latex or oil-based paint, always purchase the best paint you can
afford. Otherwise you're likely to spend lots of time applying additional coats.

Before beginning the painting project, the surface of your house should be clean, dull and dry. Wash off
any chalk, dirt and mildew. Protect landscape plants by covering them with plastic.

After cleaning the house, scrape off any peeling or cracked paint, then sand and prime the area. When
you've finished priming, begin painting the trim. Semigloss paint works well on trim.

The brush used is almost as important as the paint itself. With latex paints, use a brush made of a
nylon/polyester blend. Use a natural-bristle brush with oil-based paints. For maximum control, hold the
brush so that it balances on your hand at the point where the handle meets the brush. Place your
fingertips on the metal ferrule, and use your wrist to guide the brush. The paint will flow more smoothly
from the brush.

Pay attention to the temperature. For best results, paint on days with low humidity, when the temperature
is between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow the shade so that your fresh paint isn't exposed to
direct sunlight; otherwise, heat blisters may develop.

Be careful to keep a "wet edge" by overlapping painting areas over the areas you finished most recently.
Don't paint into a drying paint film: the film could buckle.

The best way to paint shutters is to remove them and spray them away from the house. If you must paint
them on the house, use an angled sash brush. When choosing a color for shutters, keep in mind that dark
colors absorb more heat and can cause vinyl shutters to warp.

Apply an oil-based primer coat to metal doors before you begin painting. This step is especially important
if the door is exposed to weather. Allow the primer to dry for 24 to 48 hours, next apply two coats of
exterior paint.

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