Is painting really that hard?

[Tiredmum1990]

We just moved to a three bed house and there are holes everywhere from nails/screws. They will need to be plastered and then pretty much the whole house will need painting. I have said to my husband that I want to do it, but he has said it is too hard and it is better if we get someone in to do it professionally.
I would rather save the money for nice furniture or to have in savings. The entire house will be painted white (like it currently is).
Is painting really that hard?? We both work full time and have two toddlers so I would do it on evenings or the weekend.

Polyfilla in the holes. Sand when dry - really not hard.

If you need to paint the whole room, do the ceiling first.
If you need to redo the gloss (which real painters and decorators confusingly call 'paintwork'), sand it lightly before you paint it.

Honestly, it's not difficult. It's worth shelling out for a few dust sheets when you buy the paint, and get decent quality brushes. We have a cutting-in brush with a slanted end - bloody magic.

It would never occur to me to pay someone to paint my house. I’ve owned 5 houses and done all the decorating myself. We are currently repainting the one bit a professional did, as they did a poor job. It’s not hard, but you must get decent brushes and rollers. Painting with cheap nasty brushes is torture - the paint goes on so much better if you have good brushes, and they don’t cost that much more. Emulsion washes out of brushes easily too, so you can do more than one room with it. WRT rollers, buy a multipack of those, again don’t go for the nastiest ones, it will only save you a couple of quid and give you no end of bother.

@SavingsQuestions

Dulux do a magic white - it goes on pink so you can see it and dries white.

What bloody genius! I almost put my neck out painting a ceiling earlier this year - two coats and I was till up and down the ladder afterwards, touching up the gaps. Looks fab now, though.

I’ve been painting walls (white) recently and I find it hard. Maybe it’s the cheap paint but it always looks so patchy. Never smooth.

If it's just nail holes, use something like this, it's got a mousse-like texture so it's easy to use. You can paint over it as soon as it's dry.

Painting is one of the easiest DIY tasks to do, and not physically challenging, so if you are looking to save money, it is an easy win. Take your time on the prep. Use masking tape, but only on sockets, and woodwork. If you put it on ceiling/other areas with emulsion (wall paint) it will
Remove the paint underneath when u peek it off. Try one room and see how you get on.

PS Cheap own brand DIY store paint is shit . Dulux or similar is worth paying the extra for.

[quote Tiredmum1990]**@misty9* and @dailywalk* you both mentioned about doing a coat before the actual paint colour. Would this be thr case even if it was just small holes being filled in? And could you just do that first paint with mist paint/50-50 paint and water on just those plastered parts?[/quote]
No, you don’t need to do a mist coat if you’re not replastering.

If it’s just small holes then they need filling and then sanding to smooth. Toupret make a good filler.

Paint wise, get trade paint- dulux decorator centre or brewers. It goes a lot further and you need fewer coats than with the normal paint you get from B&q etc.

The painting is easy. It’s the prep (moving furniture, sanding, caulking and filling which is the time consuming and boring bit).

I would do one room yourself first and then decide if you're up for taking on the whole house when you're only able to work on it evenings and weekends. Believe me, the novelty quickly wears off when it's room after room. You should only paint in daylight and I would imagine that's a must if you're painting white on white to see what you've painted vs what you've missed. Don't forget your ceilings will need painting too

I'm been working through our whole house as a lockdown project (quite large)

It's quite easy and somewhat therapeutic. You don't need to replanted, just fill the holes with flexible filler, leave to dry then sand.

I'd suggest not white as others have said. (Numerous threads on the perfect griege on MN!) Use decent Matt (or bathroom/kitchen) paint, not Homebase cheapo. Johnson's Trade often recommended, though I quite like Valspar (mixed reviews!).

Masking tape around edges between walls and ceiling and brush then roller. Light sand on woodwork, then rather than undercoat woodwork, use your wall emulsion as the undercoat (no need for masking tape or cutting in next to woodwork then ).

Always white woodwork (IMO). Satin easier to paint with than gloss. One average size room can be emulsioned in one weekend. Ceiling and woodwork the following weekend. KEEP SMALL CHILDREN AWAY!!!!

If you're painting white on white it's straightforward, but you do need good daylight.
If that's what you're doing, leave the woodwork until last, as that's the only time you'll need to cut in - and even then it doesn't have to be perfect (unless you make a complete bodge of it!)
I've attached before and after shots of my sitting room that I've just done.
Dark colours do need more care, and this did take me a while, but partly because I was repainting what can only be described as nicotine yellow woodwork, which took three coats to cover, and my arthritic joints which limit how much I can get done at a time.
Give it a go! You might surprise yourself and save a hell of a lot of money as well.

I'm not an expert, but also have a tip for painting skirting if you have carpet down - let me know!

Definitely give it a go. My tip would be read the reviews on the paint, it doesn't need to be the super expensive but don't get the value versions.

I've just discovered Easifill 20 - it's so much better than polyfiller for both application and smooth sanded finish. Definitely use that.

And yes - it's perfectly doable to do it yourself.

I also would like to know this @mineofuselessinformation

@mineofuselessinformation that looks so good! Well done!!! Ooo yes, I would love to know!!

Painting carpet against skirting tip for those interested:
Use wide masking tape, put on the carpet leaving a little lip about 3mm sticking up along the edge next to the skirting board. Go along with a wallpaper scraper (in other words, a wide one), to tuck the edge of the tape down between the carpet and the skirting.
You can then paint the skirting in the knowledge that you won't get paint on the carpet.
Leave the paint to dry, then go along and scrape down between the edge of the masking tape and the carpet.
You can then peel off the tape.

mine that looks fantastic! The colour really transforms the room. I've got an ivory/beige living room which needs some help...

Picture of the result.

For skirting/carpet I get really wide (cheap) masking tape, put it down on the carpet along the skirting and use a filing knife to push the carpet down at the edges so the tape goes under the skirting...

Thank you @Tiredmum1990!

@DorotheaDiamond and @mineofuselessinformation great tips!!
@minekfuselessinformation, I am tempted to paint my living room wall that colour, what colour is it please? Also, what colour sofa have you got? I am going to order a new sofa over the next few days but still can't decide on a colour!!

@Tiredmum1990, it was supposed to be a colour match for Crown Pier View, but didn't turn out the same - I still like it! It also covered with one coat, which was great. (It is a Dulux mix, in flat Matt.)
I have one sofa in a ruby red chenille, and another in a light grey chenille.

How hard it is to paint depends on how much prep work there is and how high the ceilings are.

Filling and sanding make a real difference. So does unscrewing switch-plates and cutting in with an angled brush.

Walls are easier to paint than trim.

If you are plastering, you'll have to white wash the walls / ceiling before you can paint. So essentially you will be doubling your work. We've done it. Three bedroom house. Never ever ever ever would I put myself through that. Ever! Not for a million nice furnitures. And we have painted everything white to keep it "simple" 😂 Ahh....