Glossing - tell me how to make it look good.

[Gentleness]

Treat me like an idiot - I can't understand why my skirting boards look so clumsily painted and I clearly need help! Ok, the ones I've done so far have about 14 coats of paint on already so it may be that, but I really don't want my new skirtings and door-jamb to look that bad.

So - start to finish! Educate me please!

[PigletJohn]

Preparation (strip or sand flat, apply undercoat - acrylic white will do indoors - lightly sand smooth. Clean off all dust)

And practice.

Apply thinly. If the paint is too thick, thin it a bit. Two thin coats are better than one thick.

And practice.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Hire a decorator.

Your helping the economy by doing so.

[caughtintheact]

What kind of brush are you using? For gloss you get a better finish with a synthetic fine-haired brush. You can get these small (1/4 inch I think) brushes that are round and slightly pointed which are GREAT for cutting in a neat line at the top edge of the skirt etc. I was skeptical at first that a round-section brush would give a neater line than a flat brush but I find they are so much easier to control. I use a 1.5 inch flat brush for covering the rest.

[Gentleness]

Right - preparation sort of ok though obviously I could have sanded a LOT more on the old skirtings.

Thin layer - THAT is new info! It really helped with today's painting thanks!

The round brush is a great idea. I could really see how it would have helped today. Definitely going to get one of those for the next jobs.

Fluffy - wish we had the £££ to do that - so much more glosswork to do...

[Bunbaker]

And don't use non drip gloss. You can see the brush marks once it has dried. No professional decorator will touch the stuff.

[Gentleness]

Ok - that is really useful too. I splashed out today on Dulux Light&Space quickdrying satinwood and it does seem quite a lot better than the Homebase own non-drip I was using on the old skirtings. Bah!

[fossil97]

I'm a convert to rollers, (for flat surfaces) you get a much more thin, even layer of paint. The "tipping" with the ends of a brush is genius. Even I have managed it.

[Jacaqueen]

My best tip would be DONT USE GLOSS!

Use Satinwood or Eggshell.

[echt]

What Jacaqueen. Satinwood or eggshell look far more chic, especially if you're going for that Parisian apartment look. They don't show brushstrokes.

I am very sad because you can't get either of these paint finishes in Australia.

[PigletJohn]

I had an old house done with Eggshell last year, I don't like it. It looks like undercoat. Also holds the dirt. I'd go for Satinwood next time.

BTW non-drip does tend to go on too thick. In a very few cases (e.g. painting plastic pipes) that's OK. On woodwork, not.