13 June 2016

5 Marriage-Saving Tips for Painting Your House

Does the prospect of painting the house have you and your spouse arguing and on-edge? House painting is a big project to tackle, and it involves a lot of decisions, from your budget to the color of the trim. Turn to these tips, and you should be able to survive your painting project—and save your marriage.

Steer clear of the bargain paint.

If your honey is tempted to save a few bucks by buying bargain basement paint, pull them away. These inexpensive paints contain less pigment than the higher-end brands, so you'll have to use more to get the same coverage. You'll probably end up spending less in the long run if you go with a higher-end paint, since you'll need fewer coats. Plus, better quality paint lasts longer, so you won't have to paint your house again in a few years.

Prepare the surface before painting.

If your spouse wants to "get this project over with" and just slap some paint on the walls, encourage them to slow down. Preparation is key to a good paint job. If you don't take the time to scrape loose paint and apply a coat of primer, you'll be re-painting your whole house again in just a few months.

Save time with a roller.

Here's one way you can get this painting project over with faster without sacrificing its quality. Use a roller, rather than a paintbrush, on the large areas. Remember to roll in multiple directions to get the most even coverage. Buy high-quality rollers; they'll hold up for your whole project rather than needing to be replaced every day.

Bring color samples home when choosing colors.

You don't want to hear "I told you so!" when you bring home that ravishing red from the store and find that it looks more like an ugly rust. Colors look different in different lighting. To ensure you and your spouse find colors that actually look good in your home, try samples of paint on your walls before you buy.

Tackle one room at a time.

Work on one room together, and then move on to the next one. This way, you won't walk into the living room to find that your spouse has accidentally applied bright teal instead of the subdued cream you agreed on.

For more house painting tips, visit our post "5 Tips for House Painting Like a Pro."