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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I painted the kitchen

25 replies

Cloudylawn · 04/07/2023 14:36

Have recently left dh after 20 years, we are still living together (which is hideous, don’t recommend!). He has never let me do any diy. Apparently it’s really tricky and I will do it wrong and not be careful enough etc etc. So he had gone away for a few days and I want to get the house looking nice to sell. I thought, sod it - I’m going to paint the kitchen. Guess what, turns out it’s actually really easy and looks so much better now.

yanbu - good for you, start taking control of your life.

yabu - you are clearly insane. This is the obviously the job for a master craftsman and not just a wife you fancies getting a job done. What were you thinking?!

OP posts:
TheInterceptor · 04/07/2023 14:44

Well done, missus!

Kingsparkle · 04/07/2023 14:46

Well done you OP for taking back control. Now, do you fancy coming to do my hall…

ShirleyPhallus · 04/07/2023 14:46

Surely this depends on how well you did the job - I think I’m a pretty good painter but my husband would hard disagree as I think an ok finish is good enough but he wants perfection.

Nicetiesandwhatnot · 04/07/2023 14:49

Well done on trying your DIY skills to good use! Quick painting question though did you paint over the old paint or actually removed the old paint and then did it from scratch? I am wondering as a part of one of the rooms need repainting so I am working out how to do it .

EVHead · 04/07/2023 14:50

Who the fuck removes the old paint?! Get the brush out and get to it. 😁

Kingsparkle · 04/07/2023 14:52

Just give the old paint a light sand @Nicetiesandwhatnot and sand down any old drips etc and then paint over. I don’t think even professionals go back to plaster each time.

Original poster
Cloudylawn · 04/07/2023 14:53

Thank you! @ShirleyPhallus I don’t know why you think it is acceptable to paint when your husband is clearly superior at the job! My dh will no doubt be appalled at my efforts. He might be able to spot 1 or even 2 brushstrokes and I will have definitely missed several spots. Also it just generally won’t be a good enough ‘finish’. The fact that you now can’t see a tide mark of kid grime marks and scratches is not important. I clearly have overstepped.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cloudylawn · 04/07/2023 14:55

I just cleaned the wall as best as I could and got to it but I do accept that is probably recklessness itself

OP posts:
Nicetiesandwhatnot · 04/07/2023 15:00

Thank you! @Kingsparkle

Nicetiesandwhatnot · 04/07/2023 15:02

@EVHead the old tenant left sticker marks and repainted over them so it does looks very weird. I will need to use sand paper to scrub the old one off . Normal I would just touch up spots here and there around the house like basically painting over the paint.

Original poster
Cloudylawn · 04/07/2023 15:06

@Kingsparkle would love to come and do your hall but I think to be on the safe side I’ll send dh so it’s done properly. Are you happy to wait 12-18 months?

OP posts:
Original poster
Cloudylawn · 04/07/2023 15:07

Ex dh!

OP posts:
Kingsparkle · 04/07/2023 15:09

@Cloudylawn - I’ve been waiting 2 years, what’s another 18 months 😂

@Nicetiesandwhatnot - I forgot to say also good to wash down with sugar soap, I just use the ready made spray stuff, it’s a bit more expensive but easier to deal with. Should remove the sticker marks too. Best of luck!!

whoruntheworldgirls · 04/07/2023 15:12

Nicetiesandwhatnot · 04/07/2023 15:02

@EVHead the old tenant left sticker marks and repainted over them so it does looks very weird. I will need to use sand paper to scrub the old one off . Normal I would just touch up spots here and there around the house like basically painting over the paint.

We had that, the previous owners daughter used those glue dots to stick photos to the wall, had hundreds of the damned things to scrape and sand off before we could paint. Urgh!

Panteranoir · 04/07/2023 15:25

Good God OP. What's next!? Rewiring a plug, putting a shelf up with your delicate hands

Joking aside, huge congrats to you on your new found freedom. If you haven't seen already, there's loads of great how to videos on YouTube

SalviaDivinorum · 04/07/2023 15:27

I hate painting

I deliberately make such a mess that DH sighs and always takes over allowing me to sit back with a glass of wine and point out all the bits he misses!

Original poster
Cloudylawn · 04/07/2023 15:52

@Panteranoir I've always wanted to put up a picture but luckily listened to dh or for sure this would have happened…

I painted the kitchen
OP posts:
Housekeeperbatcocoa · 04/07/2023 15:54

Nicetiesandwhatnot · 04/07/2023 14:49

Well done on trying your DIY skills to good use! Quick painting question though did you paint over the old paint or actually removed the old paint and then did it from scratch? I am wondering as a part of one of the rooms need repainting so I am working out how to do it .

Old emulsion is fine to paint over as long as it's not flaking or heavily soiled.

Gloss should really be sanded or undercoated.

Original poster
Cloudylawn · 04/07/2023 15:57

@SalviaDivinorum that does sound fun however if I had done this and pointed out errors the poor boy would have had a total breakdown and I’d have had to look after the kids alone for the next week while he rocked in the corner because a mircromil of paint had gone over an edge or heaven forbid onto an improperly covered light switch.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cloudylawn · 04/07/2023 15:58

Obviously joking - of course all light switches would have been unscrewed and pulled away from the wall to ensure a clean edge. Only “total cowboys” would do otherwise.

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 04/07/2023 15:59

Well done 👍

Ihavekids · 04/07/2023 15:59

Need pictures before we can make any firm pronouncements.

Cherrysoup · 04/07/2023 16:01

How on earth does one remove all old paint? Sanding? My kitchen is 20x10, couldn’t really fancy that! I might sugar soap the walls, maybe.

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 04/07/2023 16:10

Well done you! There was a similar thread recently, a dh wouldn't let dw do any diy, but equally wouldn't do it himself, so she just got on with it, it was a great read Grin

MrsMarzetti · 04/07/2023 16:34

Well done. Perfect practise for your new lovely peaceful home Flowers

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