Invite a friend to help you with your painting and texturing.
A coat of paint and different painting techniques can provide interest, texture, depth and warmth to a wall. But before you start any work, do some planning and research first. Talk to your paint dealer about the various kinds of paint and the materials needed for the job. Painting and texturing techniques can be acquired with some practice, so practice these skills on a sheet of plywood until you are comfortable with the results.
Preparation and Materials Needed For Painting
Preparation of your walls is equally important as painting the walls. Prime the walls if you are painting over an oil-based or semi-gloss surface, and apply a spot primer to areas that are chipped or peeled. A good quality brush with an angular tip and natural bristles is essential for oil-based paints or a nylon bristle brush for latex paint. Hold the brush the same way you would grasp a pencil, with your thumb and your first two fingers. With your first dip into the paint, move your brush around the container to allow the bristles to open. Move the tip of your brush slowly along the edges of your wall to paint a straight edge.
Painting the Wall
Fill your brush with paint to about one-third of the bristle length and gently tap it against the side of the pail to remove excess paint. Start with the top left side of the wall and apply the paint in the direction of the length of the wall. Keep a wet edge on your wall so you can blend the painted sections together. Try to avoid lap marks, which occur when the edge of your painting dries before the next section of paint is applied. Use a roller to paint large areas of the wall and the brush for the straight, clean edging that the roller is unable to provide.
Venetian Plaster Texturing
A special trowel and Venetian plaster product is used for this texture. The technique for applying the plaster is how you hold the trowel, the length of each stroke along the wall and the amount of plaster/mud that is applied with each stroke. Place a large scoop of the plaster on your trowel, and, starting at the corner of your wall, slap the plaster onto the wall. With your trowel held at a 20- to 30-degree angle, spread the plaster with short random strokes. Let dry for at least four hours. Apply your second coat the same way, but angle the trowel a bit higher, about 60 to 90 degrees away from the wall. Let plaster dry completely. Apply topcoat of varnish or wax for protection and durability. For a bright, shiny finish, you can burnish the plaster. To burnish, rub 400 or 600 grit sandpaper in a circular motion over the plaster until you get the desired sheen. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Combing
Choose no more than two colors for creating your textured combed pattern. Mix one part of the first color of latex semi-gloss paint to four parts of latex glaze and stir to mix well. Working across the wall, apply the glaze in small two-foot wide strips. Start at the upper left corner of the wall, and, holding the comb at a 45-degree angle, apply a firm, steady pressure to a metal or plastic comb while slowly dragging it through the wet glaze across the entire width of the wall. Continue applying glaze and combing until the entire wall has been horizontally combed. Prepare your second complementary color of glaze in the same proportions. Instead of dragging the comb horizontally through the glaze, move it vertically, creating a checkered pattern.
