How to Paint a Flat on a Gloss Paint
- 1). Mix TSP--trisodium phosphate--cleaner in a bucket of water according to the package directions. Wash the walls one 6-foot wide section at a time using a big sponge. Wipe the TSP off the walls with clean rags wrung out in plain water. Rinse thoroughly so that no TSP remains on the walls. Allow the walls to dry.
- 2). Use wood putty or Spackle to fill in holes. Sand the putty or Spackle smooth while you are sanding the paint. Where two surfaces meet, for instance where the wooden door frame meets the wall, look for cracks and fill them with caulk. Smooth the caulk with a damp finger and allow it to dry before painting.
- 3). Wear a mask, goggles and gloves while you sand the walls using the foam sanding blocks to remove the gloss and to smooth any patches of Spackle. Step back now and then to look for shiny areas that haven't been sanded. Wipe the walls with a tack cloth to remove the dust from sanding.
- 4). Move furniture to the center of the room. Cover the furniture and floor with drop cloths. Use masking tape along the edges of baseboards, door frames and other trim to keep them free from paint. Apply masking tape along the edge of the ceiling as well, if you aren't planning to paint the ceiling.
- 5). Paint along the edges of each wall with paintbrushes. Use the roller and paint pan to paint the rest of the wall. Roll the paint onto the wall in a big W shape and then roll back and forth to distribute the paint. Start at one side of the wall and work toward the other, keeping the edge of the paint where you are working wet to avoid streaks.
- 6). Remove the masking tape before the paint completely dries to avoid cracking the paint where it meets the trim.
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